128
267
17
4
3
4
1
7
1
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9
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2
1
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1
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7
13
16
3
Waters that should and can never meet, meet
"The sea had never called to me.
But you were wading out into it.
And, suddenly, I was up to my knees."
This drama draws you into Jin's world of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders, where he lives his life according to expectations and doesn't get involved or let himself be "swept away" by feelings. And as he is this way, the tone of the drama itself is unnatural--a blanket of passive and offness over everything.
But then he meets Haruki, and from their first meeting, there is a strange kind of unsettled draw and fascination between them as they "cleanse" themselves at the water fountain.
Haruki, dealing with abuse at home, covers up his bruises and fear by playing the troublemaker role. But then, he is caught . . . By Jin. And Jin's unwillingness to pry and admittance of pity is foreign to him.
And as Haruki edges himself into Jin's world, Jin finds himself becoming attached; caring. He doesn't advocate for himself, dream, or even express his emotions. But he's willing to risk his future crumbling for Haruki. He doesn't cry for himself but for Haruki.
Waters that should and can never meet, meet. And Jin is swept offshore as he becomes "weaker." But he is not "weaker," no. The more he's with Haruki, the more he lets himself feel. And it's a needed revelation but also terrifying.
Again and again, I was troubled and moved beyond words. From Haruki inviting violence upon himself just to sit waiting on the steps for Jin in hopes he'll pity him once he sees how badly he's beaten enough to invite him inside (and admitting it to him on the spot) to Jin yet again resorting to his fake smile or an easy lie to keep his desires and relationship with Haruki a secret.
They can't rescue each other or run away; they're not adults. And even when they age, discrimination still puts up walls in front of them. They don't live in a fairytale, but they're happy just staying together, even in a reality with limits.
It's the kiss of a beer bottle's edge against your cheek, brown flecks and sharpened edges raining down on you in a beautiful but painful shower.
This is a drama of consequence that I would beg you not to ignore.
But you were wading out into it.
And, suddenly, I was up to my knees."
This drama draws you into Jin's world of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders, where he lives his life according to expectations and doesn't get involved or let himself be "swept away" by feelings. And as he is this way, the tone of the drama itself is unnatural--a blanket of passive and offness over everything.
But then he meets Haruki, and from their first meeting, there is a strange kind of unsettled draw and fascination between them as they "cleanse" themselves at the water fountain.
Haruki, dealing with abuse at home, covers up his bruises and fear by playing the troublemaker role. But then, he is caught . . . By Jin. And Jin's unwillingness to pry and admittance of pity is foreign to him.
And as Haruki edges himself into Jin's world, Jin finds himself becoming attached; caring. He doesn't advocate for himself, dream, or even express his emotions. But he's willing to risk his future crumbling for Haruki. He doesn't cry for himself but for Haruki.
Waters that should and can never meet, meet. And Jin is swept offshore as he becomes "weaker." But he is not "weaker," no. The more he's with Haruki, the more he lets himself feel. And it's a needed revelation but also terrifying.
Again and again, I was troubled and moved beyond words. From Haruki inviting violence upon himself just to sit waiting on the steps for Jin in hopes he'll pity him once he sees how badly he's beaten enough to invite him inside (and admitting it to him on the spot) to Jin yet again resorting to his fake smile or an easy lie to keep his desires and relationship with Haruki a secret.
They can't rescue each other or run away; they're not adults. And even when they age, discrimination still puts up walls in front of them. They don't live in a fairytale, but they're happy just staying together, even in a reality with limits.
It's the kiss of a beer bottle's edge against your cheek, brown flecks and sharpened edges raining down on you in a beautiful but painful shower.
This is a drama of consequence that I would beg you not to ignore.
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