THE STARS IN YOUR EYES | JEONGCHAN

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A sign of hope comes to him on Monday night, when he stands outside on the balcony under the pale light of the three moons. The air is tainted with the bitter tang of smoke, a product of the wildfires taking over the last shreds of wilderness and the factories churning out products at a rapid rate.

Three stars glimmer above. They've been there since he was born, a friend to look forward to each night. Their shining brethen is hidden by the omnipresent smog.

Airplane companies went bankrupt ten years ago in the vehicle depression— when Jeongin was nine and barely understanding the despairing state of his planet—  so he's understandably surprised when he sees the once familiar blinking lights in the sky.

The reasonable explanation is that it's a space travelor from Earth 4– the bustering metropolis of the wealthiest humans— but no one visits Planet GB86 anymore. Not since the economy virtually collapsed and the sea levels started rising. The fate planet is hopeless.

And yet, the blinking gets closer. The spacecraft materializes out of the slate-colored clouds, plated surface gleaming the pastel lights of the run-down city. Jeongin has never seen a ship like it before; with round, smooth panels intersecting into a sort of honeycomb shape with a tapered cockpit. It lands on the roof of the skyscraper not even two blocks away from his apartment building.

He immediately runs inside the apartment building, sliding on the beat-up sneakers next to the door without bothering to lace them up. The wet pavement soaks into his feet and causes cold shivers to run up his spine, but he continues the run to the building.

Jeongin isn't sure what fuels his sudden interest. For all he knows, it could be the first sign of aliens the known universe have found or perhaps a murderous ship taking bodies from each planet. Whatever it is, he's lived a boring enough life. This opportunity to do something new won't go by without him trying.

If this planet is going to die soon, then Jeongin will live for as long as he can.

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i know i already mentioned it but these chapters are very very short