An Analysis of Hyesung

 

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Love is an Illusion! is an omegaverse BL webcomic by Fargo, known for her previous work, If You Hate Me So.

It follows the lives of Hyesung and Dojin.
Hyesung Kim grew up his entire life believing he was an alpha. He attends a party in hopes to meet a rich omega to change his life for the better. Unfortunately, his heat cycle begins halfway through the evening and none other than popular alpha musician Dojin Park is there as the recipient of Hyesung's pheromones.

After a one-night stand that neither of the men were prepared for, Dojin has a struck of inspiration for a song and manages to write an amazing song that he has never come close to replicating before. He figures the cause of this inspiration comes from Hyesung, thus the story progresses.

This analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate by the time LiaI finishes airing, so keep in mind this contains spoilers for chapters 1-37 of LiaI - with the introduction out of the way, let's begin.

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Many readers have the idea that Hyesung is a villain since he left his child in Dojin's care and wants to flee the country. While I do think that these actions are rather cold, it makes sense for Hyesung's character and also makes sense when you think about the things he has been through up until now. Why don't we take a closer look?

Ever since his childhood, Hyesung had the ideology that omegas are weak and troublesome. Moments before his test he's seen all excited, hoping to be diagnosed as an alpha, or at the very least a beta. There's this silent pressure of becoming an omega looming over him, to gain his family's respect he always reassured himself that he was an alpha like he was diagnosed to be. That he was not and could not be an omega.

When the doctors reevaluate Hyesung and rediagnose him as an omega, he's crushed. Clearly and very visibly shaken up and upset. Being an alpha was the only thing Hyesung believed he had going for him.

Despite all this, the pressure of "never being good enough" weighed heavily on Hyesung all throughout his adolescence. Because of this, he pushed himself beyond limits and improved his studying to the point he can make complicated calculations in his head in a matter of seconds.

He's bright yet very naive.

His naivety is shown through chapter 6 and 7 specifically where he attempts to undergo an "Omega to Alpha" surgery - which is impossible, by the way. When Hyesung mentions that he's short on cash, the managers of the establishment offer in a very round-a-bout way that Hyesung can make loads of money quickly by "keeping people company." Which obviously alludes to prostitution.

Although Hyesung ultimately hit his client and ran away after realising what situation he was in, it's obvious that he loathes being an omega and would do anything to change himself into an alpha.

It's also obvious that Hyesung's childhood and strict father had an effect on him, as when Dojin mentions going to stay with his parents, Hyesung visibly trembles with fear. Which is no surprise, considering his father would belittle him when he was a child, causing Hyesung to live with the mindset that whatever he did was never good enough.

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Hyesung's personality seems to take a dramatic turn whenever he enters a heat cycle. It's normal for an omega to become extremely aroused, however, Hyesung's entire personality does a 180, despite his displeasure of being an omega, in chapter 10 when he sleeps with Dojin, he claims he wants to become pregnant, that he wants to have a baby.

Whether or not these are 100% true desires or not, I'm unsure of, but I do know that there's a small percentage, even the tiniest bit that this is true. The reason why? Well.

Despite being in heat, Hyesung is still himself, I like to imagine heat cycles a lot similar to intoxication when it comes to manga/manhwa/manhua. Characters tend to be more open and more honest with their thoughts, desires and feelings whenever they drink, so I applied the same logic to a heat cycle. In both scenarios, you can't think straight and you have a severe lapse in judgement. If we think about Hyesung's emotions during a heat cycle the same as an intoxicated person's, everything becomes clearer, even if it's just by a tiny bit.

That's why I believe he wanted to have a baby. Probably not at that exact moment, though. Due to his lapse in judgement, he claimed he didn't mind getting pregnant at that time.

It's very obvious that Hyesung isn't very experienced romantically and sexually. This is shown when Dojin claims Hyesung isn't "blowing him right." He also comments that Hyesung doesn't know how to kiss properly.

It's very likely that Hyesung has never been in love before. In fact, I'd say with certainty that Hyesung hasn't been in a serious relationship or even had a proper crush before.

Dojin is the first person to treat Hyesung like a lover. Softly, tenderly with care. This is shown especially through Hyesung's pregnancy arc, which I'll touch upon later.

The reason I bring this up is because Hyesung changes, even if it's just a slight change in appearance to a more tolerable attitude, Hyesung changes once he starts living with Dojin. One of the most obvious appearances of this is right here.

"You've gotten prettier." It's a slight shift that pretty much comes out of nowhere from the conversation, yet it's obvious that this is important, at least in my eyes.

Your skin's fairer and clearer, and your hair's shinier too. It used to be as rough as a broom.

Though he claims it's because he's an omega, I beg to differ. Mainly because Hyesung was always an omega, even if he didn't realise until recently, he was still an omega. So his looks being affected by that wouldn't make much sense. However, it's common in romance stories of all types to use the word "glowing" when someone has been in love or is treated as a lover.

