Chapter 39: Unsettled

In the last chapter the boys were living life large (almost too large), so in my opinion it is very satisfying to find them back down to earth in this chapter.  This is a novel, so while big and dramatic events may transpire from time to time, chapters like this reflect the reality for most of us; life is lived in series of small small steps rather than huge leaps.  I firmly believe that it’s the normal and routine events that make this story real and relatable, and show us that the characters are not very different from ourselves; living lives not terribly removed from our own experiences.  I assert that this makes the work stronger overall. 

Back at school and into their preparations for the basketball event at Huamark Indoor Stadium, the boys are entrenched in their regular routines with a twist.  The twist is that they’re coaching next year’s Cheer Club leadership while they simultaneously prepare for their duties during the tournament.  The Cheer Club leadership and general members gather near the north exit of the campus awaiting the arrival of the vehicles that will take them to the stadium.  Each of the current club leaders is paired with his successor(s).  Pete keeps tabs on Earn, Odd and Choi, before ordering everyone on the bus, while Earn reminds them to ensure they have all of their signs and props.  Their future replacements chime in with characteristic orders as well; Odd telling them to enter single file, while Choi reminds them to sit next to someone they like.  It’s no big surprise that Pete compliments Odd for his practicality and Earn sides with Choi’s enjoinder for comradery.  This gives rise to a learning moment for each of the younger boys at the instruction of the older, with Pete telling Odd that being too direct can come off as bossy and Earn telling Choi that being too friendly and familiar can undermine the ability to lead.  In the end, they point out the importance of each boy learning from the other boy’s strengths to develop into a well-rounded leader.  Upon conclusion, the four board the bus and the group heads out. 

Next Pete gives us a recap of the developments from the prior week’s Valentine’s Day celebration where we learn that Lhew and Earn are getting along famously, and that each subsequent get together has mainly been Pete with Earn, Por with Josie and Lhew with Card.  It seems that since Valentine’s Day, Ngaw has expressed to Lhew that he doesn’t like her hanging out with rest of the group.  Ngaw and Lhew are still dating, but Ngaw is kept in the dark whenever Lhew hangs out with her friends.  Pete sort of understands where this originated, but cautions Lhew not to sweep this under the rug.  She tells Pete she wants to let Ngaw calm down a bit before bringing it up again.  Pete also reflects on the status of his s*x life with Earn which is still firing on all cylinders, and it appears that they are settling into their roles in bed, with Pete mostly topping Earn, except when Earn is particularly .  Pete understands why Earn likes to bottom, but he’s not such a big fan.  In fact, he openly vocalizes his discomfort resulting from the previous night as the bus bumps along on the way to the stadium, such that Earn asks him if he’s okay before trying to defend himself with bedroom details Pete is not particularly interested in hearing about just then.  Pete promises to pay him back, but then notices Earn getting excited by his threat instead. 

Upon arrival, Choi and Odd instruct everyone to disembark with an assist from Pete and a follow-up threat from Earn.  The group lines up and they walk into the stadium along with the Basketball Team which arrived by a separate bus.  Pending the arrival of the coach, Student Council President Fi is in charge of the team since apparently a Student Council Member must facilitate at off campus events, with the assistance of Top, the President of the Basketball Club.  Earn, Pete, Tee, Fi and Top meet with the stadium coordinator, then Fi announces to all present that they have 3 hours for both practices.  Top adds that each group will have to cut their practice times in half, followed by Earn explaining that the sessions will rotate every 30 minutes just like the real event.  Pete clarifies Earn’s statement by telling the group to treat today like the legitimate game, and Tee announces that everyone will warm up together, garnering a large groan from the Cheer Club.  Card jumps in to tell them that they’re going to do it and that they’re going to like it, after which Earn dispatches Por and Hack to prepare the sound system and get some music playing.  As Top instructs everyone to get ready for warm-ups, Pete drags a recalcitrant Fi into the practice fray.  Fi tries to back out explaining he hasn’t got extra clothes, a towel or a water bottle.  Oil comes up from behind Pete and Fi wrapping an arm over the shoulder of each and tells Fi he’s got him covered.  As Fi stammers on, Oil cuts to the chase telling him not to be lazy, and that if Petey can keep up, then so can he.  Fi declares that he can’t lose to Pete, so Oil turns to Pete and asks him if he needs any inducement to get revving.  The answer comes from Earn who tells Oil that Pete is perfectly fine as he removes Oil’s arm from Pete’s shoulder and replaces it with his own.  A blushing Pete chimes in that he’s fine and just wants to get started with warming up.

