Team watches as P'Waan comes back to the car, not waiting for him to even get in properly, "Did she agree?
"Not yet, I left the documents for her to look over and make a decision. But from what I saw, I think she will." He sighs and sits back closing his eyes. "What did you get me into?"
Team smiles, "Let me drive P, you look like you could use a rest." P'Waan doesn't argue. "Wow, I have never driven a Porsche before. Are you sure you trust me with your car?"
Waan snorts, "This is nothing, if I could trust you with Win, who by the way is much more precious, I can trust you with this car." He looks over at Team who just stares at him blankly, "Relax Team, no need to get all sentimental on me, I was just stating a fact. Have you asked Win and Dean to meet us for dinner by any chance?"
Team clears his throat, "Yes P'Waan." Team goes silent for a second trying to put his thoughts into words, "I meant it P, when I said that you are my role model. I just want you to know that I didn't just say that for the benefit of Rider. What you did today was so pure, it made me feel so proud and happy that I actually know you. Most people worship the ground their idols or favorite celebrities walk on but for me, you are much more special. I would ask you if I can have the privileged of calling you 'Hia Waan' but that is reserved for Hia Win, he will always be the only Hia in my life, but that's how much I respect you." He doesn't look at him knowing that if he did they will never leave this driveway.
Waan closes his eyes again, taking in the words. He is so grateful for everything that has happened in the past year. Even all the bad , it brings them to this moment. Who knows if they would even be here if not for Win finding Team. Everything always links back to this kid. How could a one night stand result in them finding themselves, learning to love themselves, growing with each other and learning to understand each other. Never has he ever been so grateful that his little brother lived on the wild side. He smiles to himself thinking about it. "Thank you Team, for everything you did for me and my family." Team looks at him confused.
"Huh? I don't understand."
He just smiles and shakes his head. He turns and looks out the window at all the lights and traffic passing them by. How insignificant we are in this vast world but yet, you meet people who come along and make you feel like if you weren't around the world would stop rotating. Team is one of those people for him. Finally he can rest assured that his Win will be okay. He can start living now, not having the burden of always looking after everyone. He is free, he is finally free.
******
Win and Dean wait in the restaurant for his brother and boyfriend, who are late. He gets impatient and calls again for the third time, hearing a phone ringing behind him and turning to see Team. He looks at him closely and instantly feels his face get hot, "What the hell did you do to Team Hia Waan? Why is his eyes puffed up like he had been crying? Wait... Why are your eyes puffed up like you have been crying too?"
"Oi Hia, just relax. What could P'Waan have done to me? Maybe give us time to get settled before the interrogation begins." He gives Win a look showing him that he is not impressed by his assumptions.
Waan laughs, "How do you know he wasn't the one that made me cry? You only care about your boyfriend it seems."
"Yes, I do. I have clearly seen that you can take care of yourself, we didn't forget you had the lead role in the drama of our life stories." Win looks at Team, "Are you sure that you are okay? Talk to me, what's going on?"
Team sighs, "Can we get food first, I'm starving. P'Waan and I had lunch hours ago." He gets himself settled before they start their serious conversation. He got permission from Rider to tell his story, knowing that its so personal he needed to ask before telling it to anyone else. He had offered that he tell it himself but he refused, not wanting any sympathy from Win and Dean after all he had done to them. "P'Waan has something he wants to say to you both." Deciding to throw him under the bus. He can feel the stare that P'Waan is directed at him but doesn't turn around, just sips on his water silently."
Waan sighs, this kid really is something else. "Firstly I need you both to listen to me until the end. Do not interrupt, have an open mind and hear me out. Any objections?" They both shake their head signaling they don't. He begins recapping everything that took place since the park and earlier at the kids house. Win and Dean just stare blankly at him once he is done. He doesn't register the look in Wins eyes, but he can sense that his brother is concerned. "I promise you that I am not being taken advantage of, all of this was my idea. I admit that after the kid told his story I was taken aback feeling bad that I exposed them but this is also a good business deal, dad agreed after seeing the numbers and profit margins."
"I trust you Hia Waan, more then I trust our own father. I'm just worried about you."
Waan nods at his brother, "I know, and I'm thankful for that. I just feel like this is something I have to do."
