RAD Science 12: Project Air
Just read this book again! I think book 12 really sets up Eric's story for his role in the future books. The scene where Mr Kim rejects him always hits me. Eric really does love his grandmother, but I can't help but think a part of him grasped at that opportunity to try to win Mr Kim's sympathies. Regardless, when Mr Kim rejects him and he says "Sir, I'm really scared," that- gosh, he really was scared. It's a pity what a grim, cynical anti-hero type Eric becomes because of this. This perceived betrayal was the last straw for Eric, after being abandoned by Mr Kim, and this excellently sets up his character and motivations for the rest of the plot.
Then we get to Mr Kim. What in the world?! He straight up hangs up on Eric to tend to U-ju, like w-what?! How can he do that?! He has that moment where he looks stunned when he finds out Grandmother is dying, but he makes his decision so quickly, as if it wasn't hard at all. When Eric is tortured mentally it's easy to see, but Mr Kim? We see him panicking when U-ju has to be sent to the hospital, but when Grandmother is in a critical condition the competition is more important now?
There's a part where Mr Kim says "your grandmother was the one who taught me that," and that really made me wonder about their relationship. What did Grandmother teach Mr Kim that he puts his team before her? Why did he override his initial reaction to the news to tend to U-ju? (Does this have to do with the incident from eight years ago?) Why did Mr Kim look so grim when telling U-ju that Grandmother was his mentor? It didn't look like a "my mentor is dying" look, it looked more like a "that is my shady past and I'm not proud of it" look. Is there something going on beneath the surface? A secondary reason why Mr Kim didn't want to go to England? Why did he look so guilty in the Arena, like he lied to Eric or something? Where in this book do we see him mourn for his mentor? Is there something about Grandmother that Eric doesn't know?
But oh, Grandmother. I really do feel for Eric. Even his parents are just faceless figures of authority there to place expectations on his young shoulders, but Grandmother has her flowers, her smile, her memories, and to think that Eric is now truly all on his own... he would be scared. It seems that no one cares for him anymore, not his parents, not Mr Kim, and now Grandmother is gone... Oh, Eric...
What really struck me about this book is Eric's emotions; his demeanor and his expressions. This is the last time we see Eric being vulnerable around Mr Kim, and it speaks volumes about the deterioration of their relationship. Mr Kim doesn't even comfort Eric after rejecting him, just says, "you mustn't give up too," like what?! I believe Mr Kim does really care for Eric, but... has he truly given up on him? Why does he flick his hand away? He acts so impersonally after hearing the news, and then tries to get personal again after the competition? What? But right, back to Eric. We already start to see his resentful side coming out, like when he sees Mr Kim with U-ju, and when he tells Mr Kim that what they did in the past was meaningless. It only goes down from there (and the fact that Mr Kim basically gives up just makes it worse). But there are times when Eric's expressions totally contradict his inner turmoil. We see him smile as he tells his mother he can't go back to England, and when he talks to his team. Those are the times he is Eric the heir, the team leader, the teacher. He does not have the time to cry over Grandmother, and it's sad. He just smiles and goes on wth life, with the competition, with winning medals, and Mr Kim just steps back and watches him, as if he's all grown up and doesn't need him anymore. (In spite of what they both say, we all know better, don't we?)
Argh. I have so many questions and so many feels. Eric's storyline always leaves me with food for thought. Well, there's nothing to do except read book 13, right?
