Stellar Hearts: Lost in Seoul

Chapter 4: "Waves of Truth"

Asa's POV

The beach.

It feels surreal. Everything about today feels like it's not quite real. Like I'm still caught somewhere between my past and my future, and the only thing keeping me grounded is the sound of the waves crashing along the shore. I've never been to a beach before, and if I'm being honest, I'm not sure if this is the kind of thing an alien should experience. But here I am—walking barefoot in the sand, the cool breeze blowing through my hair, and Chiquita beside me, laughing about something I didn't quite catch.

She's wearing a bikini top paired with high-waisted shorts, her hair pulled up in a messy bun, and her skin glows under the soft, golden sunlight. Her carefree nature is infectious. I feel myself slipping into her world, even if it's just for this moment. For the first time in days, I'm not thinking about how much time I have left to get back home or how many repairs my ship still needs. Instead, I'm here, in the moment, with her.

But the more time I spend with Chiquita, the harder it becomes to keep my walls up. I know I should distance myself—keep my focus on my mission, on fixing the ship, on getting back to my planet—but everything in me wants to stay. Wants to be near her. And that's dangerous.

So when Chiquita looks at me, all bright-eyed and mischievous, and says, "Race you to the water," I can't resist.

"Hey!" I laugh, feeling like a real human for the first time in weeks. "That's not fair! You're a pro at this whole beach thing. I don't even know how to run in sand."

She flashes me a playful grin. "It's easy. Just pretend you're running away from your problems. Trust me, it works." And with that, she takes off, her laughter floating behind her like music.

I hesitate for a moment, then follow. The wind against my face feels different—alive and exhilarating. There's something about this place, this atmosphere, that makes me forget about everything else. Even though I know it's temporary, I can't help but let myself enjoy it.

The moment we reach the water's edge, I collapse in the sand, out of breath, my cheeks flushed. Chiquita isn't far behind. She falls beside me, both of us laughing, the sound of the ocean mixing with our voices.

"You know," Chiquita says between breaths, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "I thought you'd be a lot faster, given... well, the whole 'alien' thing."

I roll onto my back, staring up at the sky. It's a brilliant blue, with just a hint of pink from the setting sun. "You think I'm some kind of superhuman or something?" I tease, trying to keep things light.

"Well, you do have that whole 'glow' about you," she says, her voice softening. "You're different, Asa. But in a good way. I like it." She pauses, then looks at me with something that's hard to read. "I like you."

And there it is again. That feeling. The way she says things like they're the most natural thing in the world, but to me, they feel like an earthquake. I blink, trying to hide my emotions behind a smile.

"I'm not that different," I reply, trying to brush off the sudden fluttering in my chest. "Just a regular girl from Japan."

Her eyes narrow playfully. "Uh-huh. Regular girls don't glow like you do. And regular girls don't act like they've got secrets."

I freeze.

She can't know. I've been so careful. Too careful.

But Chiquita is always so perceptive. She's always asking the right questions. And every time she gets too close, I feel like I'm one step away from falling apart.

Chiquita's POV

Okay, so I'm officially falling for her.

I mean, what else can I say? Asa is amazing. The way she's so effortlessly beautiful, the way she glows—literally—when she's around, it's mesmerizing. She's got this mysterious aura about her that I can't shake. And every time I look at her, I get this gut feeling that there's something she's not telling me.

But honestly? I don't mind. I've always liked people with secrets. It makes them interesting. It makes me want to figure them out.

And today, with her beside me, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, I almost feel like we're in our own little world. I've never felt this comfortable with someone so quickly. It's like... it's like she's always been part of me, even though I know that's impossible.

I roll over to look at her, feeling bold, and say it before I can second-guess myself.

"I like you, Asa," I say, the words slipping out easily, like they've been there for longer than I realized.

She's silent for a moment, and for a heartbeat, I think I might have crossed a line. But then, she smiles, that same enigmatic smile that makes me feel like I'm staring at the stars.

"I like you too, Chiquita," she says quietly, her voice gentle. "I just... I'm not sure what this is. Or what I'm supposed to do with it."

I feel a little flutter in my chest, but I don't push her. "It's okay," I say, rolling onto my back and staring up at the sky. "We don't have to figure everything out right now. But I'm here, okay? For you. Whatever happens."

The words feel more important than they should. I'm not sure where this feeling is coming from, but I know it's real.

Asa's POV

I'm losing myself.

When Chiquita says things like that—when she looks at me with those warm eyes and says she's here for me, no matter what—I feel something stir deep inside. It's dangerous. It's risky. And I should push her away, pull back from this connection before it goes any further.

But I can't.

Chiquita is a force of nature. She's like the waves crashing against the shore—unstoppable, unpredictable, and endlessly fascinating. Every part of me wants to be near her, even if it means risking everything.

But I can't stay.

If I stay too long, I'll risk disappearing. If I get too close, I'll drag her into my world—one she'll never be able to escape.

I sit up, running a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of my thoughts closing in on me. "Chiquita, there's something you need to understand," I begin, my voice a little shaky. "I can't stay here forever."

She tilts her head, her gaze soft. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... I'm not from here. I'm not from Earth, Chiquita. I'm from somewhere... far away." My heart races as the words spill out, but the look in her eyes doesn't change. She just listens, waiting for me to continue.

"I don't belong here. I'm trying to fix something. I'm trying to get back to where I came from, but... but I only have a year. After that, I won't exist anymore. I'll vanish. Just like that."

Her expression doesn't change. She's silent for a moment, digesting what I've said. And then she reaches out, placing her hand on mine, warm and reassuring.

"So... you're saying you're an alien?" she asks, her voice teasing but gentle.

I nod, feeling a lump in my throat. I can't believe I just told her.

"Wow," she says, eyes wide, but there's no fear in her voice. "That's... actually pretty cool."

I blink, surprised by her response. "You're not... scared? Or freaked out?"

She shrugs, her grin widening. "No way. You've got this amazing glow about you. Plus, I always wanted to meet an alien. How else was I supposed to find out if you're really as cute as you seem?"

I laugh, the sound coming out a little too shaky. "I'm serious, Chiquita. I'm running out of time."

Her gaze softens, and for the first time, I see a trace of something deeper in her eyes—something that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Then let's make the most of the time you have," she says quietly, squeezing my hand. "Because you're not alone in this. I'm not going anywhere."