Not So Silent differs from the quintessential romance webtoon with its grounded storytelling about the stressful lives of high schoolers. The webtoon preaches the importance of loving families, strong friendships, and mental health in teenagers. Moreover, it delivers a powerful message about inclusivity and accessibility of education with authenticity and relatability. Previously in Not So Silent, Phil promises to talk to London, who is distressed over losing her friends, at the Farmer’s Market. Fern and Lewis accompany each other to the market, where they run into Phil. She drags Fern to meet her father, and they immediately bond. Phil tells Lewis he’s not ready to see Fern tap dance… and she’s right. Let’s dive into Not So Silent Chapter 31-40 to see what happens next!
Not So Silent Chapter 31: Fern Tap Dances
Not So Silent Chapter 31 begins as Phil’s father and Fern engage in an intense tap-dance battle. Phil claps along and Lewis follows her example. As Fern easily keeps up with all his moves, people begin crowding around the stall to watch them. Soon, Phil and Lewis are joined by a crowd of people clapping to the beat.
Watching Fern’s phenomenal dancing, Lewis suddenly swells with pride. “That’s my friend!” he yells, as if he’d just discovered something new. ‘He’s amazing. He’s so literally amazing.’ Lewis thinks. Fern and Phil’s father finishes their performance, and Lewis tells him he was absolutely incredible. Meanwhile, London stands away from the crowd of cheering and whistling watchers, concluding Not So Silent Chapter 31.
Chapter 32: London Explains Her Story
Not So Silent Chapter 32 begins as Phil notices London standing far away and tells her to join the crowd. London shakes her head and says that it’s better for her to keep her distance.
At the same time, Lewis catches sight of them. After a brief internal debate, he tells Fern that he’s going to the washroom and follows them. He listens in on their conversation.
Unsure of how to explain her story, London asks Phil to treat their chat like an interview. Phil understands and begins to formally ask London questions. She launches into her background, explaining that the pressure from the people around her caused her to quit drumming.
She explains how she first joined in her freshman year. From the very beginning, all her seniors and teachers made fun of her and placed bets on when she’d quit. She became angry and wanted to prove them wrong. Soon, she realized she was competing not out of passion but to prove herself. During the competition, she’d tried to look tough and forgot to hydrate herself. Not So Silent Chapter 32 concludes as she explains how she’d ended up vomiting and collapsing from weakness.
Not So Silent Chapter 33: Phil Offers Some Advice
Not So Silent Chapter 33 begins as London continues her story and describes that her mother had found her. She’d had a heatstroke and had been taken to the hospital to rest overnight. London further states that she didn’t immediately quit and finished the marching season first. She explains the twisted mindset she’d learnt from the drumline and how it had affected her relationships. Out of desperation to keep him in her life, London had thrown the party and asked him out.
She recognizes how she’d been tunnel-visioned. “And it took me losing all my best friends to realize it,” London says, miserably. Phil jumps in, consoling her by sharing her own tale of woe. Phil explains how she’d been a bully in middle school. She admits to London that it’s why she’s focused on journalism- to highlight the best in others and make her dad proud. “You can’t undo what happened to you or what you did, but you can make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Phil tells her.
Meanwhile, Lewis listens to London’s heart-wrenching revelations and gains a new perspective. As Phil leaves to give London some space, Lewis walks to her. Wiping her tears, London notices his presence next to her with a small shock. They sit in an uncomfortable silence for a few beats. Not So Silent Chapter 33 concludes as Lewis rubs her back as she cries.
Chapter 34: Lewis and London Finally Talk
Not So Silent Chapter 34 begins as Lewis tells London what she already knows- she’d been incredibly selfish and invasive. He angrily explains that if his mother had discovered the party, he would’ve had to take the blame. However, he also understands her situation and tells her that she should’ve opened up.
Lewis clarifies that he isn’t forgiving her, but wants to understand why she’d randomly asked him out. London explains how the boys in the drumline had influenced her thoughts and actions. Moreover, she’d felt jealous about how Lewis seemed to be having fun with Fern, and felt insecure about herself. She tells him how much she admires his talent, popularity, and persona, and how she’d felt unworthy to be his friend after quitting drums.
With Fern in mind, Lewis explains how he’d recently learnt that the comments from people around you can negatively affect you, but can also be used to change for the better. “You can become what’s said, or you can be more than what’s said,” he states.
London further explains her difficulty in differentiating between narcissism and self-compassion and struggling with her lack of situational awareness. She decides to change her actions and move forward to a better future for herself and others. She tells him that she understands if they can’t be friends, but she’ll never forget their bond.
