This will include spoilers.

If one has read my previous reviews, they will be familiar with this format. First the positives points and then the negative ones. And I refer to them as bottom and top because honestly I watch so many BLs I cannot be asked to look up the names and spell them every time.

1. Interesting main ( and side) characters

This is one, I would really like to highlight. Both main characters have an interesting backstory and an intriguing personality which goes over the stereotypical cool basketball boy as the top and the cute nerd as the bottom.
Our top has quite a kind heart but a bit of a blunt way about him. He also doesnt really like confrontations. This is what I got from him literally avoiding the other guy just for the fact that he felt bad about something and also running away from school..
He is kind of the style do first, think later.
Even though he kind of changes later on. But more on that later.
Our bottom is a rich kid who isnt very confident. He is kind of neglected by his parents and this is were I believe his insecurities come from.
He isnt very easy to approach but when you get to know him, he is a straightfoward and sassy guy.
He is also quite open in expressing his feeling at the beginning.

Also the side characters all have interesting plots. Such has the HIV storyline and the relationship storyline of the side characters.

2. The writing

I believe this is also a positive point. It wasn't perfect but it mostly avoided super cringy clichees. Well mostly....

3. The plot and pacing ( for the most part)

Its not very BL typical for a Plot, even though the setting couldn't be more cliché. I kind of got Thai lakorn vibes from it at the start. With the whole club room storyline and then the sudden mother dying plot. quite dramatic but done quite well.
Also the characters start off as enemies and then get thrown together to make friends. So thai lakorn but alright.
Later on the plot kind of slows down and focuses more on the couples which is nice.
And it has a happy ending which I am a sucker for.

Now onto the negative points

1. Inconsistencies

So in the story we get to know the characters. However some actions that these characters do are just so out of bounds.
Our top decides to let the other one misunderstand that he is mad at him and kind of bullies him to be more assertive in his life.
I get the intention is nice but WHAT ? What kind of crappy plan was that ? And we also never really see him fall in love so that kind of get sprung on the viewer as well.
Again at the start he is kind of the guy who doesnt think things through ( doesnt care about his grades even though he wants to be an engineer, quits school as soon as his mother dies etc) but later on you wanna tell me he has had some grand plan about making his love interest hate him so he can get out more.
Also his goal wouldn't have been so much easier accomplished if he just went up and said : Hey I am not mad anymore, I like you lets date and Ill help you come out of that shell of yours.

OK not to our bottom , he is shown to be extremely straightforward with everyone expect his parents.
He as soon as his parents find out he is dating a guy, freak out and ask him to break up. But they dont ask him in like a super mean way, they just say they would like him to and he does so immediately. I was super surprised because he held on to his feeling for the guy though him having a girlfriend, him bulling him in school and later on at uni.
But as soon as his parents say EH, he is like ok break up it is.
But this is still kind of relatable as he is shown to be extremely submissive to them.
However as soon as he does the top is like OK, ill change unis then and we are done.
I was sitting there being like so you are telling me: These two guys both have feeling for each other for years and one gives up because of his parents and the other one, who literally came up with a grand plan to make him happier etc, is like yup ill just accept that right away. WHY ?
I get that later on he changes his mind again and is like: Oh right I was this kind of character but what ?

One of the side character literally cheats and it kind of cheapened their story. I feel like they just did it to form a parallel between the start of the drama and the end. Scene at a doctors office.

2. Literally glossed over someone trying to rape someone else

OK i am kind of used to it to how casually rape is treated in these dramas but come on. His friend his like hey you have a new guy.. I dont like it. Lets try to rape him.
And after he gets stopped, he screams but we always share everything ?!?!?
Its like he never needed permission from the sexual partner but more like the permission of his friend !!
And he just shows up the next day to be like SOZ we are cool now right ?


3. Missing a ton of cute moments

Especially in the first half, I was just kind of hoping for some more really cute moments that I could squeal over. But this is super minor and really subjective.


Conclusion:

Its a good and solid BL. Not my absolute favorite of all time but its in my Top 50.