#just having some thoughts aboht these two to ring in the new year

[carmenlire]

thinking about how easy it would've been for semantic error to fall into the "he could resist me so I have to make a conquest out of him" trope but instead they brilliantly fell onto the side of the line where you can literally see Jaeyoung’s annoyance shift into something deeper when Sangwoo doubles down on what he did-- while blatantly and deliberately insulting jaeyoung in the process.

jaeyoung laughs to himself after sangwoo storms off that first time and says something along "damn he has guts" and you can see that his drive to annoy Sangwoo and "get revenge" is because sangwoo had intrigued him and not because he just wants sangwoo to, like, submit.

and then as things progress-- jaeyoung Sees sangwoo every step of the way. you know that jaeyoung is putting every little thing he learns about sangwoo and marking it Important in his mind. and so quickly it turns into jaeyoung wanting Sangwoo's approval and inviting him closer with a relationship in mind.

idk if I worded this well-- my brain feels like soup-- but yeah. I just think a very common trope with enemies to lovers is that Person A wants Person B as a conquest whenever Person B is able to resist them and doesn't fall in love like everyone else always has. but I think semantic error is brilliant because while Jaeyoung’s interest is definitely piqued when sangwoo doesn't ask forgiveness but instead goes on, rather at length, about how insufferable he finds Jaeyoung-- he also immediately sees, understands, and navigates that sangwoo operates differently and that-- as much as sangwoo standing up to him-- is hugely attractive to Jaeyoung.