Win accepts this, "I understand this kid better and I do agree he should be given a second chance, I have no objection to him coming back to the club. But that is not up to me and Dean alone, when we underwent this fight we did it with the entire swim club. Yes he can go to the university but if the boys in the club refuse, I'm sorry but I will stand by their decision. Its not like the two of you can go around telling his story to every person to try and make them understand." Win feels so conflicted in this moment. He too wants this kid to overcome his demons and make a better future for himself but he cant disregard the people who put themselves at risk for him and Dean.
"I agree with Win on this, the only thing we wanted out of this whole thing was for him to be punished and learn from his mistakes, we were not trying to mess up his future. This is something we have no control over. Its up to our brothers and I too will stand by their decision. I'm sorry P'Waan if this doesn't turn out the way you want." Dean looks at him apologetically.
Waan knows these two are right, he has no say in this. "The best he can do is ask for a second chance, its up to the person if they choose to forgive him. He knows there will be consequences to his actions if he does get back to the club. I'm just asking that you consider it."
They all agree to let this play out and see where it leads them, Team has to convince them to let the kid back in. This was he can watch him and keep him in check. But for now this is enough.
******
Win and Dean reach the club and see everyone standing around waiting for them. "What's happening here?" Win looks over and sees Team with the kid standing opposite the crowd of angry swimmers. He sighs and looks at Dean who just stares back at him. He looks and sees the ABC gang at the front of the merry band of warriors and sighs again. "I know what you all are thinking and let me just tell you that Dean and I have no say here. Yes we resumed as the president and the vice-president but letting him back in the club is solely up to you guys. When we decided to fight the university we did it as a team, so now in this moment we will do it as a team too." He watches the boys eye him in confusion. "What?"
A steps up, always the public speaker representing the group. "You are not opposed to this P'Win?" He looks at his friends who match his confusion.
"Everyone deserves a second chance A, please guys consider this. How will he change if we don't teach him?" Team looks at them pleading with his eyes.
"You keep quiet. You are easily manipulated and a pushover. I don't trust you to make a judgment based on logic. You're too emotional." Sea stabs his finger in Teams chest.
The kid already apologized to him and Dean earlier this morning. They made sure he knew where they stood in this situation. He was a whole different kid then the one they are used to. "He apologized to both Dean and I, he will also apologize to all of you. If you cant trust Team then trust me." They all look at him shocked, not expecting him to stand up for the kid. "Everyone has demons and we all choose to express those in different ways. This kid chose wrong and he knows that now, he also knows that he will not just waltz back in here and we will accept him with open arms. There will be consequences and penalties for his actions. This is what we wanted from the start." He walks up to the ABC gang and places his hand on Bees shoulder, "This is up to you boys, everyone here has a choice to make this happen or not, you stood by us when we needed you all so now whatever you decide we will stand by your decision. Every last one of you has a say and if even one of you say no to this then that's the bottom line and we move on from this."
Dean joins Win, "I will vouch for him too. He will not be able to compete this whole year but will still train and be on the team. He will also undergo sensitivity training and we will still all together, even if he is not accepted back, make a code of conduct for our club so that this doesn't happen again. Dont rush this decision. Take some time and talk about it amongst yourselves and let us know what the verdict is. There is no pressure here, do what makes you all most comfortable because this will be your home for the next few years. Lets meet tomorrow once you all have time to think and make your decisions." They all nod in agreement still not looking sure. He walks over to the kid, "Even if you don't get back in I hope that you will still walk the path that you chose here today. Dont disappoint Team and P'Waan who believe in you, most importantly kid don't disappoint your brother who is always watching." The kid nods at him not saying a word, he turns and notices all eyes are on, "What? You are all so nosy!" He turns and walks away smiling to himself. This should be enough to get him back on the team he thinks to himself.
******
Win leaves Tul, Team and Wiew inside playing games and joins Hia Waan on the balcony, both of them silently looking into the night sky. There is so much he wants to ask but chooses not to. Deciding to just enjoy his company for now. He hears Waan sigh and turns to see him eyeing him curiously. "Do I have something on my face?"
"Yes, contentment. I haven't seen you look this relaxed and in the moment in years. The last time was probably when you were a child. No doubt Team is to thank for that."
