Work Text:
The Eye That Touches the Abyss is finally complete!
I might add some self-indulgent side stories to the series later, but they probably won't hold much narrative value. Besides, the thought of translating them into English is already exhausting(lol). Still, since I love this couple's dynamic, I might eventually add some "nutritionally empty" but explicit extras. I’ll likely avoid simple PIV scenes, as they don't feel particularly interesting to write.
As long-time readers may know, English is not my first language. I relied on AI for the translation, so I’m aware many sentences might feel awkward or "translated." I want to sincerely thank everyone who pushed through that clunkiness to read until the end. I especially tried to extract dialogue that sounded as natural as possible for a native speaker; I hope that effort reached you. I’ve even gone back and edited posted chapters multiple times—I wonder if anyone noticed.
To everyone who left Kudos, Bookmarks, Subscriptions, or even just read silently: thank you. This was a story I wrote mostly for myself, so I was genuinely happy to see any response at all.
The initial motif was a generic smut trope: 'a man voyeuristically watching a woman addicted to masturbation.' It started from there, but as elements like 'scat' and 'a man suppressing his desires' were introduced, the story became quite complex. While trying to give Junho—an inherently unrealistic character—some sense of plausibility, the scope of the story expanded.
Initially, Junho had no backstory. He was just a man who accepted Minji's self-destructive behavior while holding back his own arousal. However, in order for Junho to logically accept Minji—who goes as far as coprophagia—I needed to provide him with a strong foundation of causality through a proper backstory. Even smut is better when there’s a believable reason behind it. Consequently, it evolved into more of a psychological drama than a simple erotic tale.
As I mentioned in the main story's end notes, Minji reflects a lot of my own psychology—though not entirely.
As for the structure of the sequel, you might have noticed that Dating: Day 15 and Dating: Month ∞ form a circular narrative (bookending). In the former, they stop at a kiss while watching an action movie; in the latter, they have sex while a romance movie plays. Was this planned? It just happened that way as I wrote.
Because the story expanded as it went, there were some inconsistencies in the narrative. I tried to fix many of those during the translation process. There are still plenty of gaps I’d like to bridge if given the chance, but for now, this is my limit. I especially want to refine Junho’s past, but I don't think I can touch it any further at the moment.
You might have noticed, but Minji and Junho never once exchange the words "I love you," even after they become a couple.
This is partly because Minji was exploited by Jiseop, who used those words as a tool for manipulation and emotional exhaustion. For Junho, the phrase simply feels insufficient to capture the true depth of his feelings for her.
Interestingly, this wasn't something I planned from the start. In the writing process, Minji’s past was actually the last piece of the puzzle I completed, and the specific details of her history with Jiseop were improvised as I went along.
My writing philosophy is strictly grounded in the question: "If I were this character, would I truly act or speak this way?" Under that logic, the phrase "I love you" just didn't seem to fit them.
Junho might eventually say it one day, but Minji never will. She will choose to show it through her actions instead.
After the sequel, Minji and Junho aren't "cured" of their traumas.
Minji no longer eats feces(lol), but she is still addicted to masturbation. Junho still harbors his obsession with eyes. However, by accepting each other’s "abnormalities," they’ve reached a state where they feel a little less lonely. That’s what "Eyes filled with warmth" was meant to convey sensually.
To me, that is the most realistic form of trauma recovery.
If Junho had told Minji to "go to a hospital," I’m certain she wouldn't have listened—she would have broken even further. Part 2: The Girl from His College Days in Junho’s past extras was meant to represent that exact failure.
His obsession with eyes is quite chilling and tragic if you imagine it in real life, but I still love him. The same goes for Minji. I love them both because they are imperfect and broken.
A bit more about Junho:
He often seems like he’s being dragged around by Minji (especially in the IF extras), but in reality, Junho could overpower her whenever he chooses. He simply has no desire to do so.
He is a man highly experienced with women and very skilled in sex. Due to his past trauma, he developed an uncanny ability to read between the lines and pick up on physical cues. His eye obsession is an extension of that. A prime example is when he told Minji her masturbation in the supply closet "You looked lonely."
I don’t imagine Junho as a conventionally stunning romance novel lead. He’s an ordinary-looking East Asian office worker who looks good in a suit. He’s usually calm, but has a beautiful, childlike smile.
You might wonder how someone who used to be foul-mouthed and rough could change so much, but ten years can do that to a person. I think he changed into his current self because he was an immature coward back then. Anyway, I love him dearly. I’d call him a "Sickly/Broken Unicorn."
If you have any questions about the work, please feel free to leave a comment. I will answer them sincerely.
Thank you!