After a joyful evening on the island creating precious memories together, the couple soared back toward the palace through the darkening sky. Bambam carried Yetao in his strong arms, who in turn cradled their newest child, Carrot. The cool night breeze caressed their faces as they approached the familiar silhouette of the palace.
As they descended, they spotted Zihao and Thio waiting at the entrance, their faces upturned expectantly. Both brothers froze in surprise at the sight of the small child nestled in Yetao's arms.
Bambam's feet touched down gently on the lush grassland. Before his wings had fully retracted, Yetao was already excitedly making introductions.
"Say hi to your big brothers, Carrot," he encouraged, his voice warm with parental pride as he addressed their newest addition.
The child slid from Yetao's arms to stand on the grass but immediately tucked himself behind Yetao's legs, peering out shyly at his older siblings. His innocent eyes blinked with curiosity as he regarded his brothers with an adorable mix of caution and interest.
Both Thio and Zihao felt the impact of Carrot's irresistible charm like a physical force. Their usual competitive tension dissolved in the face of such pure innocence.
Zihao was the first to approach, crouching down to meet the little one at eye level. "Hi, Carrot," he offered with a bright, welcoming smile, extending his hand in greeting.
Carrot hesitated momentarily, studying Zihao's outstretched fingers with solemn consideration. Then, slowly, she placed his tiny hand atop Zihao's, her face blossoming into a smile so radiant that the eyes disappeared into curved crescents of joy.
Another wave of heart-melting cuteness assaulted both older brothers. Unable to resist, Zihao swept Carrot up into his arms, spinning him around playfully. Even Thio, usually so composed, found himself drawn into the orbit of this new sibling's charm.
For perhaps the first time since their reunion, Thio and Zihao shared a moment of perfect harmony—both equally enchanted by the little one, rather than competing for Yetao's attention.
Yet even as he allowed himself to be captivated by Carrot's adorable antics, Thio's perceptive gaze caught something troubling. His father, Bambam, was watching Yetao with eyes that contained an ocean of yearning and undisguised pain.
Understanding dawned in Thio's heart. With careful deliberation, he approached Yetao and took his hand.
"Mommy, don't you have to say goodbye to everyone?" he suggested, his voice gentle but purposeful.
A flicker of sorrow passed across Yetao's features as he contemplated leaving behind the characters who had populated his journey in this fantasy world. But the momentary pain quickly transformed into gratitude as memories of his journey surfaced in his mind.
Yetao smiled reflectively, then turned to Bambam. "I'll come after a quick farewell to everyone," he promised, starting to move away.
Bambam's hand shot out, capturing Yetao's wrist. The grip trembled slightly—a physical manifestation of his reluctance to part, even for moments that seemed increasingly precious as they dwindled.
Confusion clouded Yetao's expression at this uncharacteristic display.
Slowly, visibly forcing himself, Bambam released his hold. "Come quickly," he managed with a smile that failed to mask his inner turmoil.
Yetao returned the smile, oblivious to its deeper meaning, and hurried away to deliver his final words to those who had aided him throughout his journey in this fantasy realm.
As Yetao's figure receded into the distance, Bambam's hand unconsciously reached out toward the emptiness where his beloved had stood moments before. Realizing the futility of the gesture, he lowered his arm, his thoughts a torrent of unspoken wishes.
"If only... if only tomorrow never comes," he thought, closing his eyes as a single tear escaped to trace a glistening path down his cheek.
Thio observed his father's silent suffering, anger and frustration building within his chest at the unfairness of fate. "Idiot," he whispered to himself, the word laden with complex emotions.
Without another word, he turned and followed in Yetao's wake, leaving Bambam alone with his two other children and the weight of knowledge he couldn't share.
The timer continued its relentless countdown, each second bringing them closer to a dawn that would tear apart what love had joined together.
[System notice: Time remaining- 00:17:27:45]
The palace gardens glowed golden in the evening light as Yetao finished his rounds of goodbyes. Each step felt heavier than the last, knowing tomorrow would change everything forever.
His aunt's quarters were his first stop. The woman who had raised him as her own deserved nothing less than his deepest gratitude.
"Thank you for everything," Yetao said, voice thick with emotion as he clasped her soft hands. "For treating me as your own son all these years."
Concern wrinkled her brow. When she asked him to explain about the other things, Yetao's lips curved into a sad smile. "Tomorrow," was all he said. After tomorrow, explanations would be meaningless anyway.
One by one, he thanked those who had stood by him:
Dorn and Xiong, who had discovered and help him solve the issue with his other soul.
Jackson, for helping him understand how everything works in this world.
Oscar, and Minghao, who had lent their strength for his final battle.
When he reached Lucas, Yetao just chuckled. "You'll be coming with me anyways. Let's meet out. Just bid your goodbyes for now," he said carefully.
Lucas merely nodded, his gaze drifting toward Oscar. The illusion world had forged an unexpected bond between them—one that surprised even Lucas himself.
