#bad buddy rambles

[dimpledpran]

Things I learnt from Bad Buddy!

1. You don’t always have to live up to your parent’s expectations. It’s not your responsibility to carry on their dreams and hatred. You are allowed to live your own life and follow your dreams. But that does not mean you have to do it in a rude and disrespectful manner. You can have a decent conversation with them to try and see if you can come to a mutual agreement, if not, you can politely agree to disagree and continue living your life.

2. The people whom you think might not be right for you, can end up being the best person for you. Let people in, you don’t always have to be in control of your emotions. And the people you thought you could always rely on might break your trust sometimes. (I’m still very pissed that Wai never apologized for what he did. I’m not mad that Pran forgave him, that is his decision. But I really wish that we had that conversation as to why outing someone is never acceptable)

3. You might be someone who just realised your sexuality recently and can be totally comfortable with coming out. Or you can also be someone who knows for a long time, and still choose not to let people know. Your sexuality is yours, it’s not something you have to announce, and it’s also up to you to decide when/whom you decide to tell.

4. Your parents may not always know what’s best for you. They might want the best for you, but you decide what is right and best for you. And they are also not without faults. Sometimes you just have to learn when to bite your tongue and wait for the day you get to be free.

5. It is very important to have a close knit of friends/family you can trust. It is completely okay to rely on people. In fact it is great to have someone you can call your safe space, someone you can be raw and open with.

6. It is very important to have honest and open communication in any relationship. That trust and mutual respect for each other as equals are the basis for a solid foundation for any relationship.

7. Fight for your dreams and passions. Life is too short to live by someone else’s rules. If you strongly believe in a cause, never stop fighting for it. You might be the only one who cares, but don’t let the world change you. You can still make a difference!

8. Life is also too short to be serious all the time. So have fun, play some pranks (without hurting anyone), have some crazy bets, do some stupid stuff. Let loose and have fun!

[key2world]

when you realise that Pran singing Our Song is the most vulnerable confession he could have made. when you realise that Pat listened and remembered every single time Pran was engrossed in scribbling something down; in the back of their highschool classroom; in the corner of his room which is supposed to have been out-of-bounds for Pat; in the school library; in the space between the sofa and the living room table; all that time he was writing, he was bleeding out in words, inked love on paper— just for Pat. when you realise that Pran was hiding, hiding away those heart-plucked lyrics but not anymore. when you realise that Pat now understands why Pran was being so quiet and careful about it. all that time he spent loving Pat and now, Pat gets to know. it’s defined; the length and breadth and depth of it; so heavy, so much that Pat can almost feel it and he wonders how Pran carried it for so long. when you realise that Pat recognises Pran’a starting speech from somewhere because it’s déjà vu; all those summers ago, perched on the bench under the golden sunlight with his hands poised over his guitar, Pran had talked about a melody twined around two forbidden lovers with unforgivable fates. when you realise, like how Pat realised then and there, that those two forbidden lovers are them- Pat and Pran; Pran and Pat; two people who were once meant to be nothing more than enemies; who now can’t be anything less than lovers; two halves never to be made whole.

[key2world]

You know what breaks me? It’s that Pat is “a lover not a fighter but he fights for what he loves”. He confronts to protect his loved ones; he chooses the right path even if it presents a difficult journey; he believes that every obstacle has a solution.

But when the problem is a person and that person is your own father; your beloved idol; your lifelong standard— what then? When that depressing loneliness he suffered and smiled through was all for a stupidly, selfishly wretched lie— what then?

He’s hurt and he’s repulsed and he’s so, so lost because he doesn’t know what comes next. His father’s face haunts him everywhere; in the house, in the car, in the college, in the rugby clothes in his closet, in the bathroom mirror when he’s washing away his tears. That’s when he realises he’s- they’ve got to get away.

Yet, no matter how far they get, he knows can’t really run from this; from the half that made him; from the person he once wanted to be- would have been- could still, still be.

This is what breaks me: Pat isn’t trying anymore because the one person he fought to become wasn’t ever actually fighting for him. In fact, he wasn’t even on Pat’s side to begin with.

[key2world]

Bad Buddy: Post-Analysis

(mild spoilers ahead!)

ok so there’s a 60/40 chance I’m reading way too much into this but- this scene-

-this terrible, cruel scene keeps haunting me and I think I’ve figured out why. It’s the constant shifting of the blanket between Pran and Pat, which I’m beginning to believe means something more; something symbolic.

At the beginning, we see Pat whining and wheedling his way into Pran’s space. Pran responds by hesitantly sharing his blanket; he subtly allows it to happen. After that, we have the *Conversation* and sweet, stupid Pat thinks everything is resolved. He obliviously snatches up the blanket without realising he’s leaving Pran cold and uncovered and heart-broken. For a moment, a single moment, Pran allows it to happen. Then, he realises it, regrets everything and rips the blanket out of Pat’s grasp; his walls are back up; he’s no longer defenceless.

Now, the tables are flipped. It’s even more significant when you look at it from Pat’s side. At first, he covers himself up; becomes this model who’s perfect; who meets expectations. Then, he finds Pran again and all of that is reduced to what it really is- a blanket full of lies. Suddenly, he can’t hide himself behind it anymore; he’s completely bared for all the world to see.

So… in a way, the blanket represents them, their dynamic and their future.

[key2world]

when their hands met in the beach scene with the sand under their palms and the seawater flowing through their fingers and - my god. the symbolism. they grapple for the moments they spent together because every second they hold onto slips through their fingers like sand; like water. but still, still they hold on- they meet in the middle because you can’t keep them apart from each other the way you can’t keep waves away from the shore; they are soulmates; they are serendipitous.

[key2world]

I feel so much for Pat. He’s a person who needs solid, verbal affirmation- we’ve seen this over and over again- but the one person who fills up his loneliness won’t properly acknowledge what Pat means to him or what he feels for Pat. Of course, we know and understand why but Pat doesn’t. It’s nothing like the terrible, physical distance he had to face for those three long years and yet, it’s a different type of loneliness; a void without words.

Whenever I think about this, I wish and wish and wish. Pran’s already progressed from calling him a jinx or feigning hate towards him to sort of acknowledging their friendship. I hope Pran continues on bravely; I hope he states, out loud, that Pat is a friend; I hope that, one day, he voices his feelings and declares why he’s fallen for Pat. It would be cathartic, I think, to fill that void with love and reciprocation.

[key2world]

The soundtrack used for the rooftop scene was so sublime, so perfect I had to search it up and— do you know what it’s named? It’s named Cold Light of Day. The irony of all ironies; they are drenched in darkness but the song that plays signifies daylight.; the sounds of sunrise, even as the night falls around them. Is it because of the dawning realisation they face- of shared loneliness and bitter-sweet love? Is it because they crash into each other and burn like a thousand splendid suns? Is it because they‘ve finally, finally found the light- the love- of their lives?

[key2world]

Bad Buddy: Post-Analysis

(mild spoilers ahead!)

Not sure if anyone’s mentioned it before but I noticed the brilliant symbolism of the camerawork towards the ending of ep 8 and I had to get it out here. After the curtain falls (along with all our hearts, I know, I know) the camera shakily focuses on the theatre crew.

Then, it starts panning up so we get Safe and Loui in the seats. Next is Korn standing higher up and finally, Wai in the soundbox- lividly peering at them over everyone else. So, in effect, it symbolises how and which of these characters will pose as higher or greater obstacles; it tells us how difficult each character is going to be; it shows us their stance on the relationship. If this theory is right, we’ll have supportive crew members (this includes Toto, I hope) and the most insufferable of all their ‘friends’ will be Wai.