[POV. Kilin]
I used to believe time could fix anything. That no matter how deep the wound, how painful the mistake, the days would pass, and eventually, everything would heal.
But time only made the silence louder.
It had been months since I last saw Naina—since the day I walked away to protect my career, leaving behind the one person who had ever made me feel like I wasn't just Kilin Hwang, the idol.
The regret sat heavy on my chest, suffocating. I had tried everything to drown it out—endless practice sessions, exhausting schedules, pretending like I didn't check my phone every night hoping for a message that never came.
But I couldn't escape it.
Especially not now.
She was here.
I spotted her the moment I stepped into the hotel ballroom, the venue buzzing with celebrities, media, and industry elites. She was standing near the large windows, dressed simply but effortlessly beautiful, as if she belonged among the stars that glittered above the city skyline.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Yuan patted my shoulder, snapping me out of my trance.
Yuan: Stay focused, Kilin. The press is everywhere.
I nodded automatically, but my eyes never left her.
She hadn't noticed me yet.
Or maybe she had—and was pretending not to.
[POV. Naina]
The moment I saw Kilin walk in, my heart clenched.
I wasn't ready for this.
It had taken everything in me to rebuild myself after what happened. To remind myself that I existed outside of him.
And yet, here he was, standing across the room like a ghost from a past I wasn't sure I wanted to revisit.
I forced myself to look away, focusing on my conversation with Ruina, who was talking animatedly about some new drama she was obsessed with. But the words barely registered.
Ruina: Earth to Naina? You're zoning out again.
Naina: Sorry. What were you saying?
She gave me a knowing look before following my gaze across the room. When she saw who I was looking at, she sighed.
Ruina: Are you okay?
Naina: I don't know.
Ruina: Do you want to leave?
I hesitated, gripping the stem of my wine glass. Running away would be the easy choice.
But I wasn't that girl anymore.
Naina: No. I'll be fine.
Even as I said it, I could feel Kilin's eyes on me.
I just wasn't sure if I was ready to meet them.
[POV. Kilin]
It was torture, being this close to her but unable to say a word.
Every time someone approached me, offering congratulations, asking about my schedule, pretending to be interested in whatever endorsement I had next, all I wanted to do was push past them and go to her.
Yuan noticed.
Yuan: If you keep staring like that, someone's going to notice.
Kilin: I don't care.
Yuan sighed, rubbing his temples.
Yuan: Look, I get it. But you know how this works. You can't afford another scandal.
Scandal.
Was that all she was to the world?
I clenched my jaw.
Yuan: Just be careful.
I barely heard him.
Because at that moment, Naina finally looked at me.
Our eyes met across the crowded ballroom, and for a second, everything else faded.
It was just us.
Just like before.
But then she turned away.
Like I was nothing.
And that hurt more than anything.
[POV. Naina]
I should have known he would come to me eventually.
I felt him before I saw him—his presence like gravity, pulling me in.
And then, suddenly, he was right in front of me.
Kilin: Can we talk?
I stared at him, my heart pounding.
Naina: I don't think we have anything to say to each other.
Kilin: I do.
His voice was lower than I remembered, heavier with something I couldn't quite place.
Regret?
Naina: It's been months, Kilin.
Kilin: I know.
Naina: You disappeared.
Kilin: I didn't have a choice.
I scoffed, shaking my head.
Naina: There's always a choice. You just didn't choose me.
The words tasted bitter.
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue. But then his shoulders dropped.
Kilin: You're right.
I blinked, caught off guard.
Kilin: I didn't fight hard enough. I let them decide for me. I thought… I thought I was protecting you.
Naina: Protecting me? By breaking me?
The pain in my voice must have hit him, because he flinched.
Kilin: I regret it, Naina. Every single day.
[POV: Kilin]
I wasn't sure what I expected her to say.
Maybe I hoped she'd tell me she missed me too. That it hurt her as much as it hurt me.
But she just stared at me, guarded.
And I realized—she didn't trust me anymore.
Kilin: I never wanted to leave you.
Naina: But you did.
She said it so quietly, but it felt like a punch to the gut.
I had hurt her.
More than I ever meant to.
Kilin: I want to fix this.
Naina: And what if it happens again?
She shook her head, stepping back.
Naina: I can't go through that again, Kilin.
Fear gripped me.
Kilin: Naina, please.
Naina: I don't know if I can trust you anymore.
Her words shattered me.
And then she walked away.
[POV: Naina]
I barely made it to the balcony before the tears came.
I leaned against the railing, inhaling the cool night air, trying to steady myself.
I hated this.
Hated that after all this time, he still had the power to make me feel like this.
Ruina found me a few minutes later.
Ruina: You okay?
Naina: I don't know.
Ruina: Did he say anything?
Naina: He said he regrets leaving.
Ruina: Do you believe him?
I hesitated.
Did I?
Of course, I wanted to.
But was wanting enough?
Naina: I don't know.
Ruina sighed, wrapping an arm around me.
Ruina: You don't have to decide anything tonight. Just… don't let him break you again, okay?
I nodded.
But deep down, I knew this wasn't over.
Not yet.
[POV. Kilin]
I stood outside the ballroom, staring up at the sky.
I had come here hoping to make things right.
But I had only made things worse.
Yuan found me, sighing as he handed me a drink.
Yuan: You look like hell.
Kilin: I feel like it.
Yuan: What now?
I stared into the distance, gripping the glass tightly.
Kilin: I don't know.
But one thing was certain.
I wasn't giving up this time.
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