Over three weeks have passed and everyone thought everything can slowly go back to how it was. Though most music releases and concerts were still cancelled or postponed, and music shows still air replays, the industry needs to keep up, the world needs to keep on revolving.

But something, yet again, shocked the masses and caused for most media outlets to deem this year as one of the worsts for the KPop scene.

It all started with a tweet on the global group, RAVN's Twitter account. It was only a single link, once clicked, the user will be directed to a newly-created YouTube account.

Dear My Brightest Star

It turns out the boy group's youngest member made a separate channel for his popular video logs. Fans were, of course, ecstatic at first, but as they played the only content uploaded on the account, their moods instantly changed.

Yours, Ki-Ryeong; it was entitled.

The video is over an hour long, containing a compilation of clips of the late Lilac Ayutthaya. The film went viral in every social media platform in an instant. YouTube crashed because of the influx of users simultaneously watching the said video. It was a wake up call for everyone who seemed to forget who the world had lost.

And approximately five seconds after the compilation ended, the blacked-out screen changed into a view of a room and in front of the camera is Ahn Ki-Ryeong himself.

He is seated on his gaming chair, the room not-so bright, but enough for the viewers to clearly see his solemn expression. Only his upper body is visible; he's wearing a black sweatshirt, no makeup on and hair unstyled. Behind him is his bed and a bedside table, the walls are painted light gray and a darkwood drawer is peeking from his left side.

"This is Kio of RAVN," he started with no hesitation, bowing calmly and looking back up the camera once again. "First, I want to apologize for causing so much worry and stress the past weeks. I have been careless and didn't think much of the consequences of my actions. As you can see, I am fine now."

He paused and took a deep breath, looking down his lap for a moment. But the visible movements of his shoulders, and the sudden clearing of his throat made it obvious—he is stopping himself from breaking down.

After a few seconds, the boy looked up with unshed tears in his eyes. "That was... Lilac," his voice eventually cracked. "That wasn't even half of my memories with her. I thought you also deserve to see her that way because you loved her, too."

He deeply exhaled, tears started falling. "I'm posting this without the company's permission," he faintly smiled. "I know they have released a statement about my dating scandal and the thing I did back in the airport. But I don't want to be a coward anymore, I want to face my mistakes head on. I owe her the truth, I owe it to everyone."

With closed eyes, Kio tried his hardest to calm down. He wiped his tear-soaked cheeks with his bare hand, and gazed at the camera courageously.

"Li and I dated for almost three years. We had to break up days before the night of the accident because... I did something terrible. T-the woman that I was with in the leaked photo is indeed my brother's friend, but she was in no way acquainted with me prior to the night we met. I—" he hesitated a bit. "I spent intimate moments with her while I was still in a relationship."

He swallowed hard, "I cheated on Lilac and I'm paying for all the mistakes I've committed. I will take all the blame. My members and the management has nothing to do with this—"

He is suddenly interrupted when someone entered the room. Kio turned to the direction of the door and stared for a while without saying anything. After a short while, the sound of the door closing resounded and he faced the camera again.

"Sorry about that," he smiled sheepishly. "The members have no idea about this as well. They didn't know that I decided to... quit being an idol." He then wetted his lips. "Thank you for everything. I will cherish all the memories we've had together. I hope someday, you can forgive me. I will work hard to be a better person and compensate for everything that I've done. I know it's too late, and whatever I do will never be enough because she's... she's not here to see it anymore. But I'll do this for myself and for the people who still stayed believing in me."

"Lastly, I just wanna say, whether you believe me or not; I love her. I'm not saying this to invalidate what I've done, or for you to sympathize with me, I just want to do something I've never done. It was to openly tell the world that I love this immensely talented, down to earth and very beautiful girl named Lilac Ayutthaya, and I can't see myself loving another."

With one last bow, the screen darkened again and for the third time that particular month, all hell broke loose.

.°•⏳°.•

"What's your plan?," Kang Namhyuk asked him straight to the point. The man is seated at the head of the dining table with Kio on the seat across, the others staying in the living room to give them privacy.

This time, the man was the one who came to Haneul's penthouse to talk to their youngest. Just half an hour after the video was uploaded, he arrived, still in his corporate attire with the COO and RAVN's managers in tow.

The moment Kio's eyes landed on Lee, he was filled with rage. Though he knew he can't blame it all on the man, he only offered the advice, he was the one who let himself be swayed by it. And by the looks of it, the two-faced executive doesn't even feel any remorse.

"I will stay in Thailand for a year," Ki-Ryeong stated with finality, as if nothing could change his mind anymore. "I want to be close to her for at least a year. Then I'll come back here to enlist in the army, and once I finished it, I want to travel... it was our dream."

"You can just take a hiatus for a year or two—"

He shook his head, "I can't do this anymore, Chief."

"How about the others? You didn't even consider them? RAVN has five members, Ki-Ryeong, the group will never be the same again if you leave. Can't you at least think about it? You can travel the world with the members, you've already done that for the past years!"

He looked down his hands on the table. He's being selfish again, he knew, but he wants to be with her. He wants to freely go to her anytime he needs to, even just for a year.

"I can give you a year off," Chief Kang tried convicing him again. "I can allow you to stay in Thailand for a year and you can enlist after, but you'll return to us once you've come out of your military enlistment. Please Kio, won't you regret it if you give up performing?"

