Chapter 10 Sud
Chapter Ten: Sud
Our theater arts professor showed the videos that made top marks to the entire theater arts group.
I sat in the auditorium with Bekki, Koman, and Save, all of us puffed up with pride because ours was included.
It was bizarre watching Noi and me onscreen.
Of course, I’ve seen the video before, but not on a big screen in a university auditorium with a large audience of my peers.
Seeing us portraying two people in a romantic relationship was like looking into a parallel universe.
There was a big whoop around the room when Noi’s character confessed to mine. I may have blushed a little.
A couple of weeks pass in the new term. The Best Boys website constantly posts photos of me and Noi taken when we eat lunch or walk somewhere together.
People say we have chemistry, and they’re shipping us hard, especially since word got around about the video we did together for my class.
Noi has blushed more in the last few weeks than he’s ever done in his life.
When a group from my class approached him the other day when we were eating lunch and complimented his performance in our video, his face turned the color of red dragon fruit.
After they left, Noi looked at me with accusing eyes, and I admitted to him that our professor had played the videos in the auditorium, something I was hoping he wouldn’t find out.
I had to buy him a bubble tea and dessert before he would forgive me, even though it wasn’t my fault.
Noi’s posts a few pictures on Instagram of him and his new friend when they were in Nakhon Pathom. They get a lot of attention, and a few people tag me like I’m going to get mad about it or something.
Fortunately, I don’t have football practice this term, as the season is over.
Noi comes to my place at least once a week to tutor me in math, my worst subject and his best. As a theater arts major, I’m only required to take mathematics for the arts, which deals in things like symmetry and proportion, but I still find it difficult.
On a Friday after a long afternoon tutoring session during which Noi takes my phone away, turns it off, and pockets it so I’ll concentrate, I finish my last practice problem and close my math book.
Stretching, I watch Noi gather the mess of papers we’ve been working on for the past several hours.
I notice he’s gained some muscle definition since he started running track recently.
He looks really good in the light blue shirt and jeans he’s wearing.
The doorbell rings, and he races to get it, coming back with the fried chicken I ordered.
“Why are you staring at me?” he asks, unloading the takeout at the bar that separates the living room from the kitchen.
“I was just thinking you’re looking fit.” I grin and poke his stomach. “Are those abs? Let me see!“ I make a grab for his shirt, but he dodges me, blushing hard. I realize that’s been happening a lot lately when I tease him. Ever since we filmed the scene, in fact.
I settle back on the bar stool and pick up a drumstick, my stomach growling. I haven’t eaten all day, and I’m starving.
Someone knocks loudly on the door just as I sink my teeth into the chicken. I look at Noi, but he just says, “Your turn,” through his bite of chicken.
Groaning, I wipe the grease off my hands and go to answer it.
Koman plows past me.
“What the fuck, Sud? Where have you been all day? I haven’t been able to get a hold of you. Did you lose your phone?”
I go back to my stool and pick up my drumstick again.
“Hi, Koman, want some chicken?” Noi asks.
“Sud?” Koman says, standing over me while I’m trying to eat.
“Noi turned my phone off and took it away,” I say around another big bite.
“He wouldn’t concentrate on his math!” Noi defended when Koman glares at him before turning back to me.
“And you didn’t come to class! Why today, of all days?”
“What’s so special about today?” I ask.
“It’s only the day Khun Khaewthong was looking for you because she got a call from Rainbow TV wanting you and Noi to audition tomorrow!
” Koman shouts. “I told her I’d give you the news, but I didn’t think I’d be trying to get a hold of you all day.
I just got out of my last class, and I came right over here. ”
I stare at him, the chicken leg falling to my plate. “You’re not lying to me, are you? Because that’s not funny.”
Now that he delivered the news, Koman collapses onto an empty stool and reaches for the box of fried chicken.
“No, mung, I wouldn’t do that. I know how much you want this. I swear on my relationship with my girl, if I’m lying to you, may she find someone else and leave me in the dust. I’m telling you, they want you and Noi for an audition tomorrow at noon.”
“Tomorrow at noon?” I look at Noi, who has also stopped eating and is staring at me with wide eyes.
“Why do you think I came all the way over here?” Koman asks as he chews. He looks at Noi. “You have any soda?”