Lewis agrees and says that he can’t be friends with the old London, but given time, he could be friends with the new London. He hugs her and tells her to be the advocate her freshman self needs (flashback to Fern saying the same line to himself!). Chapter 34 concludes as London tightly hugs Lewis back and packs her immense gratitude and relief into two words- ‘Thank you’.
Not So Silent Chapter 35: Lewis Questions His Feelings
Not So Silent Chapter 35 begins as Fern texts Lewis, asking him if he’d fallen into the toilet and needed to be fished out (Lewis told him he was going to the bathroom). London sees the text and snorts. She tells him that Fern seems like ‘a fun guy’ and she can tell why he likes him. Lewis agrees and then immediately takes it back, clarifying that he likes him as a friend (sure, buddy). London looks at him weirdly and then offers to walk him back.
Meanwhile, Fern struggles with untying the knot in his shoe laces. Lewis’s shadow falls over him, and he looks up at the smiling face, asking whether he needs help. They banter, and Lewis grabs his shoe, playfully calling him ‘Cinderella’. As he helps pull it off, Lewis muses over London’s words. He looks at Fern and wonders, ‘Do I like him?’ Not So Silent Chapter 35 concludes as Lewis thinks, ‘Even if I did like him, there’s no way he’d like me too… right?’
Chapter 36: Fern and Lewis in Wonderland
Not So Silent Chapter 36 begins with the long-anticipated high school homecoming dance. A big banner titled ‘Wonderland’ hangs at the school entryway. Fern, dressed in an embroidered blue vest, and Sofia, rocking a sequined maroon dress, walk to the building together.
On the way in, Sofia excitedly chatters about the need for a Wonderland-themed hair salon. She criticises her brother for not seeing the vision, and he agrees, saying he can only see bad haircuts. They continue to squabble until Fern catches sight of Lewis. Styled in a bright red suit reminiscent of the Mad Hatter, Lewis gestures them in and welcomes them to Wonderland.
Before Fern can say anything, Sofia squeals and gushes over Lewis’s perfect outfit. In return, he compliments her hair. Sofia tells him that Fern did her hair, and he nods proudly to Lewis. Fern praises Lewis’s look and tells him that red is definitely his colour. Lewis explains that his suit was a scrapped design sketched by his sister. “You look really good,” Fern reiterates. They blush, and Lewis thinks that Fern’s approval is all he needs.
Suddenly, Fern notices that his sister has disappeared from his side. Lewis decides to make the most of their time, even while they search for Sofia. He clears his throat, offers his arm to Fern, and asks to take him on a tour of the homecoming dance. Nervously, Fern takes his arm and they whisk off to Wonderland, concluding Not So Silent Chapter 36.
Not So Silent Chapter 37: Fern Hugs Lewis
Not So Silent Chapter 37 begins as the duo tours the extremely well-decorated school, with Lewis pointing out how he’d added cat motifs in various places. Suddenly, someone shouts at them to look out. A girl carrying a towering stack of pink-frosted pies bumps into Lewis, knocking one pie onto him. Although he safely catches it, a tiny splotch of icing lands on his cheek.
Lewis gives the box back to her, suggesting she carry a slightly smaller number of pies next time. As he moves to wipe the frosting off his face, Fern beats him to it. He licks the icing and lights up when he realizes it’s strawberry-flavoured. He looks at Lewis’s red face and finally realizes what he’d done. His face begins to burn with embarrassment, and he begins intensely regretting his actions.
Lewis clears his throat and changes the topic. He tells Fern that he’s reminded of the first time they met, when Lewis had given him a tour of the school. Fern jokes that he needs to accidentally swear in ASL to replicate the incident. Lewis smacks his hand and tells him to erase that memory from his brain. Being as lovesick as he is, Fern thinks ‘How could I erase anything about him from my memory?’ Lewis playfully asks him what he’s smiling about, and Fern points to him. ‘Smiling at me?’ Lewis thinks before Fern, overwhelmed by emotion, suddenly hugs him.
Lewis leans into the embrace just in time to see Phil, sipping juice from a straw with a deliberate slowness, watching them knowingly. Not So Silent Chapter 37 concludes as Lewis makes eye contact with her and flushes pink.
Chapter 38: London Makes Her Entry
Not So Silent Chapter 38 begins as Lewis quickly pulls away from Fern’s embrace and tries to greet Phil casually. She holds up her camera and explains that she’d come to take pictures for the yearbook. Fern compliments her outfit- a deep purple dress accompanied by gold jewellery- and Phil does the same for the duo.