Hack’s hesitant announcement over the loudspeaker that they’re ready is followed by Por’s loud voice blaring across the stadium as he chides Hack to speak up.  This in turn causes the Angels to run toward the booth to put up the playlist.  Pete and Earn walk off to get ready with Earn hanging off Pete’s shoulder, but Pete notices Earn looking back at Oil, so he asks Earn what’s up.  Earn plays it down and asks Pete if he’s going to change or stay in uniform making Pete realize that they are going to be doing a dress rehearsal.  When Earn starts ing his shirt, Pete stops him because he knows many of club members have a crush on him (while simultaneously damning Por for putting the idea into his head).  Pete suggests that they move to the restroom and clueless Earn wants to know why he’s so shy as he unthinkingly s the top button on Pete’s shirt.  With giggling eyes from both clubs upon them, Pete flatly states they are moving to the restroom as he drags Earn along.  Once inside, they each enter a stall and Earn asks Pete what’s up.  Instead of replying, Pete asks Earn if he is aware that a chunk of the club has a crush on him.  Earn doesn’t care if they do, but suddenly asks Pete if he’s jealous.  Pete might be, but simply doesn’t like others ogling Earn.  A shirtless Earn quickly enters Pete’s stall to say he’s cute when he’s jealous.  Pete tells him to shut up but turns red as Earn closes in pinning him to the wall saying he’s not the only one who gets jealous while running a finger down his neck and onto his chest.  Although it’s left to the reader’s imagination, it’s heavily implied that they fall into a passionate kiss.

Por gives the pair a hard time for taking so long once the boys return to the group and asks if they’ve seen Hack anywhere.  Pete reports they passed Hack and Dirk with a group of others headed to change and reminds Por to do the same.  Por gets surly and starts changing in front of them, allowing Pete along with several onlookers to see how cut his body has become.  In the process of disrobing, Por starts complaining about never seeing Hack around, and declares he’s going to give him a beating as he grabs his clothes and races toward the restroom.  Referencing Por, Earn tells Pete not to gawk and points two fingers from Pete’s eyes to his own telling him where to keep his eyes focused.  Pete pushes the hand away and tells Earn not to be so paranoid and wraps his arm around him.  He explains to Earn that he just noticed how cut Por has gotten but that he’s still Por the dumba*s.  Earn agrees and then gives an annoyed glace over at the team, saying they should get warmed up.  Pete messes up Earn’s hair and then runs ahead and spins around giving him a big smile and tells him to take the lead as usual.  Earn fixes his hair and beams back at Pete as music blasts through the stadium.

The warms ups begin and Pete notes that his training with Earn has given him the upper hand compared to most.  He notices Por trying to hang back to talk with Hack, as does Dirk.  Apparently Fi is getting his a*s handed to him and is clearly in the wrong place.  Pete notices Earn keeping himself close by as they line up for the relays, placing them near Oil and Fi as well.  While waiting to be tagged, Oil chats Pete up about how his Valentine’s Day went, and Pete picks up on Earn’s displeasure as he runs back to tag Pete’s hand and looks past his shoulder.   As the warm-ups enter the last stage, sit-ups, things turn into a bit of a competition.  Por drops out at 89 and gets teased by Pete, but Por answers back and badgers Pete who only got to 55.  Pete privately blames Earn because of his sore a*s.  Pete points out to Por that at least Hack was cheering him on and Por grandstands at his accomplishment to a smiling Hack.  Even Dirk throws him an accolade and Por gloats about his abs and his prior efforts to earn them, then Card slaps Por’s stomach to emphasize their fragility.  Pete’s attention returns to the count at 108 as Top and Bomb drop out, leaving only Earn and Oil.  At this point Card asks Pete if he’s going to stop them. When Pete asks why he should, Card remarks that Lhew is right in characterizing Pete as oblivious, implying they are competing for him.  Before Pete can ask what he means, the count hits 120 and Earn drops out leaving Oil to continue.  Oil eventually jumps up pounding his chest with his fist while Fi claps his hands together making a comment about having a healthy competition while directing everyone to take a break and get ready to practice.

