Lilac gazed at the table overflowing with presents, some are even down the floor, neatly stacked by size. Included in the bunch are ones quite similar to hers. Despite being wrapped, the shape of the frames—or to be more specific, paintings—are obvious.

She looked down the one she is holding and sadly smiled. She felt kind of embarrassed for herself, why would she even think her gift is special? Asher's love for art is common knowledge, not only to his friends but the whole world! Of course they will have the same idea as her.

She just started but it's a major failure already.

The guy beside her cleared his throat, "they probably just bought those from some curator..." Kio drawled. It is only the two of them now, because both Seo-mi and Jada, and their friends already left. "You said you directly ordered from the painter, right? And he even exclusively made this painting for Ash's birthday."

Lilac chuckled, shaking her head and looking up the guy. "Are you trying to cheer me up?"

Kio defensively scoffed, "as if you need it."

Her smile widened as she finally placed her gift down a vacant spot on the floor. "Right. I just have to make this night extra special myself, so when Ash sees my gift, he'll remember it more than the others."

"Extra special?"

She didn't bother answering, and just whirled around to look for the birthday celebrant among the crowd. Once she finally found him laughing with his actor friends, a warm feeling immediately filled her chest.

"Ki-Ryeong," she called out, glancing at her companion, only to find him also watching his friend with a serious expression.

"Hmm?"

She looked away and smiled at Asher's direction once again, "I want to confess to him tonight."

There was a momentary silence before she finally heard Kio; "okay, if that's what you want."

Upon hearing his positive response, Lilac excitedly held her friend's arm and pulled him upstairs, and out the balcony overlooking the calm Han river. She was breathless when she faced the guy again, so she tried to calm herself down first.

"Can you bring him here before the countdown?"

She can already imagine what is going to happen later. It will be something her dear Asher won't ever forget! She will tell him about her feelings and right after she uttered those three words, fireworks will explode up the night sky and everything will just be... magical.

If ever he won't give her an answer right away or he still can't reciprocate her feelings, it's fine, as long as she makes sure he won't forget this night then everything can be set in motion. Also, Ash will start the new year with her, of all people! Won't that make her a special person to him? This will be the endearing prologue of their love story!

She felt Kio's gaze and only then did she realize that she's been daydreaming. "You will help me, right?," she didn't let go of his arm and shook it persuasively.

The guy checked the time on his phone, "there's only half an hour left till midnight so you better get ready."

Her eyes lit up and because of the sudden burst of happiness she felt, she ended up hugging the boy in front of her without thinking. "Thank you, thank you!"

Kio groaned, "chill out! I haven't done anything..."

Lilac stepped back and grinned, but the guy won't look at her anymore, probably because of annoyance. Oh well, at least he's still gonna help me!

"You agreed to help me, I'm already grateful."

He also stepped back before putting his elbows on the railing, and stared at the scenic view ahead. Only the lights from inside the house illuminate the balcony and with his back turned towards it, shadows appear on his face, highlighting his features.

She can't deny the guy is really good-looking too, well his entire group is. But Kio is definitely one of the members who attract non-fans at first glance, and eventually makes them stan once he starts performing. He is good at everything and even she, who used to loathe him, can't deny that. She's lucky to have gained his help because the boy is known for doing his best once he puts his heart into it. There is no other conclusion but success for Ahn Ki-Ryeong.

"How long have you liked him?," her companion suddenly broke the silence.

A memory instantly played inside her head like a scene from a movie.

•°.⏳•.°

Four years ago

It was her group's first time attending a big award show which is the Golden Asian Music Awards, and to say that she's nervous is an understatement. The thought of performing in front of their seniors still makes it even worse, even though she has already done this a few times before on other award shows. But their GAMA stage is much grander, and it could potentially expose her group to a bigger audience. She can't afford to make any mistake.

Thirty minutes before call time, she felt like her heart is about to burst out of her chest. She knows she can't go on stage in this condition, or it's going to be a disaster waiting to happen for sure. She can be nervous but not to this extent.

The crowd inside the dressing room doesn't help her condition, and she's not one to share her burden to others so she just quietly slipped out to get some much-needed air. She remembered seeing some artists freely going in and out of their dressing rooms too, some even meeting up with their friends from another group... so this is definitely something she's allowed to do.

After a minute of walking straight the hallway, she saw a lone bench beside the fire exit. The place is quieter and there seems to be no people—even staff—around the area.

Lilac took the said seat and closed her eyes to steady her breathing. When she opened them again after a minute, she exhaled and started rapping and practicing her parts quietly, absentmindedly doing hand gestures and some facial expressions fit for the stage.

She was so focused on what she's doing that she didn't feel the presence coming closer to her. Only when an arm appeared in her periphery, did she stop. The first thing that caught her attention was the sudden presence of a banana milk drink on the vacant space beside her. The second was the note attached to it saying;

You can do it! :)

And it was too late when she realized she had to thank the person who unexpectedly cheered her up. She hurriedly looked up, but she was only able to catch his retreating figure, casually walking away with one hand inside his pocket. He never looked back, but he didn't need to, she already knew who he was.

