Chapter 18: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Thame wasn’t too happy when Jun returned to the Mars house and announced,

“I’ve sorted everything about Nano. I asked Phi Po to talk to Phi Ming and Phi Tae about letting us join the camp together. Then, we’ll corner Nano there and talk it out.”

It wasn’t clear what irritated Thame more - Jun handling everything without consulting anyone or Jun involving Po.

“What’s with those faces?” Jun asked when he noticed the question marks hovering over everyone’s expressions. Pepper spoke up first.

“We’re just shocked you’re actually helping out.”

“This isn’t just helping, it’s smart helping,” Jun said smugly. “I checked to see what work at the office could get Nano to meet us. And bingo! Chicken essence ad campaign with the lovely Khun Kaem. I was going to use my looks, but nah, too precious. Let Phi Po handle it. Might as well let our undercover agent shine.”

Dylan clapped a few times, then said, “A smart guy who doesn’t show off, but a show-off like you…” “Call me a genius,” Jun cut him off, finishing the sentence to suit himself, even though Dylan might’ve meant it as an insult.

“So, when’s the camp happening?” Pepper asked.

“It’s happening in 5, 4…” Before Jun could finish counting, Mick sent the schedule to everyone’s phones. Jun grinned in triumph and glanced at Thame, as if seeking approval, but Thame only asked, “When exactly did you talk to Phi Po?”

—

Thame grew even more annoyed when he called Po to ask about the plan to bring Nano back. It wasn’t the explanation that upset him - it was the way Po kept mentioning Jun.

“So, I told Jun that Nano’s Instagram reminded me of my old self,” Po explained as he flopped onto his bed, scrolling through Nano’s Instagram. It was filled with posts of him diving, fishing, knitting, painting, pottery, and cooking. “I said if Nano won’t talk to the band, I’ll talk to him because I think I understand him.”

“Can you explain it to me then?” Thame asked, his tone flat.

“Unlike Dylan or Jun, with Nano it’s not about past grievances - it’s about the future,” Po said. “It’s about looking forward and not seeing anything, so he’s grabbing onto anything he can.”

“Isn’t the band supposed to be that thing for Nano?” Thame asked, puzzled.

“Coming back together as a band should be what he wants, right?”

Po went quiet for a moment before replying, “Let me get that answer for you.”

Thame nodded, nearly forgetting his irritation - until Po added, “Oh, and Jun already planned how to steal some time during the camp for me to talk to Nano. Jun’s amazing, isn’t he? Comes up with plans and everything.”

Thame let out a sharp exhale, as if trying to vent his frustration, but it didn’t work. All he could say was, “That’s it, I’m sleepy. Bye,” before abruptly hanging up.

—

“Phi Thame is definitely jealous of you and me,” Po said while eating lunch at the camp’s rest area. “Last night, when I mentioned you, he hung up.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Jun shot back.

“Thame’s never been in love. He wouldn’t even know how to feel jealous.”

“But you said his type is petite girls. And now you’re saying he’s never been in love?”

“Having a type and being in love are different things, genius. Listen up, he hung up because he was tired, not jealous.”

“But...”

“Drop it. The more we talk, the dumber this gets. Have you prepped to talk to Nano?”

“Yeah.”

—

Jun’s plan for the camp involved a sumo wrestling game. Thame, Jun, Pepper, and Dylan would gang up to push Nano out of the ring first, giving Po the chance to interview him and uncover what was holding him back.

At the sound of the whistle, the game began on a grassy field surrounded by nature, with the Mars members’ newly pitched tents in the background, all part of the scripted setup for the client.

As planned, Thame, Jun, Dylan, and Pepper targeted Nano. Although Nano dodged them multiple times, they eventually pushed him out. Po exchanged knowing glances with the remaining band members, who continued the game, while Po took Nano aside to have their talk.

—

Nano sat on a foldable camping chair while Po set up the camera across from him, pretending to film an interview for Mars’ farewell concert.

Nano spoke according to the script provided by the company.

“Someone as talented as Phi Thame will succeed no matter where he is. I’ll always cheer for him from here. I’ll definitely snag tickets to his show in Korea.”

“Okay, cut…” Po said, stopping the camera before picking up his iPad.

“Can we keep going a bit? I want to know, after the band ends, what do you think each member will do next? What about you?”

“I’m thinking about trying something completely different,” Nano said.