As they walk over to their bags for water, Pete notices Oil smiling from ear to ear at him, but Pete is more concerned with Earn.  Earn lays on his back with disappointment written all over his face and Pete is worried about him as he sits down next to Earn’s head and tries to cheer up his Panda.  In spite of Earn being clearly perturbed, he tells his Penguin that losing to Oil is no big deal, so Pete obnoxiously puts his hand on Earn’s stomach and pushes down causing him to wince in pain.  Laughing, Pete stands and offers a hand up while telling Earn that he’s still number one to him.  As Earn pulls himself up, Pete whispers that Earn is also his first, while simultaneously reflecting on the lingering pain from the previous night, and then they call each other erts in succession. 

Depending on how you look at it, I’ve picked up at least four interesting threads in this chapter.  The first (already mentioned) being the older boys instructing their younger peers in taking over club leadership, and a second is Por feeling the tug of Hack being pulled away from his orbit by his growing independence and gravitation toward Dirk and the younger group within the club.  Por’s griped about never being able to find Hack when he needs him, and he’s made efforts to try and steal time here and there to chat with his little brother, so clearly there is something brewing there.  The third thread is the continuation of Pete and Earn’s intimacy, and by that I refer not only to their physical, but more importantly their emotional intimacy.  They are now being written more like a couple than ever before, as the exchanges between them indicate.  Their thinking and joking shows cohesion of both thought and feeling, and their emotional concern for one another and the ability to read each other emotionally is more developed, although by no means complete.  The fourth thread is that of the interloper, Oil and the rivalry/threat Earn harbors toward him.  Pete seems to remain clueless about Oil’s intentions, but Earn does not, although this thread is about to loom much larger as the chapter continues.

Pete comments that the 30 minute rotations with the basketball team go smoothly and he admits that his earlier concern about Earn going shirtless in front of everyone was stupid since the performance has them showing skin anyway, plus they decided going shirtless helped them work out the routines better.  All of this, plus the shirtless basketball team, helps Pete adjust to the situation.  With a break at hand, Earn hands things over by ordering Tan, Kurt and Owen (Future Marketing and Financial Heads) to take over while everyone else changes into costumes.  As Earn, Pete, Por and Card walk down the hall, Earn remarks how much nicer it is to have lots of people to delegate to, while Por accuses him of being excessively demanding during the Soccer Event the prior year.  Earn admits it was their first real event and he had no idea what he was doing and didn’t know whether to be friendly or bossy.  Card points out that they are much more organized and familiar with things, noting that even Fi is now cool with the Angels performing this time around.  In reference to the original controversy surrounding the Angels, Pete makes a joke at Earn’s expense about him being too excitable and Por quickly piles on causing Earn to facepalm and call them idiots.  Suddenly a group of guys run past them headed by Rad and Kal with Rad twirling something over his head.  Meanwhile Rad tongue lashes Odd for wearing an athletic supporter at practice as a shocked Choi brings up the rear.  Odd calls back for Choi’s help in getting the jock strap back before Rad catches up to the Angels walking ahead.  The group laughs at this scene and then turns around to look behind them when they hear Tee talking to Dirk and Hack, and Por urges them to keep walking while he drops back to join Hack.  Pete turns to Earn and Card remarking that Por seems to be having issues with Hack growing away from him and Card agrees, but Earn points out this is all to Hack’s benefit.

