Who Is the Worst Villain in a Romcom?
In any sweet love comedy, you're bound to hit those unexpected bittersweet twists sooner or later.
Like when the male lead gets dragged around by another heroine. Or when a nonstop parade of guys hits on the female lead. It ramps up their emotions, leading to uncontrollable misunderstandings.
From a reader's perspective, it might just feel like pointless frustration... but I love those scenes because they show the realism of romance—how things don't always go as planned.
What? You think I've lost my mind from choking down all that frustration? Sure, some people prefer a straightforward plot: they date cleanly, get married, have kids, and roll credits to a happy ending.
But when that misunderstanding finally clears up, and you see them connect even deeper... it's impossible not to feel that heart-tug.
After gorging on clogged-up frustration, that one burst of satisfying relief sends shivers racing through every inch of your body.
Especially in stories where you know the endgame couple is set in stone.
That's the charm of romcoms, right?
So here's a question.
Who's the biggest black-hearted villain in a romcom?
The friendly neighborhood big bro next door? The senior who teaches you all sorts of club stuff? The straight-A student offering to study together?
Nope... all wrong.
The most dangerous, the one you really need to watch out for in a love comedy is none other than...
The childhood friend.
That single word is invincible.
"We've known each other since we were kids~"
"We've seen each other buck naked and it wouldn't faze us!"
"Mom just sent over some side dishes, that's all."
The ultimate cheat code among cheat codes. It's like a combo of every other villain type I mentioned.
The male lead can't even get mad about it—he just stands there like an idiot. Even though the childhood friend is totally into the female lead.
The female lead acts all shameless about it, with zero guilt toward the male lead, and that attitude earns her a barrage of hate comments from readers. Total scumbag move.
But that's exactly why writers can't resist using it—a devilish recipe for the perfect asshole character.
Whatever... throw in villains or whatever drama, as long as it's fun, who cares.
"What the hell is this situation?"
Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I was so floored I couldn't speak—hell, I wanted to dunk my head in the toilet and end it all.
Baek Haon.
The side character from my favorite romcom web novel. The childhood friend of the main heroine.
And the story's absolute worst villain was staring back at me from the mirror.
When I first opened my eyes here, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted me.
Where...?
Last night, I'd holed up in my room bingeing the final chapter of my all-time favorite web novel. Being the finale, tears had gushed out—I couldn't hold back the emotions.
Before the感動 faded, I closed my eyes, replayed the best scenes in my head, and drifted off...
"Ugh..."
But when I woke up, I was half-crippled.
Trying to move sent excruciating pain crushing every joint. My vision was blocked—one eye covered in bandages. One arm was sealed in a cast like I'd left it behind in the Stone Age.
What the hell happened?
Clueless, I glanced around. A doctor-looking guy checked my condition.
"Are you awake?"
"Yeah... uh, where am I?"
The doctor gave the obvious answer to my dumb question.
"You're in the hospital. You'll need to stay admitted for a while. Patient Baek Haon is awake—please contact his guardian."
His words stirred up a storm of anxiety in my head.
Baek Haon? That Baek Haon I know?
I couldn't comprehend it, couldn't accept this reality.
"Uh, can I go to the bathroom?"
With the nurse's help, I headed straight there.
"Huh?"
That's when I realized things were seriously messed up.
Is this a dream? Did I get too immersed yesterday and now I'm having this vivid one...?
Just to test, I tried flexing my casted arm.
"Gahhh..."
It felt like someone had smashed it with a sledgehammer.
Honestly, I didn't want to believe it. This being real was too much to deny.
But...
One more test might mean high-fiving the grim reaper early, so I stopped.
Calm down first. Freaking out now would just get me labeled a nutcase.
The mirror showed the exact Baek Haon from the novel: sharp jawline, fierce eyes, straight nose, and that striking sky-blue hair.
Anyone would mistake him for a celebrity.
Damn, he really is stupidly handsome.
I touched my face lightly, staring at the reflection.
Of course—the author had put real effort into designing him, so this was baseline.
But why Baek Haon of all people...?
As a reader who'd finished the whole thing, recalling his atrocities made me sigh deeply.
Childhood friend title? Not bad. Just play the side role perfectly, right?
Problem is, this guy's irredeemable trash.
Looking at this mess, it's obvious he got beat up in a gang fight.
