Return me to childhood,
Unveil the me beyond the shell.
Like the bloom of May's first light,
I'll come when you call,
Where time will never bind our love.
Chapter 23
The next day, Finnish news channels were consumed by the scandal surrounding Tero's arrest. Every broadcast seemed to replay the same dramatic footage—grainy clips of him being led away in handcuffs, accompanied by endless speculation from reporters and so-called experts.
"A shocking turn of events in the Finnish music scene—Stargazer's ex-manager, Tero Kallio, taken into custody last night," one anchor declared gravely on Yle Uutiset.
"Fans are left reeling as new details emerge," another reporter added on a popular entertainment program. "What does this mean for the band's future?"
But as days passed, the story began to fade, slowly drowned out by a much louder and far more triumphant narrative.
"Breaking news: Stargazer's latest album, Timeless, shatters records!" blared the headlines.
"Finland's rock legends take the world by storm!" announced Ilta-Sanomat, featuring a full-page spread of the band onstage, mid-performance.
"From local icons to global superstars—Stargazer conquers the charts," echoed a segment on MTV3.
The scandal was old news. What mattered now was the fact that Timeless had not only topped the charts in Finland but had also soared to gold and platinum status in multiple countries. Within a single week of its release, millions of copies had been sold worldwide. International music critics praised its depth and innovation, fans flooded social media with praise, and industry giants were calling it one of the greatest metal albums of the decade.
In Finland, they had already been treated as heroes. Now, the world was beginning to see them the same way.
Meanwhile, thefactory buzzed with an almost electric energy. Oompa Loompas hurried throughthe halls, carrying spools of silk, crates of flowers, and trays ofconfectionery samples. Wedding preparations were in full swing.
In a sunlit room lined with mirrors, Lyyli stood before a small stage, where some stylist Oompa Loompas draped fabrics over her shoulders, humming thoughtfully. Swatches of white and ivory were pinned to a board beside them.
"Too frilly," Lyyli muttered, gesturing toward one sketch. "And this one... too princess-y."
One of the stylist Oompa Loompas crossed its arms, tapping a tiny pencil against its chin. Then, it held up a sleek, asymmetrical gown with intricate silver embroidery. Lyyli tilted her head, intrigued. "Hmm... maybe. Let's pin that one."
At that moment, her laptop, propped open on a vanity table, buzzed. The screen filled with familiar faces—her bandmates.
"There she is!" Matti, the bassist, grinned. "Busy picking out the most metal wedding dress of all time?"
"Something like that," Lyyli smirked, adjusting the laptop. "What's up?"
"Press schedules," Jukka, the drummer, said, rolling her eyes. "We've been getting flooded with interview requests. Magazines, podcasts, even some U.S. late-night talk shows."
"We need to decide which ones are worth doing," Kimi added. "We can't say yes to everything."
Lyyli nodded. "Alright. What are the big ones?"
Tuomas pulled up a list. "Metal Hammer wants a full cover feature, Revolver is asking for an in-depth on the album's production, and Finnish TV wants us on a primetime special. Oh, and Kerrang! is practically begging for an exclusive."
Lyyli exhaled. "Okay. Let's lock in Metal Hammer and Kerrang! for sure. The Finnish TV special sounds huge, but it depends—what would they focus on?"
Matti smirked. "Mostly the album's success."
Lyyli shook her head. "Alright, we'll do it. But let's keep the spotlight on the music—and let's not let them drag Tero into it. That chapter is closed."
Matti cleared his throat. "Speaking of focus... has Wonka told you anything about the manager yet?"
Lyyli's expression shifted slightly. "He's working on it. He said he'd let me know soon."
Matti exchanged a glance with the others before nodding. "Alright. Just making sure we're still on track."
"We are," Lyyli assured him. "Trust him."
The band members nodded, satisfied for now.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Willy Wonka burst into the room. Lyyli and the Oompa Loompas jolted in surprise, scrambling to hide the fabric samples and dress sketches.
"Willy!" Lyyli gasped. "You can't see the dress before the wedding!"
The Oompa Loompas gave an urgent nod, backing her up.
Willy stopped short, his excitement momentarily dimming. "Oh! Right, right. I forgot about that. My bad, heh!". Then, just as quickly, his face lit up again, practically vibrating with excitement. "But never mind that—you're not gonna believe this."
He gestured to the door, and an Oompa Loompa strolled in, dressed in a sleek black suit, dark sunglasses perched on his nose, exuding an air of mystery and authority.
Willy gestured to him dramatically. "Meet your new manager, Freddy."
Lyyli blinked confused. Her bandmates on the video call fell silent, their uncertainty growing—especially since they couldn't see their new manager.