At that moment, Lewis hears his name being called. Atlas and Silas come up to him, and he finally introduces Fern to them. As Phil watches them greeting each other with a smile, she suddenly notices a fuss among the crowd. London walks into the homecoming, wearing a dark green suit and a new choppy haircut. Her heels click as she walks through the gossiping students. Phil excitedly rushes to meet her and enthuses over her fresh look.
In the meantime, Lewis bids farewell to his two friends and tells them they’re still looking for Fern’s sister. They part ways and begin searching the crowd for Sofia. Lewis notices a staircase and grabs Fern’s hand. Not So Silent Chapter 38 concludes as Fern looks up at the steps and says that they’ll be able to see the whole dance floor.
Not So Silent Chapter 39: Sofia Located!
Not So Silent Chapter 39 begins as Fern and Lewis climb the stairs and sit down. Fern notes with annoyance that Sofia is nowhere to be seen.
Above the dance, they relax in each other’s company. Fern asks Lewis for his life story and states that he doesn’t know anything about his past. He asks him about his hobbies, future career, and weird talents. Lewis hesitates, realizing he’d never thought about much beyond high school. He tells him about his “motivating” mother, but Fern encourages him to think about what he wants to do.
Lewis tells him that he’d love to visit Italy with his sister and travel to France to see a fashion show featuring her designs. He jokingly tells him that he should come with him. Fern says, feigning pride, that he might have time- provided that his agent made some room in his busy schedule as a professional touring dancer. They laugh over their wild imaginations.
Then, Fern asks Lewis about his ‘deepest secret’. He looks down and then admits that his real name isn’t Lewis. He begins to spell his actual name out when suddenly, he spots Sofia. She stands at the dessert buffet with a huge plate of cake, and Fern immediately rages. He angrily tells Lewis that she knows not to eat too much sugar since she gets hyper. He asks Lewis to yell at her, and after he does, Sofia notices them. She looks at her brother’s furious face, then at her cake, and makes her decision.
Meanwhile, Phil and London stand together and talk. Abruptly, they see Sofia whizz past them, balancing an enormous pile of dessert. Seconds later, Fern and Lewis dash past them too. Phil takes out her camera and captures the moment, concluding Not So Silent Chapter 39.
Chapter 40: Lewis Confesses to Fern
Not So Silent Chapter 40 begins as Fern rolls his eyes at his sister, who mischievously smiles with sprinkles on her cheeks. They’d spent the night chasing down Sofia. Consequently, Fern apologizes to Lewis for making his homecoming ‘unconventional’. Lewis tells him honestly that it was the best one he’d ever had.
Fern tells him that he wants to continue the conversation they’d had on the stairs. Lewis decides to swing by his house after cleaning up at school. He plans to take him to the foothills where they can stargaze, and he offers to drive. Fern raises his eyebrow, knowing that Lewis was just afraid that he’d cause them to plummet over the mountain.
Lewis and Fern Stargaze
Later that night, Fern and Lewis sit on the hood of his car, watching the city in the distance. “I always pictured doing this alone, but…” Lewis signs, “Everything seems better when you’re around.”
Fern reciprocates the sentiment, causing them to blush. He diverts the conversation and asks him about his real name. Lewis taps his knee and admits that he’s the only person he wants to tell. He explains that his first name is ‘Hugo’ and that ‘Lewis’ is the middle name his sister chose for him.
Fern asks him if he went by the name Lewis because she’d picked it out. Lewis explains that it’s part of the reason, but he also started associating Hugo with negative emotions. Since his mother always calls him by his first name- and he couldn’t remember a time she’d used it positively- ‘Hugo’ became a burden for him to bear.
Fern empathizes and gives Lewis an idea. He tells him how he uses name signs with his sister, which are signs that capture a person’s name in a truer form. He signs his name ‘Hugo’ and tells him that it doesn’t define him. Fern points to his chest and says that his heart of gold does. He gives him a name sign that symbolises Lewis’s kindness – “Seeing people for who they are. Listening to spoken words and silent words. Hearing and seeing everyone’s voice, and even when he can’t, he finds a way.”
Lewis begins tearing up. He tells Fern that he has another secret and admits his feelings for him. When Fern doesn’t say anything, he begins panicking at his stupidity. Instead, Fern takes Lewis’s face and kisses him on the cheek, concluding Not So Silent Chapter 40.
