Chapter Text
Oh, my Clematis. Hope bloomed through the abyss.
Younger Luka sings by the cliff side, back facing younger Hyuna. She had followed him, wanting to surprise him. She hadn’t really heard Luka sing before. They had classes, of course, but they were never alone like this.
Luka had a lovely voice. She knew that much, but she never really had the chance to just, hear him sing.
He didn’t just have a lovely voice. It was therapeutic.
Oh, my Clematis. Always be by my side.
Hyuna can hear the small gasp from Luka when she walks up to stand beside him, singing alongside him.
She could see why Luka had come here as she closes her eyes, letting herself get wrapped away with singing.
The slight breeze was cooling, and they were alone - no one to scrutinise their singing, no one to control them. Just a love for singing and good vibes.
She laughs when she’s done with her line, opening her eyes to look at Luka.
Luka doesn’t smile back. He didn’t usually smile. He was bred for talent, not emotions.
But still, there was a look in his eyes - a sparkle, maybe, in his gaze. He enjoyed being with Hyuna. That much they both knew for sure.
You bloomed from the huge black wall. The galactic stardust spread out in your eyes.
Years had passed, and the two were singing the same song on stage. Even if a crowd was watching them this time, it was still the two of them singing together. The world couldn’t separate them.
Right? Nothing could separate Luka from Hyuna.
Luka stares off into the distance as he sings. He loves singing with her more than anything. But he knows they’re never going to experience this again. That’s why it hurt so much. He couldn’t bear to look at Hyuna.
Hyuna laughs a bit when her line comes, turning to look at Luka. Even now, when they were on stage, Luka didn’t meet her gaze. He never seemed to, recently. Sure, she wasn’t expecting to compete against Luka, especially not in the first round, but that was all the more reason to enjoy the moment. One of them would be sent back to Anakt Garden after this, and if that person was going to be Hyuna, she’d cheer for Luka from the background for sure.
In the endless darkness, I’ll find you with your scent.
The two have had so many shared memories together. Most of them were of Hyuna dragging Luka around Anakt garden, she had always loved to explore. Even if the world was fake.
Hyun-woo was usually with them. Until his death. And for a while, Hyuna distanced herself from Luka. She couldn't believe what she herself had done.
Those days were hard on Luka. It hurt him to see Hyuna hurt. Hyun-woo’s death had been unexpected. The push was just meant to get him away from Luka.
And as sick as it sounded, Luka adored Hyuna even more. She was his saviour, and he loved her so.
Even if I fall asleep, don’t leave my side.
But Hyuna couldn’t stay away for long. They became even closer afterwards. He was the closest to her after Hyun-woo, so she begun to stay around him more often. Not that Luka could complain. Hyuna was all Luka had, and Luka had slowly become all Hyuna had.
She remembered the day she had rushed to Luka and showed him the “PASS” that glowed from her hands. She had made it to Alien Stage.
A similar glow came from between Luka’s hands. And Hyuna had practically tackled him to the ground for a hug.
She heard Luka laugh, which seemed to become increasingly rare these days, and she herself had laughed alongside him. Both of them had made it. Of course, only one of them would emerge the winner, and secretly, Hyuna did hope it was her, but just the idea of performing her dream performance on Alien Stage filled her with joy.
Oh, my Clematis. Hope bloomed through the abyss. Oh, my Clematis. Always stay by my side.
The two face each other as they sing some of the final lines in the song.
There’s that dreaming look in Luka’s eyes, almost melancholic in a way. Still, he smiled at Hyuna, and Hyuna smiled back.
With the way the stage and scene had been set up, Luka had this ethereal vibe to him. He was beautiful in every aspect to Hyuna, looks, voice, even personality. Maybe he was bred to be have good looks and voice, trained to be strong, but his personality was real. So, so real. And for Hyuna, she loved his personality the most. The calm and gentle vibe he had, she loved him so much.
And Luka loved Hyuna just as much, if not more. He stared into her eyes, so full of life. She was strong, much stronger than he was. And she had gotten here through her own hard work. It was something Luka admired about her. She could survive through Alien Stage without a single trouble, Luka knew that much.
Once upon a time, mankind believed in god and had religion. They believed that things that cannot be solved by human strength are the will of god, believed that the entire universe revolved around the earth - thought that the place that connected with the sky, which they could not dare to reach, was the place where the gods lived. But if belief in god is human, if all i can do as a human is to believe - my god, my universe.
Hyuna loved Luka. Loved him dearly. Though he was typically one to be stoic all the time, he had his silly moments - his speech, his actions. None of that could ever be artificial. That’s why Hyuna loved spending time with Luka. Because those moments were real.
That’s why she loved performing and singing alongside him. He had a lovely voice, even if that was artificial. But he had such a gentle presence as well. Taht much was real.
He was so different, yet he had suffered just like Hyuna had.
In the present, Luka smiles at Hyuna. There were cheers and the sound of the instrumental being played.
Hyuna didn’t care or notice. She grinned back. One of the happiest grins ever in her life. To be on stage, to fulfil her dreams. She had longed for this day.
Luka did notice. Luka noticed the sounds of the score clicking in.
86/87.
He knew Hyuna had won. He didn’t need to see. A slight alter in his singing style was all it took to know Hyuna had. She hit every note perfectly - Luka made sure to have just the tiniest imperfections.
She was skilled. She would win the entire show, easily.
Luka was selfish, maybe, not to tell her about the truth behind Alien Stage. But he wanted to see her in her final moments.
And he had gotten his wish, like Hyuna had gotten her’s. Even if both of theirs were built on lies and nothing but.
And so, in his final moments, he smiles at Hyuna. Genuinely, genuinely smiles.
He’s greeted with the beauty that is Hyuna’s smile.
Then, there’s the sound of a gunshot. He falls to the ground.
Hyuna’s eyes widen. She stares, for a second, frozen. She hadn’t expected this to be the outcome.
And suddenly, her whole world had shattered and broken. She’d lost two people already.
Hyuna falls to her knees, taking Luka’s cold hands in her own. He was already gone.
Oh, my Clematis. Hope withered in the abyss.
She just stares. She doesn’t know what else to do. There’s nothing left for her. She has no one now. Officially.
Oh, my Clematis. Please, stay by my side.
And now she understood that look of sadness in Luka’s eyes. Guilt, pain, sorrow.
She understood that all too well.
My Clematis…
A collar is snapped around her neck, and it blinks red immediately.
Luka was gone. Hyuna was alone. Alone and trapped by this damned show.
A show she had wanted to be on for so long.
If only she knew.
She runs a hand through Luka’s hair, ruffling it slightly. She loved doing this to Luka before. And she wanted to do it one last time.
She had lost the two that had ever mattered. And in a sick way, it had all been her fault.