@draksig
I actually started the Dali ship way back when the rooftop scene came out back in 2018 as I too sometimes pull the childhood friendship but mostly for the main beauty. It was kinda hard to like her sometimes but also times where she was rather cute even with her tsundere gig. Also after going back to old chapters a lot there seems to be a different side to her if you know why she does the things she do that would make people question or hate her. (But not all of them) I only held on hope that she'd somehow start changing up as time passed and so far that's been the case little by little. From seeing how she acts with him at times, to defending him against her dad, and from showing her past self before high school, it's easy to guess she really does love him but as you said she's most likely not aware of it and only finds herself just clinging to him because it feels right. Could be the case that just how Pyo has changed so much since what happened, she too could change once other stuff happens including her learning about her father's dementia. Now I also like Hyuna (blonde), and she would be like every other nice prostitute girl in every other manhwa, but for me I just like the development with the main girl better which seems more interesting than finding someone random to lean a shoulder on. Just the history between them two and the bond they share throughout the crap that comes between them is something interesting to keep on eye out on.
@Darudius
Park only protected her because she's Mr. Ahn's wife and wants to help him as redemption for what he did to him in the past. That's all.
They're not dating because Dali wouldn't admit her feelings for it, also with her being scared that if they
were to date, she'd probably lose him if they were to ever break up which is the last thing she wants. Right now it's more like they can fuck or w.e. so as long as Pyo doesn't leave her all alone. That's particularly why she's even going to college in the first place, she wants to keep by his side since she knows she can't be without him in her life. That's just how deep their bond really is even if it is a bit messy.