In this case, I believe that rather than getting prettier because of being an omega, Hyesung didn't actually change as much as we're told he has. Rather, it's this "glowing" sensation that surrounds his body, making the tiniest things that much more noticeable about him. For example, his skin and his hair. Two things that we're pointed out in this segment of the comic.

During chapter 14 when Dojin brings home a random omega, at first Hyesung is indifferent. He comments on how it was his dream to find an omega like that and make a family. He wishes he was an alpha once more before Dojin's face flashes in his head momentarily. Causing him to become erect.

While this may just be due to the fact they've had a strictly sexual relationship thus far, what follows is far more interesting to me.

During foreplay, Hyesung gets upset when he imagines Dojin doing this "just so he can get inspired again." Which means he doesn't like being used as an object, probably relating back to his childhood and how he was brought up with the ideology that omegas are inferior and betas, especially alphas will always place higher in the hierarchy.

Upon meeting Sooyoung we see a different side to Hyesung. One we're not used to. Genuine happiness. Sooyoung and Hyesung were classmates in middle school, notably, Sooyoung confessed to Hyesung. It turns out, both Sooyoung and Hyesung got a wrong diagnosis. While Sooyoung and Hyesung thought they were alphas, Hyesung turned out to be an omega and Sooyoung a beta. They're seen at the coffee shop chatting away and laughing. Hyesung is smiling in a way we've never seen before.

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Finally, the pregnancy arc. Probably the most important arc currently available to read. Hyesung is three weeks along and, much like a child, throws a tantrum and exclaims that he'll get rid of the child. Which isn't unbelievable when you think about the sequence of events.

A one-night stand with a rich guy > Moving in with said rich guy > Sex during heat cycle > Two acts of more forceful sex > Pregnant with the rich guy's baby

The closest thing to romantic affection Hyesung has had with Dojin is lust. Which has only occurred during his heat cycles. Outside of that, Hyesung thinks of Dojin as a pervert, although he treated him kindly, he was an alpha and in Hyesung's eyes, he's only been using him for inspiration. So they're not on the best terms at the moment.

They're also practically strangers, it's no wonder Hyesung considered an abortion.

I'm not saying Hyesung is totally innocent. He acts spoiled and similarly to a child. He uses Dojin's caring nature towards him and the fetus to get him expensive gifts and food. He manipulates Dojin practically throughout the entirety of the arc.

At this point in time, it's obvious Dojin has romantic feelings towards Hyesung. He cares about him and he also cares about the wellbeing of the child growing inside him.

However, Hyesung's emotions are still very fuzzy.

Hyesung doesn't realise the reality of the situation, he doesn't even acknowledge there's a baby growing inside him unless it's needed. Whenever Dojin wants sonogram photos, he showers Hyesung in gifts just so he'll take the picture. The entire time he acts incredibly spoilt and reassures himself multiple times that he's only giving birth to get the money from the contract he and Dojin signed.

Although Hyesung acts cold, he really does care about the acts Dojin does for him, like getting him takoyaki at one in the morning.

Hyesung apologises and acknowledges the effort Dojin went through to pick the takoyaki up for him. It's a small thing but it really does show that Hyesung appreciates what Dojin does, even if it's just to a minimal extent.

Even more of his empathy comes out in chapter 29 when he sees his father again. He immediately panics and shuts down, being hospitalised by Dojin. When he comes to his senses the first thing Hyesung asks is "Is the baby okay?" Proving that he really does care for his child and wants it to be safe and healthy, despite nagging about how it was in good condition earlier.

Hyesung knows that it's not Dojin's fault and reassures him that he'd find out his true identity in time. During one of the most intimate scenes, Hyesung actually laughs, shares a genuine smile with Dojin - this shows that Hyesung is slowly opening up to Dojin, even if he never intended to.

After giving birth, Hyesung immediately vanishes from his hospital room and is being kept hidden while he waits to relocate to a different country.

Which brings us up to date with all the major points of the plotline thus far, and of Hyesung's character thus far.

As of right now, I can't say for certain Hyesung's emotions and feelings towards Dojin, but I can tell you that he cares for his child, and it's clearly shown. Hyesung doesn't want his child to be rid of. He's scared but deep down he knows Dojin wouldn't do that. Dojin isn't capable of doing something like that, and I believe deep down he misses Dojin.

The reason for that is because of the jacket when Hyesung enters his heat. Maybe it's because Dojin thinks of Hyesung as his omega. Only his. Maybe it's because of the connection the two made as alpha and omega but I'd like to believe that there's another weighing factor here, and that's love.

A deep love hidden inside Hyesung that he's scared to let out because the very idea of being in love is frightening to him. Think about it; Hyesung doesn't have experience in love and Dojin looked after him and nurtured him in ways a lover would, dare I say, even more lovingly than your average partner would. After everything Hyesung has been through, it's hard to trust people. Even if all he wants is to be by their side, he wouldn't know until the last minute because he's so inexperienced and scared of love. 

That's been my analysis on Hyesung Kim from Love is an Illusion!
Thank you so much for reading this far and have an awesome day. Feel free to comment your own opinions and theories! I'd love to hear them.