{ Original title: 징크스 | Publisher: Lezhin | Audience: Mature }
Jinx is one of the rare manhwas that releases simultaneously in Korean and English, thanks to Lezhin having the rights for both versions. I enjoy getting the chance to read along when the original version is released, and I really wish more manhwas were the same. It feels more inclusive that way, but beggars can’t be choosers so I’m just thankful whenever an official English translation is released.
Although I’ve been reading Jinx since it debuted, I’ve never covered it here before so I’ll give a poor quick overview:
Joo Jaekyung, reigning Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion, believes he has a jinx that requires him to have sex the night before any of his matches or else he’ll lose. Kim Dan, a physical therapist down on his luck in more ways than one, agrees to “help” Jaekyung with his problem for some cash. Lots of things happen…and after saving Dan from some loan sharks, Jaekyung allows Dan to live with him, under the guise that it’ll make it easier for him to get his “treatments” if they live under the same roof.
(That was a terrible summary. Go read the description from Lezhin for a better one.)
And so now we find ourselves at episode 30.
Dan is interrupted during his morning routine by Jaekyung needing some toothpaste. He barges into Dan’s bathroom and makes himself at home.
Dan’s starting to notice that something’s different in their interactions lately. He’s beginning to get flustered in Jaekyung’s presence. But why? Honestly dude, even I don’t know why. We’ve seen how Jaekyung treats him, and other than a couple of instances (seriously, if you blink, you’ll miss it) where Jaekyung shows a kinder side of himself, he’s just been a complete asshole. But this is a BL manhwa so…
After visiting Grandma in the hospital, Dan makes his way to the gym, where he’s greeted by the other fighters chowing down on some rather delicious looking boxed lunches. Apparently, a popular actor named Choi Heesung has come for a private training session with Jaekyung and brought the meals with him for the group.
I love these gym guys. They’ve been nothing but comic relief, and they all seem like genuinely kind guys. Quite a refreshing contrast to Jaekyung. And honestly, I’d have the same reaction whenever I’m given free food.
Dan expresses his surprise (as do we all) when he learns that Jaekyung semi-regularly spars with Heesung. The two are represented by the same talent agency, so Jaekyung does this favor sometimes. Though it sounds like Heesung pays a lot for the sessions anyway ?
The session ends and as Heesung and his manager are getting ready to go, Heesung remarks that his left wrist is sore. Dan offers to take a look at it, and if this comic had a soundtrack, we would’ve heard trumpets and a choir of angels start to sing, because Heesung instantly becomes smitten with Dan.
Heesung is just as pretty as Dan, so it’s kind of funny how he immediately falls in love with Dan and calls him an angel. Judging from the reaction of his manager, it seems that this is a common occurrence for Heesung. Dan being Dan doesn’t have a clue who Heesung is until he remembers him from a popular drama he watched with his grandmother. (By the way, I love how most things in Dan’s life is in reference to his grandma. It just emphasizes how much she means to him and how attached he is to her.) The two converse while Jaekyung looks on.
I’m going to take a wild guess here and say that Heesung is going to be the vehicle in which Jaekyung starts to feel something for Dan. It’ll come off as irritation as first, I’m sure. “How dare you pay attention to someone else when I’m paying you to take care of my needs?!” etc etc. But it’s gonna blossom into something from there, and I’m sure none of it is going to be easy for Dan.
