The journey through time reached its end for Ha Eun-gyeol and the band Watermelon Sugar. The final episodes of the popular K-drama Twinkling Watermelon revealed that while some heartbreaks are unavoidable, the smallest changes can create a completely different future. The story closed with a mix of sadness and hope, showing how the characters’ lives in the present were reshaped by the events in 1995.
Eun-gyeol, a gifted musician and a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), made a desperate trip to the past to prevent the accident that caused his father’s deafness. There, he formed a band with his teenage father, Yi-chan, and fell in love with Eun-yu, a girl with her own secret connection to the past. The finale answered the big question of whether Eun-gyeol could change history, while also giving a new start to everyone he met.
The Unavoidable Accident and a Father’s Sacrifice
Despite Eun-gyeol’s best efforts, the key event he tried to stop still occurred. He and Eun-yu successfully prevented the original drunk-driving incident they believed caused Yi-chan’s hearing loss. However, a new and more personal danger emerged.
The threat came from Ju-yeob, the angry son of Cheong-ah’s abusive stepmother. After his family was disgraced and removed from the family registry thanks to Eun-gyeol’s actions, Ju-yeob sought revenge. He targeted Eun-gyeol directly, driving a car at him with the intent to kill. In a critical moment, Yi-chan pushed Eun-gyeol out of the way and was struck by the vehicle himself.
The accident led to a severe head injury for Yi-chan. Although his surgery was successful in saving his life, the damage resulted in permanent hearing loss. Eun-gyeol was devastated, believing his entire journey had been a failure and that he was directly responsible for his father’s condition.
“Give up now,” Eun-yu tells him. “It’s not your burden to carry.”
Eun-yu tried to comfort him, pointing out that his actions were not in vain. He had saved her life and rescued Cheong-ah from her abusive home. She reminded him that some events are fated, and carrying the guilt was too heavy a load.
A Changed Present: New Lives for the Watermelon Sugar Band
When Eun-gyeol finally returned to the year 2023, he woke up in a surprisingly different world. He found himself in a guest room of the wealthy Yoon family home. His family’s circumstances had improved dramatically because his mother, Cheong-ah, had maintained a good relationship with her father.
He discovered he was now a famous idol, a member of the popular band SPINE9. His career in music, which his parents had once discouraged, was now thriving. Even more shocking was learning that his father, Yi-chan, had become the successful director of a guitar division at a major instrument company.
The members of the old Watermelon Sugar band were still close friends. At a launch event for a new guitar line, Yi-chan took the stage. He delivered a speech in sign language, openly sharing his story of losing his hearing in an accident. He spoke about choosing not to give up because he could still remember the beautiful sounds from his first 18 years.
Eun-gyeol watched his father, finally understanding that while he couldn’t prevent the accident, he had given Yi-chan the courage and support to build a brilliant life despite it. The moment was emotional closure for Eun-gyeol, releasing him from his long-held guilt.
Eun-yu’s Mission and the Mystery of the Time Master
Eun-yu’s journey to the past had its own goal: to heal her mother’s deep childhood wounds. She discovered that her mother, Se-kyung, had run away to find her biological father—the mysterious music shop owner known as Grandpa Viva.
In a heartfelt conversation while posing as her mother, Eun-yu asked Grandpa Viva the question that had haunted her family: “Why did you abandon me?” He explained, in tears, that he never knew she existed until she was already adopted. He believed she was living a happy life with a wealthy family.
Eun-yu corrected him, revealing that Se-kyung always felt she had to compete for love and never felt truly happy. She asked him to promise that if a girl who looked like her ever came asking again, he would explain that he never meant to abandon her. This was Eun-yu’s attempt to change her mother’s future for the better.
The finale also unveiled the identity of the enigmatic Time Master who sent both Eun-gyeol and Eun-yu back to 1995. As Eun-gyeol left the music shop for the last time, he turned back to see that the Master was, in fact, Grandpa Viva. The kind guitar teacher from his childhood had been guiding him all along, offering cryptic advice like “Viva la vida” to encourage him to live fully.
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A Sweet Reunion and a Promise Kept
The series ended with a focus on new beginnings. After his performance with SPINE9, Eun-gyeol rushed off stage and found Eun-yu outside. Both had successfully returned to their correct time. They shared a kiss, solidifying the love that began in the past and promising a future together.
In a final, touching scene, Eun-gyeol dropped the cassette tape Yi-chan had recorded for Grandpa Viva in 1995. Yi-chan picked it up, looking at it with a hint of recognition. The tape contained a heartfelt message from the past where a teenage Yi-chan thanked his mysterious friend Eun-gyeol for guiding him “like a father” and promised to be his father in the next life.
While Yi-chan’s hearing loss remained a painful reality, the finale showed a world transformed by empathy. Cheong-ah, as the chairwoman of a school, worked to destigmatize sign language. The characters’ lives were not defined by silence, but filled with music, understanding, and deep connection.
Also Read: Tell Me Lies Season 3 Finale: Episode 8 Release Info, Spoilers, and What to Expect
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