The boys change in the midst of group mayhem and hazing, and Card shares with Pete that since Hack only meets up with Por for computer training, Por rarely sees his young friend much.  It is also apparent that Hack growing closer to Dirk has left Por feeling like he’s being replaced.  They suit up into their formal costumes, which Pete feels make them look like waiters.  The Angels sport a slightly more feminine version of the same costume with mini pompom bracelets in place of ties and blouses in place of dress shirts.  The group gets big stares as it enters the stadium for their last practice.  The club members and the Basketball Team cheer loudly as they finish the last of six runs through.  Por comments that the more feminine boys act like they’ve never seen the group shirtless before, but Earn is showboating and encouraging them to cheer like that during the actual performance while flexing for the crowd and eliciting squeals of approval.  Pete just slaps his stomach and drags him off the court over his excuse that he’s just goofing around, but Pete threatens that ‘this bird’ will poke his eyes out.  Earn apologizes for making Pete jealous with a dopey smile, and then orders everyone back to practice.

Pete declares the final run through a success, but overloaded on water, he runs off to use the restroom and grab some fresh clothes.  After relieving himself he takes a stall and begins changing thinking about how Earn’s earlier behavior pissed him off because they had just discussed the jealousy issue but Earn showed off anyway.  He feels frustrated because he knows Earn so well, yet somehow doesn’t at the same time.  Pete hears a familiar voice burst into the restroom and head to the urinal as he finishes dressing.  The voice calls out asking who’s there, and Pete answers, realizing he’s talking to Oil.  It seems Oil made the same mistake Pete did by drinking too much water and tries to warn Pete not to fall into the same trap, but Pete has to admit he’s too late.  Oil simply replies that the circumstance is a blessing in disguise for him, leaving Pete wondering to himself what Oil means before asking for clarification.  Oil tells him that the coach was just lecturing them about rough housing and Pete is relieved, thinking Oil was talking about something else.  Oil congratulates Pete on the Cheer Club’s routine, and Pete jokes that their best suit is their s*x appeal while grabbing his clothes.  Oil wholeheartedly agrees, and slips in a compliment about Pete’s physique while staring at Pete’s abs, making him blush.  Pete tells him that he acts like he’s never seen his body before and reminds him that they’ve played ball together in PE, but Oil jokes that with the routine they just did he’s flaunting it.  Pete decides to take the opportunity to talk to Oil about his rivalry with Earn, and why they compete so much against each other.  Oil says he really doesn’t know, adding that when they played on the Soccer Team the coach always pitted them against each other.  Oil is surprised when Pete tells him he knew that because he used to watch their practices back then.  Pete explains he and Earn would walk home and study together afterward, and realizes in hindsight to himself how oblivious he was about his feelings toward Earn.  As Pete puts on his shirt, he asks Oil if there is some way to stop the rivalry because it’s creating rift between the clubs.  Oil says there’s a simple way to stop it, and an intrigued Pete asks how, not being fully prepared for his answer.  Oil flat out asks Pete on a date.  Pete is baffled by the proposition, stating he thought Oil liked girls, but Oil corrects him by stating he likes boys too, and Pete immediately recognizes their similarity.  Pete makes it clear that he’s already dating someone, and Oil remarks he has a feeling he knows who it is, adding that Pete not telling him is only into girls completes his surmise.  Oil proposes that if Pete’s willing to date more than one person he’s still interested, but Pete reiterates that he’s in a relationship, and tries to ease Oil’s disappointment.  Thinking that it’s better to know the truth, Oil tells Pete his good nature is going to get him into trouble one day, and Pete wraps an arm around his shoulder and tells him that even though he doesn’t like him in that way he still thinks he’s a good guy and gets a small grin in return.