Willy, noticing the hesitation, leaned in with a grin. "Trust me—this guy knows his stuff. He's been handling my marketing and publicity ever since I reopened the factory." He straightened, his expression turning uncharacteristically serious. "A huge part of my success? It's because of him."
Lyyli listened to him, still unconvinced.
Willy smirked. "Oh, and one more thing—he's already booked you into festivals. Big ones."
That got their attention. The band members exchanged looks, eyebrows raising.
Matti leaned toward the camera. "Okay... now we're listening."
Still brimming with excitement, Willy gestured for the Oompa Loompa to step forward and reveal the list of concerts he had already booked for Stargazers.
"You're not gonna believe this, he he!" Willy said, practically bouncing on his heels.
Before she could respond, the Oompa Loompa adjusted his sunglasses and showed her the impressive list of lineup of shows already secured for Stargazers.
Lyyli took the list from his hand and started reading aloud the names of the festivals for her bandmates until she stopped on one. Lyyli's breath hitched. "Wacken, Monsters of Rock, Hellfest... Rock in Rio?" she echoed, her full attention snapping to him.
Her bandmates on the video call went completely still for a moment—then chaos erupted.
"Did she just say Rock in Rio?" Matti blurted.
"No way. No way."
"We're playing in Brazil?!"
"This is insane!"
Lyyli, still in shock, barely managed to stammer, "We're playing Rock in Rio?"
"Not just playing," Willy clarified. "You're headlining."
Lyyli was still gaping at the news, shaking her head in disbelief. "Willy, have you seen the size of that stage? How—how are we headlining Rock in Rio? This is insane!"
The Oompa Loompa made a few quick gestures toward Willy, who nodded and added—far too casually, but still buzzing with excitement— "Oh, and, you know... that band you love? With that whole creepy Pope thing? They're playing before you."
Silence.
Then—absolute chaos.
Lyyli's eyes went huge. "WHAT?! GHOST?"
Her bandmates completely lost it.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Kimi practically screamed, nearly knocking over his laptop.
"NO. FREAKING. WAY." Tuomas shouted, his face lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning.
"WE'RE FOLLOWING GHOST?!" Matti was gripping his own hair, looking like he was about to pass out. "That's it. I'm done. I can't—how do we even—WHAT?!"
Jukka just threw his arms in the air. "We're dead. We're actually dead. This isn't real life."
Willy, absolutely thriving on the chaos he had unleashed, grinned. "That's right. You're closing the night."
Lyyli threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck so suddenly that he nearly lost his balance.
"WHA—Lyyli—ack!" He stumbled back, barely managing to stay on his feet.
Meanwhile, the band was still going wild on the video call.
"Okay, no, she deserves this moment," Matti laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.
She pulled Willy away, turned back to the screen where her bandmates were still celebrating like maniacs.
"I'll talk to you later," she said suddenly, still buzzing with energy. "You." She jabbed a finger in his direction, eyes shining. "You're the best. You're getting a raise."
The Oompa Loompa gave a smug nod, adjusting his sunglasses as if to say, Damn right, I am.
Then, before Willy could react, Lyyli grabbed his hand.
"You—come with me."
Willy barely had time to blink. "Wait, what? Where are we—"
"No questions. Move!" She practically dragged him out of the room at lightning speed.
Then Kimi smirked. "Well... pretty sure somebody's about to get a very enthusiastic thank-you."
Willy lay sprawled across the bed, completely disheveled, his hair sticking out in different directions, his clothes all spread in the chaos. He stared at the ceiling with wide, dazed eyes, his lips parted slightly like he was still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
Lyyli, draped lazily over him, propped herself up on one elbow and smirked. "Are you ok?"
Willy's head lolled to the side, his gaze meeting hers with pure, starry-eyed disbelief. He blinked a few times before finally managing to whisper, "What... was that?"
Lyyli chuckled, tracing a finger lightly along his collarbone. "That was one of my 666 ways to say I love you."
He exhaled a breathy laugh, his fingers twitching slightly like he wanted to touch her but was too overwhelmed to function properly. "I mean—wow. That was—wow!" He ran a hand through his hair, then let it fall limp beside him. "I should get you concerts more often."
Lyyli laughed, leaning down to him. "You don't have to get me concerts for that—I'm yours anytime you want."
She kissed him again, lingering this time.
Willy, finally regaining some sense of himself, grinned against her lips. "If this is how you react to a concert lineup, I might have to see what happens if you win a Grammy."
She kissed him again, deeper this time, leaving him breathless. When she pulled back, mischief sparkled in her eyes.
"Hope you're not too tired," she whispered, straddling him once more. "Because I'm not done with you yet."
Willy's breath hitched, his body still humming from the aftershocks of pleasure. "You're going to be the death of me."
The day of the wedding had arrived. The factory was alive with motion, running at full speed, as Oompa Loompas bustled around with lively energy.
