Stellar Hearts: Lost in Seoul

Epilogue: "Back to Earth"

Months have passed since that fateful day we left Earth behind. But we didn't stay away forever. Against all odds, Asa was able to find a way, using the technology from her world in ways I can't even begin to comprehend. And with that ship—our ship—came a chance to return to Earth, but this time... to stay.

It wasn't easy. The first time we left, it was with a heavy heart, knowing that Asa would soon have to leave, that her time on Earth was running out. But now? Now it's different. Asa is staying. She's no longer on a ticking clock, and we've come back to Earth with something neither of us thought we'd have—a future together.

And it wasn't just the technology that made our return possible. Asa's family—her people—approved of her decision to stay. It wasn't immediate, and there were questions, debates, even concerns. But after everything we'd been through, after proving that Earth was where Asa truly belonged, they gave us their blessing.

And now, here we are.

Asa's POV

I still can't believe we're back on Earth. After all the fear, all the doubt, I thought for sure I'd be running forever. I thought I'd have to leave again, that I'd always be an outsider, someone with no real place in this world. But when I told my family that I wasn't going to return—that Earth was where I wanted to stay, with Chiquita—the response was... different than I expected.

They didn't force me to come back. They didn't even pressure me. They just accepted it. They understood.

And when I look at Chiquita, I know it was the right decision.

She's standing across the room, her arms crossed, leaning against the doorway, that teasing smile on her face. "You know, I always knew you were good with your hands. But I didn't realize you could fix things like this," she says, her voice dripping with affection and pride.

I chuckle, wiping my hands on my shirt as I take a step back from the workbench. "I had to. There's no way I was going to leave this world without getting it right. You and me—we—we deserve a future here."

Her eyes soften, and she pushes herself off the doorframe. As she walks over to me, I feel the same rush of emotions that I felt the first time I met her. She's everything I never knew I needed, and now, I can't imagine my life without her.

"You don't have to say it like that, Asa," she teases lightly, but I see the way her eyes shine. The way she's really listening. "But... I'm glad you're staying. I think I always knew you would."

I step forward, taking her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin. "I'm not just staying. I'm building a life here. With you. I've spent too long running away from everything to finally have something that feels like home. You're my home, Chiquita."

Her breath catches, and for a moment, I'm afraid I've said too much. But then she smiles, a slow, radiant smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "You're right, you know. I'm glad you stayed. I wasn't sure what I'd do without you."

And that's when I realize—maybe I had always known too. I hadn't just fallen for Earth. I had fallen for Chiquita. And with her, I didn't need to be anyone else. I didn't need to run. I was home.

Chiquita's POV

Looking at Asa, there's this sense of peace that settles over me. After everything we've been through—after all the danger, the uncertainty, the risks we took—I'm here, standing beside her. She's staying. No more ticking clocks. No more wondering if today would be the last day we had together.

This is real. This is ours.

Asa's family approved of her staying here. I had no idea what that conversation was like—what it must have been like for Asa to fight for her place in this world, for her to tell them she was staying. But she did it. And she's here, with me.

I walk up to her, taking her hand, feeling the familiar warmth of her touch. "You know, I never thought I'd have someone like you in my life," I say, my voice quiet but steady.

She raises an eyebrow. "Someone like me? You mean, an alien?" she asks, teasing me, but there's a softness in her eyes that melts my heart.

"No," I say, shaking my head, "I mean someone who's not afraid to choose love over everything else. Someone who's willing to give up everything for it."

Her eyes soften, and she steps closer to me. "I chose you, Chiquita. And I don't regret it. I chose us. We have a future here. Together."

I smile, a slow, uncontainable smile, as I wrap my arms around her. "I'm glad you chose us too. Because I'm never letting you go."

She chuckles, and for a moment, everything else falls away. The future, the past—it doesn't matter. All that matters is the two of us. Standing here, together.

Asa's POV

I never imagined this. Never imagined that one day, I'd be standing here on Earth, hand in hand with the girl I love, knowing that we have a future. My family's approval was the final step—the last hurdle I had to cross. I wasn't sure they'd understand, but somehow, they did. They saw the way I looked at Chiquita, and they knew that the life I was building here was the one I wanted. And they accepted it.

Now, I don't have to worry about being torn between two worlds. I'm here. I'm with Chiquita. And I'm not going anywhere.

"I never thought I'd find someone like you," I whisper, holding her tighter, feeling her breath against my cheek. "But I'm so glad I did."

She pulls back slightly, her eyes meeting mine with that familiar, mischievous glint. "Yeah, well, someone had to keep you on Earth, didn't they?"

I laugh, the sound light and free. It feels like we've won, like we've crossed some final line. We've fought for this. Fought for each other. And now, there's nothing left to fear.

Chiquita's POV

Asa was scared. She didn't think she had a place here, in this world. But I always knew she did. I always knew that if anyone could make this work, it would be Asa. And now, here we are. We've built a home. A life. A future.

The road wasn't easy. There were moments when I wasn't sure if we'd make it. But Asa and I? We're fighters. And love? It's the most powerful force in the universe.

I lean in, kissing her softly on the lips, feeling the years of uncertainty melt away in that single moment. This is our life now. Together.

And I wouldn't change a thing.

The End