“Not sure yet - I like a lot of things. Cooking, traveling, learning languages, diving… they’re all great.”

“Everything you’ve been posting on Instagram?”

“You’ve been stalking my Instagram?” Nano asked, surprised.

“Your posts reminded me of a friend,” Po said. “They went through a transitional phase, trying lots of things, but it was all out of fear.”

Nano froze, staring at Po, as if his words had struck a chord.

“What were they afraid of?”

“Disappointment. My friend poured everything into something, thinking it would define their life forever. But when it didn’t turn out that way…” Po remembered watching footage of Nano over the years. Nano had always been incredibly dedicated to being an idol. He’d worked tirelessly as a trainee, improving faster than anyone, perfecting every dance move, and delivering flawless performances with unwavering energy. But when the band didn’t meet expectations, unlike the others, Nano couldn’t see a clear path forward. As the main dancer, he didn’t have a plan for what came next.

Returning to the idol group might’ve given Nano a sense of belonging, but it also made him question whether he’d always have to rely on the other four. Was his identity tied to the band forever? Could he only exist as part of an idol group?

The idol group was his happiness and dream - but also his sorrow.

“If one day Phi Thame decides to stop…” Nano said plainly. “I’d be the only one left behind.”

For Nano, learning became his safety net. It was tangible, a way to prepare for a future where he could stand on his own, no matter what happened.

“It doesn’t have to end that way,” Po said.

“Really?” Nano asked. “But if it’s the same book, won’t the ending always be the same?”

“Thame’s rewriting the last page with you,” Po replied.

Nano tilted his head. “Are you the one who convinced Phi Thame…?”

Po nodded. “Actually, today’s plan? Your bandmates orchestrated it to talk to you. They really want to rewrite the ending with you.”

—

Po snuck Nano over to meet Thame, Jun, Dylan, and Pepper, who were waiting by the tents. Earlier, Po had told Mick and the others that Thame and Jun had fought and stormed off into the woods, sending the staff scrambling to search for them and leaving the camp private for Mars.

“Phi Po told me to listen, but no matter what, I don’t want to depend on you guys. My role can’t go anywhere else anyway,” Nano began.

As soon as he finished, Jun exclaimed, “And you think I have it all figured out?”

“Yeah, I’m doing dramas, but do you know I’m just an extra? After this, I don’t know if I’ll get another gig. I might end up helping my mom sell fried chicken.”

“And you think I’m some hotshot producer?” Dylan added. “I’m just writing underground songs.”

“There’s no way I’ll go back to being a singer. Everyone only remembers me as an emcee,” Pepper said with a self-deprecating smile.

“So we depend on each other. What’s the big deal?” Jun pointed at Po. “You think someone like him, starting a new career at his age, has it all figured out?”

Po shot Jun a glare, but he admitted, “Jun’s right. How old are you?

Everyone stumbles, relies on others - it’s normal. Falling doesn’t mean you have to stay down.”

“But isn’t it people like Phi Thame who make it out okay?”

“And where’d you get the idea that I’m okay?” Thame interjected. “I couldn’t even keep the band together. You call that okay?”

Nano fell silent.

“Exactly,” Thame continued. “If we’re all so messed up, let’s just get back up together. If we fall again, we’ll carry each other through it.”

“And honestly,” Jun added, “you’re probably better off than any of us. You can do so many things now - more than me, Dylan, Pepper, or even Thame.”

“What’s the big deal about being the main dancer?” Pepper asked. “Lisa’s a main dancer too, right?”

“But she raps.”

“I can teach you to rap,” Dylan offered immediately.

“Or Thame can teach you to sing - just say the word,” Jun chimed in. “But if you don’t say anything and just keep running, how are we supposed to know what you want? You think we’re mind readers?”

“Oh, come on! Are you here to convince him or scold him?” Po asked.

“Both. So, what’s it gonna be?”

Nano paused, then proposed, “If I want to learn to sing, will Phi Thame teach me?”

Thame smiled. “Of course. Let’s start right now.” Without waiting, Thame grabbed a guitar and began teaching Nano. From now on, Nano wouldn’t just be the main dancer. Mars would no longer have rigid roles. They’d push one another forward, letting everyone grow and shine in their own way.

As Po looked at the scene, it seemed like Mars had finally regained all five members.

But, in truth…not yet.

TO BE CONTINUED.