A thug who acts sweet in front of the heroine while pulling every dirty trick to split her from the male lead. The kind of scum the top comments say belongs in a dumpster.
And that's me now.
In short, sticking to canon means prison by age 20.
Leaving my jumbled thoughts behind, I shuffled back to the room.
"...You're seriously the worst."
Someone was waiting for me.
With a look of utter disgust, no less.
Ah, so this is today.
As a reader who'd looped the story five-plus times, I clocked the situation instantly.
From who the stunning girl in front of me was, to how this scene becomes a major turning point.
"...She's really pretty."
"What?"
The words slipped out unconsciously.
She faltered for a second.
"Sorry, but don't act like you know me anymore. That's why I came to visit today."
She waited for me to sit, then dropped the bomb she'd been holding in.
Honestly, I felt kinda wronged.
I hadn't done anything... just looked at her, and boom, rejected?
Anyway.
The girl stared at me with a resolute face, waiting for my response. I replied indifferently.
"Got it."
"...Huh?"
She looked shocked, confused—like, this isn't how it's supposed to go.
"I said got it. I won't cause you any trouble from now on."
"O-okay. Take care."
With that, she left the room. I sat there dazed, staring blankly at the spot she'd vacated.
How did I feel?
Just pure awe.
Because I'd laid eyes on Chae Serin, the main heroine.
Talk about accurate to the source material...
The novel described her like this:
Her purple hair shimmered like a galaxy had settled into it, her eyes embedded with stars born from its depths. A mature figure beyond her peers drew every man's gaze, topped with her signature haughty, cynical smile...
I'd been impressed by my own face in the bathroom mirror, but this transcended awe. A face sculpted by God himself.
Too bad...
As the afterglow faded, a wave of emptiness hit me.
In the original plot, this warning from Chae Serin is when Baek Haon starts his acting. Not real reform, but full-on deception to hide his thug life from her.
Bonus: the pathetic begging like a dog for "one more chance."
But I skipped it.
Not because I hated the humiliation—leaving her side felt like the rational choice.
In a novel, he's a necessary evil. But in reality? Better off gone.
As a canon-ship purist, I can't tolerate some punk meddling.
Wonder when I'll head back...
I'd always wished to see the characters in person, but I wasn't delusional enough to ditch reality for it.
Sudden possession was hard enough to swallow.
No truck crash, no drunken death.
Just normal sleep...
"Eh, it'll work out somehow."
Wish granted, so close my eyes and wake up home? I drifted off.
"Shit..."
If there's a god, they'd be laughing their ass off at me right now.
I flipped them off at the sky in defiance, but all I got were pitiful stares from passersby.
"Why aren't I going back?!"
My arm was back to normal by now, and I was trudging to school.
Possession perk? My body remembered everything from before perfectly. Saved me from getting lost.
Really drove home how much of a piece of shit Baek Haon is.
His parents had basically given up on him.
Only middle school second year, and already like this—fair enough. But stabbing your parents in the heart? Unforgivable.
"Mother, Father. This one will straighten up."
Manly Kim Jun-su here. Expert at reforming punks—especially if it's myself.
Past life...? Anyway, before possession, my life was steady.
Athletic build got me into a sports university. Gym coach recommended me for UFC debut. Rose as a prospect, then quick retirement from injury.
After that, personal trainer at a gym, reading novels on the side.
How many punks had I dealt with? More than fingers and toes could count.
Folded truckloads of cocky gym rats in half. Kicked out nuisance gangs from the gym dozens—hundreds—of times.
Me, a punk? Perfect reform material.
"Might as well restart training while I'm at it."
Pick up where injury left off, right here.
Silly in a romcom, but...
If I can't go back, I need a way to survive.
Brimming with ambition, I headed to school—and immediately...
"Yo, Haon. You good? Discharge party drinks? Big bro's calling hot girls tonight."
"Light up a smoke. Rooftop."
"Hey, loser! Buy plenty of snacks and drinks for our Haon at the canteen."
The punks needing education swarmed me.
Middle school life's gonna be busy.
High school brings fresh romcom vibes whether I want it or not. Until then, why not a fight comic arc?
"All my 'friends'—rooftop, now!"
At my word, the smirking mob shuffled up en masse.
"Let's see how far this body holds up."
Exactly three days after starting school.
The school's stale cigarette stench and delinquent vibes? Wiped clean.
Just the sound of turning pages and scratching pencils echoing through.