Comment by bibliophage on Just Twilight - Chapter 60

This fixation he has on Joonyoung being vulnerable is so interesting. Earlier, he said, "no man would be allowed as deeply in her heart as Beomjin," and was fine with it only when Beomjin wasn't around—because he still felt closer than anyone else. I have two main takes on this:

1. Like many men, he fixates on “winning” the untouchable girl to affirm his superiority. Under patriarchy, being the only one allowed to have her boosts his ego—he’s better than the competition. His privilege compounds this: at home, servants defer to him; at school, he's the rich, popular guy. Beomjin (someone he subconsciously sees as lesser) being Joonyoung’s exception threatens his worldview.
2. He did like her, but his mother’s control issues left him with unresolved baggage. Romantic love is always a bit selfish—you want to be the one—but his mom dictates his friends, marriage, and career. His rebellion against his perceived powerlessness is messy: drunken outbursts, fixating on the girl his mom disapproves of. He probably genuinely admired Joonyoung’s intelligence and lack of pretenses, but his upbringing is making him ruin it for himself.

But yeah, what do you guys think about it???