Stellar Hearts: Lost in Seoul

Chapter 3: "Counting Down the Days"

Asa's POV

The pressure is building, and I can feel it in my bones.

It's been months since I crash-landed on Earth, and I'm still no closer to fixing my ship. I'm running out of time, and I know it. With every passing day, my window to get back to my world grows smaller. Every night I lie awake, counting the days on my fingers, wishing for some miracle to fix the hole in my spacecraft's core, praying I can keep this secret just a little longer.

But then there's Chiquita.

She's starting to slip into my thoughts at the most inconvenient times. I've tried to keep things light, to be just a fun, mysterious new acquaintance—nothing more. But every time she smiles that smile of hers or laughs that laugh that's so warm and carefree, my mind goes blank. She's like a siren, pulling me toward her despite my better judgment.

It doesn't help that she's relentless.

I can't remember the last time someone flirted with me as much as she does. Her teasing glances, the way she asks if I've "been abducted by aliens before," and that wicked grin of hers—it's all starting to feel like a game. A game I never signed up for but am already losing.

I look down at the coffee cup in front of me, pretending to listen as Chiquita talks about her upcoming weekend trip to the coast with her friends. My heart's racing a little faster than usual, my thoughts scrambled. She's not even aware of how much of a distraction she's become.

"—and I was thinking we could go together, like a study date, maybe? You, me, the beach, some ice cream? You definitely need to see the ocean," she says, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I blink a couple of times, trying to focus. "Uh... what?"

She smirks, the playful glint never leaving her eyes. "The beach. I'm inviting you. You know, to hang out. Unless, uh, you're not into that sort of thing. Not sure what kind of alien is into the beach, but hey, I'm game to try."

Oh, great. She's asking me to the beach. With her. Alone.

I should say no. I can't afford distractions like this. I need to fix my ship, I need to keep my secret, and I need to keep my distance from her.

But... Chiquita's invitation is so... enticing. Who wouldn't want to spend time with someone who makes you forget about everything else?

"I mean, sure," I say, before I can stop myself. "I could use a little bit of the 'ocean' experience."

Her eyes light up like I've just agreed to join her on a space adventure, and for a moment, I forget to care about the ticking clock in my mind.

"Well, then it's a date!" she says. "I'll grab us some ice cream while we watch the sunset. Just the two of us. No interruptions. Just you, me, and the waves."

It's the way she says it—like she knows how to make everything sound easy, even though life for me has never been easy. In her world, everything is spontaneous, carefree, and fun. It's both comforting and terrifying.

Chiquita's POV

I'm so ready for this beach trip.

You know that feeling when you're looking forward to something so much that you can't stop smiling? That's me right now. I've spent days trying to convince Asa to go, and I can't believe she finally agreed. Sure, I might've played the "beach and ice cream" card pretty hard, but it worked. And now it's finally happening.

I'm not sure what it is about Asa that keeps me so intrigued. There's something different about her, and I'm not just talking about her alien vibes (because let's be real, she's definitely not human in the way that I am). I like the way she listens, like she's genuinely interested in what I have to say, even when I'm talking about random things like the time Ruka tried to dye her hair purple and ended up with neon green highlights instead.

She makes me feel... like I'm not just a flirty girl who always needs to be the center of attention. With Asa, it's like I can be real—like I can relax and not worry about what's next.

I'm still a little worried, though. There's something off about her sometimes, like she's holding something back. I mean, the way she keeps looking at the sky or spacing out when we're talking. It's like she's constantly trying to hide something.

But then, she'll smile, and the whole world seems brighter. She's a little awkward, yes, but that just makes her even more endearing. I wonder if I can get her to loosen up a little during our trip. Maybe even get her to confess some weird alien facts.

I'm not completely convinced she's from another planet—okay, I am, but I won't admit that just yet. I'm trying to play it cool, but my mind keeps wondering: What's her deal? Why does she look so sad sometimes? Why does she keep saying things like, "I'm only here for a short time," as if she's waiting for something?

And then there's Ahyeon. Ugh. She's been texting me non-stop, asking why I'm not hanging out with her as much.

I'm avoiding her. Not just because she's pushy and manipulative, but because I don't want anyone to get in the way of me figuring out what's going on with Asa.

"Hey, Asa," I say suddenly, breaking the silence between us. We're walking toward the bus stop to catch a ride to the beach. "Have you ever been in a relationship before?"

I ask it casually, like it's no big deal, but it's been on my mind. I'm not sure if I'm ready to admit it yet, but I think I might want to know more about Asa. The real her. I mean, maybe she's never been in a relationship with someone like me, and I'm not sure if she'd even want to, but there's something pulling me toward her, something I can't explain.

Asa freezes for a split second, then turns to me with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Well," she starts, taking a deep breath like she's thinking carefully about her words, "I haven't really been in a relationship. At least, not like you think."

I raise an eyebrow. "Not like I think? What does that mean?"

She bites her lip, clearly trying to choose her words carefully. "It means... I'm not really sure how relationships work here. It's a bit complicated, Chiquita."

That's odd. I can't put my finger on it, but something about that response seems... distant.

I step closer, trying to lighten the mood with a teasing grin. "You know, Asa, I don't bite. Unless you ask me to." I wink.

She laughs softly, but there's something in her eyes that makes me feel like I've just scratched the surface of something much bigger than either of us.

Asa's POV

She's getting too close.

I can feel it. The more time I spend with Chiquita, the harder it gets to keep the truth from her. Her teasing words, her flirty glances, and her effortless charm are drawing me in. It's becoming harder and harder to keep my emotions in check, especially when she starts asking questions that hit too close to home.

I can't tell her the truth. I can't tell her that I'm an alien, stranded on Earth with no way of getting home. I can't tell her that every second I spend with her might be one second closer to my disappearance.

But I'm starting to wonder... what if I did tell her?

What if she could help me? What if, in some strange, inexplicable way, she was the key to saving me?

As I look at her, smiling in that carefree way of hers, I can't help but wonder: If I told her everything, would she understand? Or would she push me away, just like I've always feared?

For now, I'll keep pretending. I'll keep playing this game. But every passing day, every moment I share with her, the stakes get higher.

And I don't know how much longer I can keep my secret.