And at the heart of it all was the groom—Willy Wonka—a storm of nerves and restless energy.
He paced back and forth, his black suit swirling with each frantic step, fingers endlessly tugging at his cuffs. The Oompa Loompas trailed behind, dodging his movements as they struggled to make last-minute adjustments. His thoughts tumbled over each other, his heart pounding in sync with the factory's rhythm. Anticipation. Anxiety. A breathless, electric thrill.
He was about to marry Lyyli. The very same Lyyli he had met all those years ago, when they were both still young and finding their way. The one who had enchanted him from the very first glance. His closest friend, his greatest love—the woman who had held his heart for as long as he could remember.
Willy wasn't wearing gloves today. There was no need for them—not when he wanted to feel the warmth of her skin, the smoothness of the ring as he slid it onto her finger.
The Oompa Loompas observed him with curiosity, by the rare sight of their eccentric boss prioritizing something other than his signature style, but Willy was too lost in thought to notice. He ran a hand through his hair and decided not to wear a hat either. It would only end up discarded the moment she kissed him, her fingers instinctively weaving through his hair as they always did. The mere thought sent a shiver through him, a blend of anticipation and deep, unwavering adoration swelling in his chest.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Charlie stepped in with his mother, grounding Willy back in the moment.
Charlie stepped forward with a reassuring smile, holding up a small velvet box. "I brought the rings," he said.
Mrs. Bucket stood beside him, her eyes shimmering with emotion. She looked at Willy the way a mother would look at her son on his wedding day—full of warmth, pride, and quiet affection. To her, he wasn't just Charlie's eccentric mentor; he was family.
"You look amazing," she murmured, her voice thick with feeling.
Willy's chest tightened, a rare, genuine softness flickering in his violet eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice quieter than usual. As she pulled him into a gentle hug, he let himself lean into it, savoring the moment.
Pulling back, he turned to Charlie. "Let me see them."
Charlie flipped open the box, revealing the rings nestled inside. The metal gleamed under the light, polished to perfection. Willy stared at them, his nerves surging once more. They were beautiful—but would Lyyli like them?
As if reading his mind, Charlie grinned. "She's going to love them."
Before Willy could say anything, another presence entered the room—his father, Wilbur Wonka.
The years had softened the once-distant dentist, and today, there was no trace of the cold, rigid man from Willy's childhood. Instead, he stood with quiet pride, his usually sharp gaze warm as he took in his son in his wedding attire.
"I never thought I'd see this day," Wilbur admitted after a pause. "But I'm glad I did. After everything... I'm proud of you, son."
Something thick lodged in Willy's throat. He had spent so much of his life without this—without him—but now, at this moment, it didn't feel like absence. It felt whole.
"Thank you, dad. I'm glad you're here too." Willy said. They embraced briefly, a silent understanding passing between them. No more lost years. No more regrets. Just this.
Then, Mr. Bucket called from outside the room.
"It's time."
Lyyli stood before the mirror, her breath catching as she took in her reflection. Her wedding gown embodied elegance and timeless romance. The neckline framed her collarbones beautifully, while thin, delicate straps led to a dramatic open back that plunged to the small of her back—a striking contrast that added a touch of allure. The dress hugged her waist just right, enhancing her silhouette with effortless grace.
From the fitted waist, the skirt flowed gracefully, cascading into a sweeping train that lent a regal yet understated elegance to the design.
Her jewelry was minimal but carefully chosen—a fine silver chain resting just above the neckline and dainty earrings that sparkled subtly in the candlelight.
As she gazed at her reflection, her fingers brushed the fabric at her waist, her heart racing. She could already picture Willy's eyes widening, the way he'd forget to breathe for just a second. And when he reached for her, bare hands against bare skin, she knew—there would be no doubt.
She was his, just as he was hers.
Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door.
"Come in," Lyyli called, turning toward the sound.
As the door swung open, she saw them—her bandmates, her friends, her family. Matti, Kimi, Jukka, and Tuomas stood in the doorway, frozen.
For a moment, none of them spoke. Then, all at once, they gasped.
"Holy shit," Kimi breathed.
"You look like a damn Disney princess," Jukka added, stepping inside.
"You look stunning!" Tuomas chimed in, eyes wide.
"I mean, wow," Matti said, shaking his head. "I didn't think we'd ever see you in a wedding dress, and now I feel like I should be bowing or something."
Lyyli stared at them for a second before suddenly bursting into laughter.
They looked at her, confused. "What? What's so funny?" Kimi asked.
She shook her head, trying to catch her breath. "You guys! Look at yourselves! All dressed up, standing all proper like gentlemen!"
Jukka frowned dramatically. "Well, excuse us for looking presentable for your wedding!"