A few minutes of silence passed until he sighed and slowly nodded, "I'll do that then."

The CEO immediately released a sigh of relief, before standing up and pulling the boy into a hug.

"She will surely be proud of you, Ki-Ryeong."

"Please wait for me, Chief."

"Of course."

With that, another statement was released by his agency, and immediately the day after, he prepared for his flight to Thailand.

"Do you have everything?," someone finally spoke up—Yohan. No one dared to speak since this morning when Kio started packing up. The four helped him in silence.

"Yeah," he said, looking up. That's when he noticed the pairs of eyes directed at him. He bowed at each of his brothers before standing back up, "I don't know how many times I've told you this but... I'm sorry for causing you—"

Hei-won started walking towards him, cutting him off, before pulling him in his embrace. The guy comfortingly pats his back, "we'll wait for you."

Kio heard the strain in his voice, and he can't help but swallow down his own tears. He doesn't want to cry anymore. Hei released him as the others started to come hug him as well.

"I'm sorry for being hard on you," Haneul apologetically smiled.

"No. I deserve it."

"We're rooting for you," the second eldest leaned away and smiled. "Call us anytime. Don't make us worry too much."

He nodded before turning to Yohan. "Lead," he muttered as the eldest's arms engulfed him. "Thank you for always being there for me. You never fail to discipline me and correct me without judgement."

"Because I saw how guilty you've been, but I still want to test you to see who that guilt was for," Yohan released him, but he kept holding his shoulders. "Please know that even before the accident happened, we've already seen how miserable you were. If it didn't happen... we still believe you're going to regret everything. Her passing just made everything ten times worse."

"So stop being too hard on yourself," Haneul came closer and stood beside Yohan. "We know a part of you had gone with her, but remember that there's still the other half left that you can hold onto and that can keep you moving forward."

Hei-won was already crying when he pulled him into a hug again. He chuckled and hugged him back, causing this soft-hearted brother of his to sob harder.

"You won't give us your address? You selfish brat."

He sadly smiled, "it's only a year."

"But you were initially thinking of never coming back! You fucker."

"I'm sorry," Kio whispered before slowly stepping back and facing the last person waiting. "Ash," this time, he wasn't able to stop that single drop of tear from falling.

Asher wordlessly circled his arms around him.

"They say your life, especially your happiest moments, will flash before your eyes before you die. I'm sure before she did, you're the last person she saw because you've made her the happiest," Ash released and faced him. "Somehow, I'm still grateful of you, for giving her those memories."

"Thank you," he sincerely whispered as he finally felt something close to warmth once again. "I needed that."

.°•⏳°.•

Kio gazed at her framed photo as he entered the mausoleum, a small smile tugging his lips. He went straight to the private cemetery from the airport, disguised and face covered. No one knew his flight was booked the very next day after his company's announcement, so it was easier for him to come to Thailand. He also took the airport's VIP exit and Chief Kang appointed someone to guard him, so everything went smoothly.

He was actually unsure if he will be able to go inside at first, because he heard the place is exclusive and heavily guarded. Much to his surprise, he was listed on Lilac's immediate family, enabling him to visit her whenever he wants. He decided right there and then to visit her parents. Whatever the outcome may be, he will face them and apologize. It was long overdue anyway.

"Hi love," he absentmindedly mumbled, putting the bouquet of yellow tulips and white roses in front of her smiling photo. "I will be able to see you more starting today," he silently chuckled.

Pulling his backpack to his chest, he zipped it open and brought some stuff out. First was a blanket which he spread out on the tiled floor where he eventually sat, followed by the hourglass and the letter from her.

"I love this," he put the hourglass down the space between them. "I told you, you can sing. Of course you can, I heard you always rank first on your monthly evaluations, back in your trainee days. And then this..." he raised the letter up. "I was really a shitty boyfriend, huh? How can I make it up to you?"

"Do you want to?"

He hurriedly whirled around, heart almost coming out of his chest. Once he saw the kind-looking but unfamiliar old man, he gradually calmed down.

He looks foreign but his Korean sounded fluent.

"I'm asking you child, do you want to?"

"What?," he stuttered.

"Do you want to make it up to her?"

He stilled, "of course... but who—"

"Let me ask you something." He just nodded in response, making the old man continue; "do you believe in aliens?"

Seriously?

The man laughed, seeing his incredulous expression. He then stepped inside the mausoleum and sat on the stool in the corner, unlike him who's sitting on the floor.

"Do you?," the man repeated, scratching his white mustache.

"I guess so...?"

"Don't you think for aliens, we are the aliens?"

Kio contemplated about his words and realized it actually made sense, "you're right."

"Then," the stranger glanced at his hourglass before looking back at him. "Don't you think our reality is fantasy for others?"

This time, he didn't hide his confusion. Who even is this man? And where did he come from?

"I don't understand, and with all due respect Sir, who are you?"

The man removed his fedora hat, revealing his white hair. "I am Elius Spencer and I made that precious little thing you possess," he pointed at the hourglass, causing him to glance at it.

So he already met Lilac... but still, why is he allowed here?

"Now Ahn Ki-Ryeong," Elius caught his attention again. "Do you believe in parallel universe?"