Just one more person to see, Yetao thought, steeling himself for perhaps the hardest goodbye.
Jeff stood motionless before his mother's flowerbed, where countless pictures drawn by Barcode once covered the ground. His shoulders were hunched, lost in memories or perhaps future hopes.
Yetao approached silently, his footsteps barely disturbing the evening calm.
"In that life, he's very popular."
Jeff turned, eyes widening slightly at Yetao's unexpected presence.
"He has millions of fans," Yetao continued softly. "He was always smiling in most of the photos. At first, I didn't recognize him since I never had time to watch many shows, but even I knew him."
Yetao's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Because everyone loves him."
Jeff's expression softened. The faintest smile ghosted across his lips. "Is that so? I really want to meet him soon."
Relief washed over Yetao. "Me too," he whispered, his final words to the man he'd once thought would never find peace.
With a lighter heart, Yetao made his way out of the main palace, where a familiar figure paced anxiously.
"Thio? Why are you here alone? Where are Zihao and Carrot?" Yetao asked, affection warming his tone.
Thio's face crumpled. Unable to maintain his composure any longer, he grabbed Yetao's hand with desperate intensity. "Mommy, I need to tell you something."
The words that followed sent Yetao reeling. His vision blurred, legs threatening to give way beneath him as he clutched Thio's arms for support. The air in his lungs turned to ice, choking any sound that might have escaped his throat. His hands trembled violently against Thio's steady grip.
With a strangled gasp, Yetao pulled Thio into a fierce embrace. Tears streamed down both their faces, but Thio gathered his courage and pulled back first.
"We'll stay by your side even when we lose our memories, but Dad..." Thio couldn't finish, the words dying on his tongue.
Pain lanced through Yetao's heart. No. No, this can't be happening.
Without another word, he turned and ran, desperation fueling each step. The garden paths blurred past as he sought the one person who could either confirm or deny his worst fears.
Bambam stood alone on the arched bridge, gazing down at the rippling water below. Lost in thought, he didn't notice Yetao's approach until it was too late to hide his expression.
Wiping away his tears and stifling his sniffles, Yetao moved forward silently. His fingers grazed Bambam's hand, gradually intertwining their fingers until they were completely joined. With a gentleness that belied his inner turmoil, Yetao rested his head on Bambam's shoulder.
Bambam flinched slightly but quickly recovered, squeezing Yetao's hand with painful intensity. The smile he forced onto his face couldn't mask the anguish in his eyes.
In that moment, Yetao knew. What Thio had told him was true.
Tomorrow would be their last day together—in this world or any other as they stood with their fingers intertwined.
"You remember this place?" Yetao asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Bambam's lips curved into a nostalgic smile, memories flooding back from what felt like several lifetimes ago.
"This is where you confessed to me at first," Yetao continued, a gentle laugh escaping his lips. "I thought you were a homophobe at first. It really caught me off guard when you said you liked me."
The memory lightened his heart momentarily, pushing back the encroaching darkness. "If Lucas hadn't interfered that day, I would've accepted, you know?"
Surprise flickered across Bambam's face before settling into a rueful smile. "Now I want to kill him so bad," he said, the humor in his words unable to mask the pain beneath.
Yetao chuckled, the sound hollow as he fought to maintain his composure. Drawing a deep breath, he changed the subject. "I told you I was an idol there, right? Did you not have any favorite singers you liked back then in your days?"
The question only intensified the ache in Bambam's chest. "I don't know," he answered, tilting his head to rest it against Yetao's.
"You don't know?" Yetao's voice lilted with forced cheerfulness. "Maybe you just don't remember because you've come here a long time ago. I'll make you remember, okay?"
Bambam remained silent, drinking in every expression, every gesture, committing it all to memory for the eternity of emptiness that awaited him.
"Do you know Michael Jackson? But I don't think he's from that time. Then JYP? Nah, he's not 70 yet, I guess," Yetao rambled, desperately filling the silence with words to keep his tears at bay.
Bambam watched Yetao's animated chatter with undisguised yearning, memorizing the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the precise curve of his lips when he spoke.
Fighting back tears, Yetao forced another bright smile. "Even I don't know about that time. But I'm sure you'll love my songs. Should I sing you one?"
Bambam nodded, unable to trust his voice not to betray him.
Clearing his throat, Yetao began to sing. The melody was sweet but laced with sorrow, each note carrying the weight of their impending separation.
♪Every rainy day you're always by my side
Every touch and gaze are synchronized
We are inseparable, not sure why
You shine like a pearl, let me be your shell
Your presence has got me mesmerized
Your smile conforms to my ideals
Time cannot comprehend our synchronicity
Turn the uncertainties of our love into affirmation
Just want to hold your hand tightly and make you mine
Pull you into my embrace whenever I miss you
Started with a first meeting, falling for your company, finally grow old together ♪
Author's note: This is a translated version from Yetao's second digital album 'TING YA'. If you haven't heard it, go and stream it once :)
Bambam struggled to maintain his composure as the words washed over him. Each verse felt like Yetao was baring his soul, confessing everything they'd never had time to say.