"Yeah, we even combed our hair," Tuomas added, running a hand over his waves.
Matti crossed his arms, feigning offense. "And here we were, thinking you'd cry happy tears when you saw us."
"Oh my god," Lyyli teased, wiping at her eyes. "You guys are going to make me ruin my makeup!"
The guys groaned in unison.
"She mocks us on her wedding day," Kimi muttered.
"Unbelievable," Jukka agreed.
"Ungrateful," Matti added with a smirk.
Lyyli rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything, one by one, they pulled her into warm embraces.
"You look amazing, Lyyli," Tuomas murmured.
"And we're so damn happy for you," Jukka added.
"Wonka is a lucky bastard," Matti suddenly said, shaking his head. "And he better take damn good care of you, or we're coming for him."
The others nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, a small group of Oompa Loompas entered the room, moving with quiet precision as they adjusted the final details of Lyyli's dress.
The guys startled, eyes widening as they instinctively took a step back.
"What the hell?" Kimi muttered.
"Uh, Lyyli," Jukka said slowly, "who—what—are they?"
Lyyli chuckled at their reactions. "Relax, they're Willy's workers. They're Oompa Loompas."
The guys exchanged glances, still clearly trying to process what they were seeing. The Oompa Loompas, unfazed, gave them brief nods of acknowledgment before turning back to their task.
Tuomas leaned in toward Matti. "Are we just gonna act like this is normal?"
Matti shrugged.
One of the Oompa Loompas finally stepped back, gesturing to Lyyli with a small nod, signaling that they were finished.
She took a deep breath, then turned to her bandmates. "Alright, so... which one of you is taking me down the aisle?"
Immediately, chaos erupted.
"Me!" Kimi declared. "I'm obviously the best choice!"
"Oh, please," Jukka scoffed. "I've known her the longest, it should be me!"
"Yeah? Well, I'm the tallest, so I'd look best in the pictures," Tuomas argued.
"You guys are unbelievable," Matti cut in, shaking his head. "I was the only one who said from the start that Lyyli and Willy would end up together. You all laughed at me. But look where we are now. If anyone's escorting her, it's me."
Lyyli tilted her head, considering this. "You know... he's got a point."
The room fell silent for half a second before the others erupted in protest.
"Oh, come on!" Jukka groaned.
"This is rigged!" Kimi huffed.
Tuomas threw his hands up. "I demand a rematch—wait, no, a proper vote!"
Lyyli laughed, looping her arm through Matti's. "Too late. Decision's made."
Matti grinned smugly as the others sulked. "Guess I was right all along," he said, giving them a mock bow.
Jukka rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't trip on the way down the aisle."
"You break her shoe, and you're dead," Kimi added.
Tuomas smirked. "Or worse—she'll make you pay for a new one."
Lyyli shook her head, a warm smile tugging at her lips. "You guys are impossible."
As their laughter faded and Kimi insisted on capturing a group photo, the weight of the moment sank in. This was it. In just moments, she would walk down the aisle—to Willy.
"Breathe in, breathe out." Matti murmured beside her, his voice low and steady.
Lyyli exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening slightly around his arm. The weight of the moment settled over her like a heavy, shimmering veil. In just moments, the doors would open, and she would walk down the aisle—to him.
"I'm okay," she assured Matti, though her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might shake the fabric of her dress.
Then, a thought struck her, and she turned to him, her brow furrowing. "Wait—you guys did it, right? What I asked?"
Matti smirked, giving her a sideways glance. "Like we'd ever forget?"
Before she could question him further, the first delicate chords rang out, drifting softly through the air.
Lyyli's breath caught in her throat.
She knew that melody.
Her eyes widened as the gentle arrangement unfolded, each note familiar yet different—softened, refined, transformed. Recognition sent a shiver down her spine. It was her song.
Not just any song.
The one she had written last for the album. The one where every lyric had been a quiet confession, where every chord had been woven with the overwhelming, dizzying realization of how deeply she loved Willy. She had never planned for this song to be played today—she had only asked them to work on something that wasn't the cheesy, traditional wedding march.
She turned to Matti, stunned. "You—how did you know?"
Matti chuckled, his grip on her arm tightening slightly in reassurance. "Oh, come on, Lyyli. Did you really think we didn't notice? You've been writing about him for ages. It was obvious."
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Of course, they had known. Of course, they had understood.
And now, here it was—her love for Willy, turned into music, filling the space like something sacred.
She swallowed hard, trying to push past the lump in her throat.
Matti leaned in slightly, his voice full of quiet triumph. "Told you I'd never disappoint you."
Before she could say anything else, the doors began to creak open.
A hush fell over the room, and there—at the end of the aisle, waiting for her with eyes only for her—stood Willy Wonka.