Win just smiles at his big brother, "What about you? I could say the same thing to you. Tul?"
"No actually Team is my answer too." He laughs at Wins confused look mixed with a bit of jealousy. "Relax, I'm not trying to steal your boyfriend." He shakes his head taking in a deep breath, "I want to thank you for finding him Win, this kid single handedly brought us closer together without even knowing it. It all started with you, opening yourself up and making better decisions. I saw how you grew in just a matter of months. It inspired me to be better too. Honestly if I hadn't seen the love you and he had for each other poor Tul wouldn't have stood a chance. I'm the older brother but I learnt so much from you after you met him." He removes his glasses and massages the bridge of his nose, feeling all the tension and strain from the past few days hitting him in this moment. "You had no identity in this house you know that? You were a filler, being whatever any of us needed you to be." He hears Win take in a sharp breath but continues, "When you finally let go, all of us here could see the change, you became someone you wanted to be, you found yourself despite us all putting you in a corner you never wanted to be in but stood there because we needed it. For the first time in your life Win came before any of us and it was glorious to watch. I envied you in that moment, I wanted that so badly for myself too and I finally found it, after years of searching."
"Hia..." Win looks at his brother not knowing what to say, not knowing where this was headed.
"Look at them Win." He turns his brother to face the three boys all laughing and fighting each other. The joy on their faces warms his heart, "Dont they look like us a few years ago back when we were happy? Team brought us back here Win, somehow he managed to wiggle his way into all our lives and we are better for it." He watches Wins eyes fill with love and smiles. "You know he told me I'm his role model? He was so proud of me for doing the things I did over these few days. I have to admit it made me want to keep doing these things just so he would look at me the way you and Wiew used to when we were younger, before I became a complete tool. I'm sorry I haven't been much of a big brother to you and Wiew but I will change that, I was reminded that its the small things that count. I lost my way for a while, please forgive me."
Win grabs his brothers shoulders making him look at him, "We always looked at you that way Hia Waan, you just didn't see it because you didn't love yourself anymore. You didn't see the fights Wiew would have with dad because of the way he treated you, you didn't see how both of us stood up for you at every turn. Wiew may be more attached to me but he doesn't want to be me when he grows up, he wants to be you. Do you know that he wants to do business even though its not his passion? He wants to do it so he can lessen the burden that is on you. I'm glad Team brought you back to us but I want you to know that we never left you, no matter how much of a tool you became." Win pulls him in for a hug, not really sure why. This is so awkward for him because he doesn't show affection to his big brother but when they were being told the story of the kid and his brother, he couldn't help but feel like someone was using a grater on his heart, all he could think about was Hia Waan and what he would have done if anything had happened to him.
He pulls away from Win, "Don't do that again, maybe next time shake my hand or something." He watches Win laugh and agree, they do love each other very much but affectionate? No. That's reserved for Wiew who basically forces you to love him and show him affection. "You know Team told me he respected me so much that he would ask to call me Hia Waan?"
Win immediately narrows his eyes at his brother, not liking this statement at all. He feels himself burning with jealousy even though he knows that they do care about each other like actual brothers, still Team calling him Hia... "What did you say?"
Waan laughs, knowing he got the reaction he wanted. Win is so easy to tease. "He said I would ask you to have the privilege of calling you Hia Waan but that is reserved for Hia Win only. He will always be the only Hia in my life."
"He said that? I will always be the only one?" Win is soaring in the clouds right now. Hearing this makes him so happy. He looks at his brother excitedly, like a toddler who just received candy.
"Hmm, he said that." He snickers seeing the look on Wins face.
"Well, for me you will always be my only Hia." He watches his brother pull in a breath. He hears his mother scolding the boys in the lounge and they both turn to see the commotion taking place between the boys. His father comes in and threatens to take all their electronic devices away if they are not at the table in 2 minutes. He watches them all quickly wake up and start straightening up the cushions and blankets on the couch before running to the table where their mother was setting all the food down. She looks at the two of them questioningly. Their father turns to them and points at his watch, "2 minutes are up, Waan, Win, your electronics please." They both turn to each other and just smile shaking their heads. Finally a house becomes a home, filled with love, laughter and family.