#kyungrae

when mirye found out that kyungbin had gotten hurt by his sunbaes on the taekwondo team (because of their anger at being reported), he came to the conclusion that kyungbin liked him simply because of the good deed he had done for him. and his whole dilemma around that is he believes that it wasn't something he had done "authentically". he's worried kyungbin is in love with the "illusion" of mirye, and doesn't want to disappoint those expectations. in fact, he had never brought it up to kyungbin, probably due to his fear that kyungbin would think that was a true version of himself, when it was really something he had done due to ian's influence (more on this later...) in general, mirye feels insecure and afraid kyungbin won't like him anymore because he believes kyungbin only likes him for something he did due to the influence of someone else.

and kyungbin basically tells him "i wouldn't have asked you out simply because im grateful for something you did in middle school". rather, what mirye did ended up putting his existence on kyungbin's radar. obviously, we don't know the exact progression of his feelings, but he does say that he became "interested" in him during middle school. after all, he literally had been talking to joong about him for YEARS. he couldn't have been repeating the same "im so grateful" for years. he found other things he liked about mirye, and that's what his feelings are now. although they hadn't talked to each other until their second year of high school, kyungbin had been exposed to the "real" mirye before he realized that he liked him and asked him out. when he talked to him, he had genuine conversations, and still likes him.

he didn't immediately fall for him just because of that one incident. he himself isn't sure when his feelings started, but knows for sure that he likes mirye now. so yeah, he's upset that mirye is so worried and is basically kind of pissed that mirye would think that he would ask him out without properly knowing how he felt. it feels like mirye is underestimating his ability to tell his own feelings apart.

back to "ian's influence" on mirye, though... ian also didn't report the money mirye's dad had lost due to his own "sense of justice", he just did it because he was worried he would get in trouble for picking up the money. but it's not like mirye would feel any less grateful that ian was able to get HEAPS of money back to his family?

kyungbin even asks him if he ever developed romantic feelings for ian due to the good deed he had done for mirye's family, which mirye vehemently denies. he's denied it multiple times, too. he appreciates ian, but he doesn't just care about ian because of some good deed he did, he cares about ian because they're friends and because he knows ian better than most people, and understands the him that's underneath his facade. this situation is so... like… mirye is solving his own worries without even realizing it. these are such symmetrical situations, but they don't even realize it. both mirye and kyungbin have received help from someone they now know well, and they don't just like that person because of that one thing they had done for them all those years ago.

both ian and mirye worry that what they did wasn't something they did "authentically", but it's not like ian and mirye are terrible people who just happened to do one nice thing, they both show that they do have some "sense of justice", even if it isnt apparent to themselves. i think for ian, it's obvious that he's a people pleaser but he also genuinely looks out for his friends (particularly yugun), and mirye genuinely looks out for kyungbin. in ch 77, he literally talks about how kyungbin should report his dorm monitor for his inappropriate behavior, and kyungbin literally points it out lmao?

as for how i think this situation will affect the future chapters:

i suppose i'm kind of curious how mirye will deal with the fact that kyungbin is actually angry at him this time. the last time he thought kyungbin was angry (when he wasn't even actually mad), he was super depressed. so i'm not sure how long this will go on for, but we can already see at the end of the chapter that mirye regrets arguing with him, so god knows how he's gonna be for the next few chapters.

i'm also hoping we'll see how kyungbin explains why he likes mirye, regardless of how "embarrassing" it might be. because otherwise, mirye is going to continue thinking kyungbin likes a false version of himself, and that he can't live up to his expectations. within the chapter, kyungbin says he isnt sure why he likes mirye because he's never thought about it, but i do believe that he does have a reason he likes mirye. mirye has said before that he wants to be someone kyungbin can rely on, so perhaps that has something to do with it? but these are just inferences.

that should be all? but i'd like to know what anyone else thinks