Remember Me || [BTOB Ilhoon]

-49-

Third Person's POV

"Ilhoon! Why are you here? The hunt is over now. Changsub-ssi won!" Minhyuk said as he approached Ilhoon, who was sitting on the sand.

"Hyung..." Ilhoon looked at his elder brother.

Minhyuk immediately noticed Ilhoon's bloodshot eyes. He sat down next to him and waited for Ilhoon to speak.

"Melody... She..." Ilhoon was interrupted as his two more hyungs approached them.

"Ilhoon-ah! What happened? Melody messaged me. She said she's going home!" Changsub arrived, out of breath, with Eunkwang following him.

"Did you two fight?" Eunkwang asked, looking concerned.

"Hyung... she knows now..." Ilhoon spoke in a weak voice.

"What?" Changsub asked, confused as to what their younger member was saying.

"You mean... she?"

"I don't know if she already remembers everything that happened, but she saw these." Ilhoon showed them the pictures.

Changsub, Minhyuk, and Eunkwang all looked at the pictures in shock, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"How did she get these?" Eunkwang asked.

"I don't know, Hyung. She confronted me and said she doesn't want to see me," Ilhoon replied.

"We have to talk to her, explain everything," Minhyuk said.

"I don't know Hyung. She told me to leave her alone." Ilhoon said remembering what happened earlier.

"And you're actually doing that? Since when did you become so obedient?" Changsub retorts in annoyance.

Ilhoon looked down, feeling the weight of Changsub's words. He knew he messed up and hurt Melody, but he didn't know what else to do. He felt lost and helpless.

"Ey, Changsub-ah. Don't be too harsh on Ilhoon. He's just worried about Melody," Eunkwang said, trying to diffuse the tension.

Changsub sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just worried too."

"We all are," Minhyuk said. "But we can't just let this go. We have to talk to Melody and explain everything to her."

The others nodded in agreement.

"I'll try to talk to her again," Ilhoon said, feeling determined. "Maybe I can make her understand."

"Alright, but don't force her," Minhyuk cautioned. "Just be honest with her and give her space if she needs it."

Ilhoon took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. He knew that he had to gather the courage to face Melody again, regardless of the outcome. He couldn't let fear dictate his actions.

"Let's finish the activity, there's still an awarding ceremony," Eunkwang said. "I also bumped into a few fans, and they may get suspicious if we don't go back to the activity area."

As Ilhoon walked alongside his members, he couldn't help but steal glances around, searching for any sign of Melody. His heart sank when he realized she was nowhere in sight. Has she already left? Thoughts of their last conversation and her lingering disappointment flooded his mind.

As the night wore on and the group's activities came to an end, Ilhoon felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He couldn't shake the thought of Melody, his girlfriend, and the desire to find her. With a heavy sigh, he mustered the courage to speak up.

"Hey guys," Ilhoon called out, trying to catch the attention of his fellow members. "I think it's about time we head back to our rooms."

His members exchanged glances, understanding the urgency in his voice. They knew how important Melody was to Ilhoon, and they shared his concern. Changsub nodded in agreement. "Sure, Ilhoon. We'll wait here. Let us know if you find her."

Ilhoon hurriedly made his way to the elevator, his heart pounding with each passing floor. When he reached his room, he fumbled with the keycard in his hand, his nerves getting the best of him. As the door swung open, he stepped inside, hoping to find some clue that would lead him to Melody.

The room was quiet and dimly lit, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Ilhoon's already anxious state. He scanned the area, his eyes darting from corner to corner, searching for any sign of her presence. His gaze fell upon the bed, and there, resting on the pillow, were the pictures Melody found.

Tears welled up in Ilhoon's eyes as he absorbed what was captured in the pictures. He realized how badly he messed up for not confessing everything and how it affected Melody. He knew that he had to make things right, but where should he start?

"Melody... I'm sorry..." Ilhoon could only mutter an apology as he slumped on the floor and burned the pictures.

The flames licked at the edges, devouring the evidence of his wrongdoing. Yet, the fire offered no solace, no redemption

Although he's still feeling overwhelmed by the weight of his remorse, Ilhoon's trembling hand reached for his phone. He managed to dial Changsub's number.

"Hyung.. She's gone," Ilhoon said, his voice trembling with a mixture of sadness and desperation. "I messed up big time... Melody... she found out, and she's gone. I don't know what to do. I thought I was doing the right thing, Hyung.."

Changsub's voice came through the phone, a mix of concern and disappointment. "Ilhoon, I can't say I'm not disappointed in you. You really messed up, and Melody is hurting because of it. But what matters now is how you handle this situation. Stay there."

Just as Ilhoon was about to hang up, there was a knock on his door. He tried his best to stand up and opened the door, his Hyungs were standing there, concern etched on their faces.

Eunkwang stepped forward and enveloped Ilhoon in a tight hug. "We're here for you, Ilhoon~ah," he said softly.

Changsub chimed in, his voice filled with determination. "We'll find Melody, Ilhoon."

He fought hard not to break down in front of them, wanting to maintain a sense of strength.

Minhyuk spoke up, his voice filled with determination. "Let's regroup tomorrow. We'll leave the resort and try our luck at her apartment."

With their plan in place, they bid each other goodnight, the weight of the situation still heavy on their hearts. As they turned to leave, Ilhoon's gaze lingered on a photo of him and Melody on his phone, a bittersweet reminder of the happy times they shared.

Ilhoon sank to his knees, his heart heavy with sorrow. He closed his eyes, letting the tears flow freely, and whispered brokenly, "Melody, wherever you are, please be safe. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry for hurting you again."

In that moment, all he could do was hope against hope and pray for Melody's safety and forgiveness.

Author's Note:
Dear readers,

I want to thank all of you for your incredible support and understanding, despite my inconsistent and late updates. Your enthusiasm and patience have meant the world to me.

I apologize for not being able to update regularly. Unexpected challenges in my personal and professional life have made it difficult to keep up with my writing schedule.

But I want you to know that your support has kept me going. Your kind messages, fun comments, and continued interest in my work have inspired me to keep pushing forward, even during tough times.

Thank you for being one of the reasons I still write. Yejiapsa. ♡