•°.⏳•.°

"He was wearing that iconic undershirt with a ribbon tied around his neck, and a black suit which makes him look like a prince. It was the same as what Ash wore at the red carpet," she ruefully smiled. "I liked him since then."

She leaned her back against the railing just like Kio, and turned to him still with a smile on her face. There was an unfathomable expression on his face, though he looked like he's contemplating about something. It took a few seconds of silence before he finally responded.

"It's been so long," he tilted his head. "You clearly liked him earlier than Eunjung, why didn't you do something?"

"I was young and I knew I still need to work on myself. I can't enter a relationship so early in my career. Besides, he's already Asher Choi of the globally-known group RAVN, while I'm still Lilac Ayutthaya of rookie girl group, K4RMA."

"When you've already built up your self-esteem and had some courage, he's already dating someone else," Ki-Ryeong concluded, earning a nod from her.

"And it was a pretty, Korean model nonetheless," she chuckled. "I myself would've chosen her over me, too—that's what the old Lilac thought back then... not anymore," she said the last words in a sing-song voice.

Kio slighty laughed, looking at her, "I'm glad to hear that."

"I tried to get over him because I thought they 'd never break up," she comfortably gazed back, like they never had bad blood for years. "But when I heard they actually did, it's like I was just being indenial for years! It was like I suddenly see an opening, I just had to take it. But I also had to respect the three-month rule so I had to wait."

"And if another girl entered the picture during those three months?"

She smirked, "that won't happen, I had Seo-mi and Jada on the look out. They assured me that no one's gonna be able to take my spot."

"You're damn serious, huh?," he chuckled.

"So you two are here all along," a voice resounded from inside the house. They both turned to the nearing figures, and saw a smiling Asher and an intrigued Haneul. "This is the perfect spot to watch the fireworks," Ash added. "We should call the others, too. Lilac, stay and join us."

She checked the time on her wristwatch and indeed, there is only a couple of minutes left before the countdown. She almost failed her plan again!

She then glanced at Kio with wide, knowing eyes, only to see him already with a look of understanding.

"Haneul, why don't we look for the others? Let's go!" The guy didn't let his friend say anything and hurriedly pulled him away.

Only when the two left, did Lilac feel her nerves and the fast beating of her heart. She hesitantly looked at Asher who still seemed shocked about what just happened.

"We should wait for them," she silently uttered, but it was loud enough to make the guy face her. Oh God... did I sound okay?

Ash smiled, "yeah, we should." He went to Kio's former place and leaned against the railing—just like her friend earlier. The proximity automatically sent the butterflies in her stomach into chaos.

"Thank you for inviting me, senior. I enjoyed the party." That's right, let's start with a small talk.

"Thank you for coming too, my friends were thrilled to meet you."

"How about you?" Even she, herself, was surprised with her courage. Was it the small amount of alcohol in her system? Probably. "Are you also thrilled to meet me?," she added when Ash seems to be confused of her question at first.

There was a look of apprehension before he laughed, "of course! Like I said, I've been hearing many things about you from Jada and Seo-mi, and I long knew you're a lovely person, Lilac."

Her cheeks heat up due to the genuine compliment, and she can't help but smile. "Then... can we drop the formalities? Can I call you... Asher?"

She watched as he tilted his head before laughing endearingly, "okay, you can call me that, Li. Let's be—"

"Ten!"

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Oh it's starting." He was about to gaze up the sky in anticipation when she suddenly held his wrist.

"Nine!"

"Asher."

His eyes widened a bit, "hmm?"

"Eight!"

She swallowed, "can I freely text you from now on? Will you reply to me?"

He smiled, "yes, you can and yes, I will."

"Seven!"

Hope bloomed inside her chest. "Then... actually I'm here because..."

"Six!"

"Because?"

"I want to tell you something..."

"Five!"

"You see, I've been—"

"Ash?"

"Four!"

They both turned to the doorway and was met by a familiar girl smiling towards their direction.

"Eunjung..." Lilac heard him breathlessly utter, making her look back. What she saw broke her heart.

"Three!"

There was a look of longing... before it switched to pure happiness.

"Happy birthday! I'm not late yet, am I?"

She became a shadow out of the spotlight, while the pair basked under it, ignoring everything around them. It was like a painful reminder saying;

No Lilac, you're not one of the main characters.

"Two!"

She felt his wrist slipping away from her hold and tears welling up her eyes, but before she could dwell into it more, darkness consumed her vision.

"I'm here," a voice she now knew too well, whispered close to her ears.

"One!"

Kio held her hand and they ran.

He made her escape the scene she wouldn't want to witness, as sounds of explosions filled the once-quiet night. But he, and the colorful and bright fireworks aren't able to take her away from the heartbreak that was made evident by the traitorous tears rolling down her cheeks.

Once they stopped, he whirled around to face her but she wasn't able to see the expression on his face due to her blurry vision.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see her going upstairs. I'm sorry..."

His words triggered more of her tears, and as her legs gradually weaken, she stepped closer to him and cried on his shoulder.