Midway through, Yetao's voice faltered, cracking under the strain of his emotions. Thio's devastating revelation echoed in his mind:
"Since Dad is a demon lord, he cannot be reincarnated, Mommy. Even we will lose our memories once we get out of here. But I just wanted to tell you this so that you won't lose your last opportunity to bid him farewell."
The memory of his own desperate response flooded back:
"Then I'm not leaving his side. I'll stay here with him!"
But Thio's reply had shattered that final hope:
"When the countdown ends, this world will disappear too, Mommy. After all, this is just a fragmented past we temporarily managed to recover to bind both of your souls. We did it to finally end the world since the future caused by Dad's wrath became incurable and started to affect nearby planets. I'm sorry, Mommy."
The song died on Yetao's lips as tears overwhelmed him. He looked up at Bambam, eyes shimmering with pain and accusation.
"Until when were you planning to lie?" he asked, his voice breaking on the final word.
The question cut through Bambam's careful facade like a blade. His composure crumbled entirely as he pulled Yetao into a crushing embrace, finally allowing his own tears to fall freely. His shoulders shook with the force of his sobs as he clung to Yetao like a drowning man to salvation.
Yetao buried his face in Bambam's chest, fingers clutching desperately at the fabric of his robes. His body trembled as wave after wave of grief washed over him, each gasping breath a struggle against the rising tide of despair.
Neither spoke again. Words had become inadequate vessels for the enormity of their loss. All they had left were these precious final hours—each second more valuable than all the treasures of the realm they would soon leave behind.
Morning arrived with reluctance, the sun hesitating to breach the horizon as if sensing the heartbreak its light would bring. Golden rays slowly crept across the world, illuminating the two figures on the bridge—two souls merged into one, just as they had always been meant to be, and just as they could never remain.
Only minutes remained now.
From a respectful distance, Zihao watched his parents with growing concern. They sat motionless on the bridge, Yetao's head resting on Bambam's shoulder, their hands gripping each other so tightly their knuckles had turned white. Neither had moved for hours.
Carrot shifted anxiously beside him, ready to approach, but Thio silently raised a hand to stop them both. Let them have these final moments, his eyes seemed to say.
The notification appeared suddenly—a translucent countdown displaying the final sixty seconds. Around them, the edges of the world began to blur and dissolve, trees and distant pavilions fading into nothingness as reality unraveled thread by thread.
Yetao squeezed his eyes shut, unable to bear witness to the dissolution of everything he held dear. His fingers tightened around Bambam's, as if through sheer force of will he could anchor them both to this fading existence.
Bambam, having accepted his fate long ago, turned to face his beloved one last time. With gentle fingers, he caressed Yetao's tear-stained cheeks.
"Goodbye, Taotao," he whispered, a small, serene smile gracing his lips.
"No!" Yetao's voice broke with desperation. "You're coming with me, or I'm dying with you!" He clutched at Bambam's robes, as if he could physically hold him and bring him to his world through the force of his love alone.
With infinite tenderness, Bambam cupped Yetao's face between his hands. Tears streamed down his cheeks, yet his smile remained—a final gift of comfort in their last moment together.
"I love you, Taotao" he said simply, before pressing his lips to Yetao's in one final kiss.
Yetao reached up, desperate to hold Bambam's face, to memorize the feeling of his skin beneath his fingertips—but grasped only empty air. Between one heartbeat and the next, Bambam dissolved like morning mist in the sun's rays, leaving nothing behind but the phantom warmth of his touch.
Yetao's scream of anguish tore through the disintegrating world as darkness swallowed everything.
Then—a flash of blinding light. Memories shared in all three lifetime scattered like glitters and vanished to thin air, leaving only darkness surrounding him.
"Taotao... wake up."
A familiar voice penetrated the darkness. Slowly, Yetao opened his heavy eyelids, a single tear sliding from the corner of his eye down to his temple. Above him was a familiar ceiling—the one he'd woken up to countless times before.
His own bedroom. His own bed.
Lucas leaned over him, concern etched across his features. "Taotao! Why are you crying? Did you have a bad dream?"
Yetao blinked in confusion, his mind struggling to grasp at something important—something essential—that seemed to be slipping away with each passing second.
"What did you dream about for you to cry?" Lucas asked, gently wiping away Yetao's tears with his thumb.
Yetao furrowed his brow, reaching into the recesses of his mind for whatever had caused this inexplicable grief.
"I don't remember," he finally said, the words hollow in his chest.
But the ache remained—a phantom pain from a wound he couldn't see, mourning a loss he couldn't recall.
Somewhere, in a place that no longer existed, the memory of their love dissolved into the void, leaving nothing behind but stardust and silence.