Pete continues to try and cheer him up as they head back to the court, but he admits to himself that Oil’s actions were too friendly for him just being a nice guy and he doesn’t hold out much hope for them being friends.  The two separate and head to their groups and Oil’s teammates upon his return, while Earn watches from behind the bleachers.  When Pete returns Earn comments that he and Oil looked pretty chummy coming in together with an air of negativity.  Irked by Earn’s comment, Pete fires back that Earn was acting the same way a little earlier while showing off to the crowd, and Earn states that was because of Oil.  Feeling exhausted over the drama, Pete demands an explanation, and Earn responds that he doesn’t like Oil being around him and that losing to Oil earlier made him want to feel admired and special.  Pete assures Earn that he is always viewed that way while placing a hand on his shoulder and staring into his eyes.  Earn looks away, saying he doesn’t always feel that way, but Pete turns his head back to face him and repeats his earlier assurances.  Earn starts to comment about how he feels whenever he sees Pete with Oil, but Pete just embraces Earn and reminds him that he is the only person he loves.  Earn tells Pete he loves him too, and that he wants to kiss him right then and there.  As their bodies close in, suddenly a certain loud voice is calling them faces and telling them to hurry up.  They turn to see Por dragging Hack and Dirk by the nape of their necks with Card and Tee following behind.  The boys learn they are being dragged into a game of DOTA against a team fielded by Hack and Dirk and three other underclassmen bringing up the rear.  They quickly agree that they have to teach the younger ones respect as Por hurries them along saying the faster it’s over the sooner he can get to Josie while releasing Dirk from his grip but keeping ahold of Hack.  When Pete wise cracks about how he knew this would somehow lead back to Josie, a smirking Earn pipes in that it’s because Por is like him, while Card stifles a laugh.  Tee and the freshman are all confused, but Hack understands the situation completely.

At the close, Pete senses the shaky emotions they’ve been through and wonders if it’s just the upcoming event that has them all keyed up, although he also realizes that they are all in this together.  He looks forward to getting past the event and back to his studies, his friends, and more cuddle time with Earn.

The chapter paces out as it started and we conclude a fairly routine day in lives of our boys.  In the last third or so, Oil makes his move, but instead of the story making this into huge deal, it plays the encounter very low key.  Oil asked nicely and Pete declined nicely.  This leads me to believe that the “Oil thread” is not yet over.  That’s not to say that Oil will continue to pursue Pete, although he might get a second wind (who knows?), I but firmly believe that Earn will not let go of the issue of Oil and Pete.  I mentioned above that there were at least four interesting threads running through the chapter, and Earn’s jealousy/rivalry with Oil is the fifth, and I can clearly see it carrying forward into subsequent chapters.  I’ve been waiting for that Pete-Oil tutoring session and the dinner afterward to come back to haunt Pete, and though I’m still waiting, I know it’s got to be coming.  I’m also intrigued about Por’s thread emerging as it does so strongly in this chapter and wonder if it has a future, although I can’t imagine what that could be.  It’s clear to me that all Por’s friends observed the same thing and all commented on it, so it’s not trivial.  At any rate, I look forward to what this has set up for the future.  There is one final thread in this chapter revolving around Lhew that splits into two directions.  The obvious one is the issue that Ngaw has with Lhew hanging out with her friends and the unresolved reason as to why he feels this way based upon what he witnessed during the performance on Valentine’s Day.  The other potential direction is the Lhew-Card connection.  Is there one, and is it shared or is it one-sided?  Is it related to what Ngaw and Pete saw during the performance, or was Lhew looking at someone else on the stage and becoming entranced?  It is interesting that when Pete mentioned the group hangouts since Valentine’s Day, he paired Lhew and Card together, but is that a natural coincidence because they are friends, because the others in attendance are couples, or is he making the connection like he did before because he never completely believed their respective denials that they weren’t each other’s type?  There are lots of questions, but few answers at this point.  I have no doubt that what Pete hopes to see for the near future will be complicated with unexpected events and challenges, but hopefully it will also be sprinkled with some pleasant surprises here and there.  Another solid read.  Cheers!

SIDE NOTE:

Today April 12, is my birthday. I got a birthday greeting from my favorite actor. If anyone knows me personally, I'm a huge fan of Ngern and love his amazing talent. I'm sharing the post I made on FB because it basically sums up why I love to write about his character and how he became my number 1 fave actor. :)

I was so excited and couldn't sleep for hours when I received this. I had requested it not expecting anything since I'm just a weirdo fan who supports and follows this actor and love his work in TV, modeling, and acting. Since the first time I watched him in Lovesick my eyes went straight to his amazing acting and hearing his words in the last episode of season 1 where he didn't care what people thought about the first episode and just wanted to act made me fall for him as a fan even more. I'm so happy I got a handwritten birthday greet from him. Thank you Thirachai Luangsodsai for helping me and Ngern Anupart for being an amazing actor. You gave me the best birthday gift I can ever ask for and my mind still can't process that I got something so fantastic. I can't say thanks enough.