Chapter 748: No Goodbyes
"June, you're such a liar," Jisung said, sniffing after June said those words. June had been in a daze during his speech, so he didn't realize that the venue was already filled with tears after he said his last words. "What did I do?" he innocently asked. "You made all of us cry," Casper said, standing next to him and leaning against his head. Their height difference was just perfect for him to do that, and for a second, the fans stopped crying to fangirl. - I can't with all of these emotions. Do you want me to cry or feel giddy? EVE, please make up your mind! - I'm crying because of June's speech, and now, I'm crying even more because my favorite ship is coming to life! - June should go down in history as one of the greatest speech-makers of all time. "That's enough," June said. "I didn't say all of that just to make you cry. In fact, I wanted all of you to smile because you're surely going to cry with our last song!" The audience protested once more as the members went to their positions for the final stage. "This is entitled—No Goodbyes," Jaeyong said just as the music started.
The lights dimmed out, casting the dome in complete darkness. The hum of anticipation was heard in the air, and for a moment, it felt as though time stood still. Then, one by one, thousands of tiny lights began to flicker in existence, shimmering like a constellation of dragonflies. The boys looked around as the makeshift lights surrounded them. June smiled in satisfaction. It seemed like the company actually listened to their suggestions for once, or maybe it was just Jay all along. Nonetheless, the effect was natural and surreal, a perfect reflection of the bittersweet parting of their final stage. The boys of EVE stood in a line, each at their mic stand. The simplicity of the set-up amplified the emotions even more. There was no choreography, no flashy movements—just them, their voices, and their emotions embedded within the song. The opening chorus of their final song, 'No Goodbyes,' echoed through the venue, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The boys took a collective breath before Akira began to sing, his voice melding into harmony with Jisung, one that spoke of their friendship and hard work. "We've climbed the highest mountains, we've walked the longest roads, Through the nights and through the shadows, with the dreams we've carried close. Remember where we started, the laughter and the tears, Every step that brought us closer, every hope and every fear."
The song continued, and the audience realized that the line distribution was different this time around. It was as if the boys all had equal lines, which made the performance even more emotional. - Sehun has lines now. I'm so happy. - I was a bit disappointed during the mini-concert because of the line distribution. It would have been a perfect concert otherwise. However, now, it seems like they've fixed it. I'm really so happy. - This is already a perfect concert. I really wish I was there. - No goodbyes, EVE. No goodbyes.
"No goodbyes, just see you later, We'll meet again somewhere, somehow. Hold these moments like a treasure, We're forever, here and now."
As the first chorus faded, the boys' voices gave way to the instrumental interlude. They glanced at each other, smiling as they enjoyed the moment. This was not just a song but a culmination of their shared experiences, triumphs, and struggles.
The rappers sang during the second part of the song, which highlighted their vocal ability despite their main role in the team.
"From the shadows of the alleys to the brightest of the lights, We held on to each other through the darkest of the nights. Every friend we made along the way, every heart that shared our song, We carry you within us; you have made us strong."
"No goodbyes, just see you later, We'll meet again somewhere, somehow. Hold these moments like a treasure, We're forever, here and now." As the song moved into the emotional bridge, the lights on the stage began to dim once more. June stepped forward, his heart pounding as he prepared to deliver his lines. But just as he opened his mouth to sing, a flash of light behind them caught his attention. He hesitated, thinking it was a technical mistake, but then familiar voices were heard over the sound system.
"Shoot to the top! Hi guys, we're LEVEL-UP!"
"And this week's winner is EVE!" "Jaeyong, Jisung, Casper, Zeth, Ren, Sehun, Akira, and June—the legendary rookies that are creating a new wave!"
The boys turned around, puzzled, as the large screen behind them lit up with a montage of their achievements for the past months. Then, after that, a compilation of unaired scenes from their journey that were delightfully edited followed. Clips of late-night rehearsals, candid moments of laughter, and emotional highs and lows filled the screen. The audience gasped and then fell silent, captivated by the intimate glimpse into the boys' lives. June's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he watched, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He glanced to his right, where he saw Jay waving. At that moment, June knew that he was the one who organized the surprise, which strengthened his belief that Jay needed to be the new CEO of Azure. The bridge of the song began, and he found his voice again, stronger than ever.
"In every heart, in every moment, This is forever; this is our home. Through every storm, we'll keep on going, Together, we'll never be alone."
As the montage faded and the song swelled back into the chorus, the boys turned back to their microphones, their expressions a blend of joy and nostalgia. They sang the last chorus together.
"No goodbyes, just see you later, We're forever, here and now."
And as the final notes of the song lingered in the air, they sang the last line, their voices united in a beautiful conclusion.
"No goodbyes.