There is longing but no proximity, shy glances and smiles that melt into friendly banter, flirtations turning into friendly leg pulling are both fun to watch and painful to endure, because the main leads look like they are in romantic love but both going “nah!”

With actions, strong and headstrong teen characters, drama and tumultuous feelings this show is a blurred line between romance and friendship.

“High School Frenemy”, a Thai remake of Korean drama School 2013, is what we will call a typical “Shounen” phenomenon. It’s a story about muscle power. Two rival groups of rowdy young men, competing and trying to be the top dogs.

That is the same with its original parent story in Korean. But the rest are very very Thai.

And by Thai, I mean the relationship of the main leads, Saint and Shin (Sky Wongravee and Nani Hirunkit).

Once best friends, now estranged Saint meets Shin in high school and shares a deep wounded past. Both now belong to two different campuses. The two factions of their respective campuses have a long ongoing feud and the two fall inside the storm of hatred, even if without their own will.

And Shin regards his once best friend like his sworn enemy. Saint, however, wants to be friends again with Shin.

The main story goes on with Saint apologizing, and trying to make up. Shin beats up Saint. The heartbreak in Shin’s eyes and the remorse in Saint’s are palpable.

The story of the series is about spending school-time, working hard, studying, friendship, working together, having fun, fighting against bad people to help friends and winning together. And Shin Saint’s own dilemmas and turmoil.

This would have been fine. If the interactions between Saint and Shin didn’t look like the meeting between two ex-lovers. Shin acts like a jilted lover while Saint is the person who broke up but is desperate to be forgiven.

Sky and Nani’s acting is flawless. Their chemistry is top-notch. The tension between the two is remarkable.

GMMTV is testing a lot of things this year. Especially the bromance genre.

Starting with “Peaceful Property On Sale” where the famous BL couple Tay and New acted as just dude bros. And now “High School Frenemy” where the main leads are “just friends” but their eyes tell something else. The dialogues add fuel to the fire.

“Even if you hate me, I will love you.” – Saint

“Are we dating, that we have to hide around?” – Saint

“We are about to have a sweet moment but you turn it into a sitcom” – Saint

“I don’t like you. I love you Saint.” – Shin

Or in the last episode, when Saint asks for permission to Shin’s mother to remain friends with Shin, that scene oddly resembles asking for a partner’s hand in marriage.

Some scenes are typical of romance dramas like sharing the same umbrella during rain, looking at each other with pain and tears (or affection like the last episode) in their eyes.

And that particular scene in episode 11 where Saint and Shin are standing on the rooftop locked in by their teacher, the terrific use of lights and the bokeh effect in the background , is a painful reminder of the rooftop scene from Bad Buddy where Pat and Pran confessed and kissed.

We did miss the single eyed teardrop part but both Shin and Saint have shed enough of those for each other throughout the series anyway.

The scenes where Saint plays house with ChingChing (Shin’s little sister) and Shin is oddly domestic.

And the ending of episode 11 where Shin and Saint share a scooter ride and Shin finally confesses that he cares about Saint so much and Saint replies the same telling that their feelings are mutual, Shin finally smiles. Heart Touching man!

And the ending scene at episode 16? They actually really confess (jokingly) their feelings for each other! Can you hear me screaming?

As an added bonus, we get to see the GL pairing of “23.5” View Benyapa and June Wanwimol in this series, albeit in the same sort of relationship like Saint and Shin.

There is one thing I really liked about this series is that this series has a solid plot and character development outside the main leads too. The teachers working hard for the students, is one of the most important portrayals of the whole series. We all deserve such amazing teachers.

And it has been marketed as “Bromance” while portraying some “BL” elements but there is no way we can discern that they are queerbaiting. It is up to fans to discern and use their own creative minds reading between the lines if they want to. GMMTV thanks for not leading us the wrong way.

And there is an added mix of a semi-solid plot of a mafia gang added into the mix. Ken (portrayed by Kay Lertsittichai), Knot and Nate (AJ Chayapol and JJ Chayakorn) have acted as the rival group connected with mafias. Personally I don’t think that it was necessary, but as a Ken redemption arc, it was probably needed.

The only unrealistic thing is Ken’s sudden friendship with others so easily, especially Shin. Because, it is not easy to assimilate into a group so soon. Anyways I will give the makers a benefit of doubt as the portrayal of Ken and his lackeyes were not inherently evil.

I must talk about the other actors. Mark as Chatjen is absolutely amazing. Foei Patara is outshining with every role he gets, honestly why is he not in more shows? Maria Poonlertlarp as Jan is the heart of the series besides ShinSaint. It was nice to see Winny Thanawin and Marc Natarit in guest roles. Marc acting as a bully would be awesome to see, man did he look good as one even though he played a really disgusting character.

But honestly Wut Natntawut as mafia leader Jeng is astounding. Man’s amazing.

It is a discussion where this is missed the opportunity to be one of a kind BL or not. Or that there is a chance of the two actors sharing a BL drama in the near future.

But we can’t deny that “High School Frenemy” is one of the best series produced by GMMTV this year. The producers have taken the best parts from School 2013 and have mixed Thai culture and reference into it. And we’re here for it.

There is not a definite information if we will get to see SkyNani in BLs in the future. Next year’s project “Wu” has not given us any indications about it. But one thing is, if we do get a BL with these two men, I want it to be a top-notch plot with more mature and darker themes. After “High School Frenemy”, I think we deserve that.

Rating- 4 out of 5

Streaming on- GMMTV YouTube Channel