Title: Conflicting Interests
Synopsis
One... everyone says 'he' is the boyfriend of the junior whom Jet is close to. Two... 'his' appearance is so plain, like a blank piece of paper, irritating to even look at. (Plus... others call him 'Big Bro Cool,' but he's the only one who calls him 'brother.') These are the two reasons (plus one extra) that make 'Jet' want to cut 'Pakchat' out of his life's orbit!
But... things are never as easy as they seem.
Because Pakchat is also using two main principles to revolve around Jet: One... leveraging the status everyone believes he's the boyfriend of the junior 'Bro' is close to. Two... using his indifferent appearance to get close.
Do whatever it takes to gradually gain more interest.
For the 'benefit (of the heart),' they must become 'conflicting' with yet another deadpan plan... he's ready to accept it!
What I Think
I found this book to be a nice, light read, though I'm usually not a fan of characters like Jet who come off strong and confrontational at the start. At first, his attitude towards Pak, especially being dismissive while being a close friend of Pak's buddy, was pretty draining to read. But I liked how his behavior evolved – he began to treat Pak better and even fell for him, shifting from dismissive to super caring, treating Pak like someone precious.
Pak's character was more my style – his way of flirting and showing interest subtly was really clever and refreshing. I could relate to his internal issues like family problems and his fear that he might never find true happiness. I appreciated how Big Bro Cool helped him face these fears. Plus, Pak's ability to positively affect others really matched his political science studies, which I thought was a nice touch.
The book did a great job at showcasing the contrast between the two main characters – Jet being direct and Pak being more reserved, preferring things to unfold slowly. I enjoyed seeing how their differences eventually led to a deeper understanding and compromise between them. Their quick resolutions after disagreements, focusing on their shared happiness, were really endearing.
The potential subplot involving Brother Joke and So also piqued my interest, even though it wasn't the main focus of the story I initially picked up. Despite some minor flaws, the book was enjoyable and worthwhile, mainly because of the dynamic and development between Jet and Pak.