“Why do I need to go?” Noi asks breathlessly, ignoring Koman, who gets up and crosses to the refrigerator, returning with a can of Coke.
“Because you were in the video, too. Duh.” Koman cracks open the can and starts drinking.
“I’m not in theater arts. I was only helping out! Sud’s the one who wants to be an actor.”
Shit. “Noi…” I begin.
Noi jumps to his feet. “But I was only supposed to do the video!”
“The audition is tomorrow, Noi. Tomorrow! And they said they want both of us! They’re going to want us to read together.”
Noi sits on the couch and crosses his arms over his chest, and I settle next to him. I feel bad. I know how much he hates being the center of attention.
“I’m sorry I got you into this,” I say.
Uncrossing his arms, he turns to me, face suddenly earnest. The thought runs through my mind that with his fine features, big eyes, and shapely mouth, I’ll bet he bowled over those execs who watched the video.
“This is way more important than a video exam, Sud. This is your future! If they like you, they may offer you a part in a series. They’re going to hand us a script, and we’ll have to improvise.
You need someone with you who knows how to do that, and that’s not me!
I had to work really hard to do that video with you. ”
My heart contracts. Because Noi isn’t even thinking of himself and his discomfort. He’s thinking of what’s best for me.
Noi’s warm hand wraps around mine, urging me to meet his eyes.
“I know you think I did a good job, and I’m glad. But I’m not an actor. Surely you have someone else you can ask.”
My mind runs through the faces of the male students in my theater classes, but I still can’t imagine doing a romantic scene off the cuff with them any more than I could when the video was assigned.
“Maybe if I had time to get comfortable with them, it might work. But not tomorrow,” I say weakly.
“What about Koman?” Noi asks.
I look over my shoulder to where Koman sits frozen, greasy fingers wrapped around a chicken wing.
“Hell, no!” he says. “No way. I don’t do that kind of scene.”
“But you’re an actor,” Noi argues. “And Sud’s your friend!”
“I have a girlfriend who would kill me if I act lovey-dovey with anyone else. Besides, if you think for a minute Sud and I wouldn’t crack up if we had to do a love scene, you’re crazy.”
“We did it without cracking up! Because, you know. We’re adults!“ Noi snaps. “And if your girlfriend can’t handle you doing love scenes, I don’t know how your relationship is going to last when you become AN ACTOR!”
I have to bite the inside of my lip so I don’t laugh out loud. Noi is furious, and Koman’s wiping his hands furiously in preparation for escape.
“Yeah, well you two are already half married,” he grumbles.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Noi starts around the bar, and Koman jumps up, almost toppling the stool in his haste to get away.
“I have to go. See you later.”
The apartment door slams, and Noi turns back to me, looking furious.
“He’s a dick.”
I say, “Don’t worry about it, okay? They’ll probably have someone there who can read with me.”
Noi paces the room for a minute, and when he turns to me this time, I’m shocked that he looks like he’s about to cry.
Getting up, I walk over to him and squeeze his arm. “Hey. It’s okay. I’ll make it work.”
Noi chews on his bottom lip until I’m afraid it will bleed and I stop him by pressing my finger to his mouth.
“I promise you it will all work out. I’ll find someone to do the audition with me.”
I sit down again and grab my notebook and a pencil.
“What are you doing?” Noi asks, sitting next to me.
“I’m writing down the names of everybody in class.
All the guys, anyway.” It takes a while, but eventually I’m pretty sure I’ve listed everyone.
After studying each name for the second time, I stop trying to figure out who would be best suited and go with who would be the least terrible.
Because I just can’t imagine playing a romantic scene with any of them and making it seem real.
I sigh. “Maybe I’m not cut out to act. In theory, shouldn’t I be able to choose any one of these people and act out a scene with them?”
“Give yourself a break. You’re new to this. I wonder what your dad would say about it.”
“Probably what you just did.” I tap the pencil on the paper.
Taking the notebook from me, Noi tosses it onto the table. “Forget it. I’m doing the scene with you.”
“No, Noi. You’ve done enough.”
“I’m your best chance. I’m going to do it.”
I argue with him for a while, but he’s made up his mind. I can’t help but be relieved, but I still feel bad that he’s having to do something he doesn’t want to do because of me.