Kae sat on a large rock near the village outskirts, watching the sun rise over the verdant landscape of Ilvaris. The light danced on the dewy grass, and for a moment, it reminded him of the simple joys he used to feel—before everything changed. His thoughts drifted, as they often did these days, to Rei.
Rei had been a surprise. From the first time Kae saw him near the starship, curious yet cautious, something stirred within him. At first, Kae dismissed it as admiration for Rei’s adventurous spirit—he reminded him of himself at that age. But as the days passed, it became harder to ignore the way Rei’s laughter brightened the air or how his quiet moments carried a depth that intrigued Kae.
“I can’t leave without saying how I really feel about Rei,” Kae whispered to himself. “I’m already falling for him.”
The realization was both exhilarating and terrifying. It wasn’t just Rei’s youthful energy or kind heart that drew him in—it was the way Rei made him feel alive again, like there could be more to his life than just surviving. But the weight of his past hung heavily on him. Could someone like Rei ever see beyond Kae’s scars?
---
A Quiet Plan
Kae approached Rei’s starship cautiously, waiting until he saw Rei leave for the day. Hidden behind a thicket, he watched as Rei walked toward the village, his steps light and purposeful.
Kae waited until Rei was out of sight before stepping forward, his boots crunching softly on the gravel path. He hesitated at the entrance of the ship, a lump forming in his throat.
“This is the only way,” he whispered, steeling himself.
“Miko?” Kae called out, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet cabin.
The AI’s holographic interface flickered to life. “Greetings, Kae. How may I assist you?”
“I need to leave a message for Rei,” Kae said. “Make sure he gets it when he returns.”
“Of course,” Miko replied. “Please dictate your message.”
Kae took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. “Here goes nothing,” he muttered.
“Miko, tell Rei this:
‘I don’t know how to say this in person, so I hope this message is enough. Rei, you’ve reminded me of something I thought I’d lost a long time ago—hope.
I’ve spent so much of my life running—from my past, from my pain. But when I’m around you, I feel like maybe I don’t have to run anymore. I think I’m falling for you, Rei.
I don’t know if you feel the same, and I don’t want to pressure you. But if there’s even a chance that you feel something too, come find me tomorrow at my ship. It’ll be my last day here.
If not, I’ll leave, and we’ll part as friends. But I needed to tell you, even if it’s just this once.’”
Kae’s voice faltered at the end, his chest tightening. Was this the right thing to do? Would Rei understand?
Miko’s interface blinked. “Message recorded and ready for delivery. I will notify Rei upon his return.”
“Thank you,” Kae said quietly. He lingered for a moment, glancing around the small cabin that carried so much of Rei’s essence—organized yet personal, functional yet warm.
“Goodbye, Miko,” Kae murmured before slipping out of the starship, retreating back into the morning light.
---
A Glitch in the System
Later that evening, Rei returned to his starship, humming softly to himself. The day had been long but fulfilling, filled with more discoveries about the people and beauty of Ilvaris.
“Miko, I’m back,” Rei called out, setting his equipment down.
Silence.
“Miko?” Rei frowned, walking over to the console. The AI’s interface flickered weakly before shutting off completely.
“Oh no,” Rei muttered, opening a panel to check the systems. The diagnostics showed a power failure in Miko’s core processing unit.
“Not now,” Rei groaned, grabbing his tools. He spent the next few hours trying to fix the issue, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, exhausted, he gave up and slumped onto his cot.
“I’ll deal with it tomorrow,” he muttered before falling asleep.
---
The Morning Revelation
The next morning, Rei woke early, determined to repair Miko. After several attempts, the AI’s interface finally flickered back to life.
“Good morning, Rei,” Miko greeted cheerfully.
“Morning,” Rei said, his voice still groggy. “What happened last night? You completely shut down on me.”
“My apologies,” Miko replied. “There was a temporary power failure. However, I am now fully restored. Additionally, I have a pending message for you.”
“A message?” Rei asked, perking up. “From who?”
“Kae,” Miko said. “He left it yesterday morning.”
Rei’s heart skipped a beat. “Play it.”
As Kae’s message played, Rei listened intently, his chest tightening with every word. By the time it ended, he was already grabbing his jacket.
“Miko, where’s Kae now?” he asked urgently.
“Based on the message, he may be at his ship,” Miko replied.
Rei bolted out of the starship, sprinting toward the clearing where Kae’s ship had been docked.
---
Too Late
The clearing was empty. The grass where Kae’s ship had been was flattened, but there was no sign of the vessel.
Rei’s knees buckled, and he sank to the ground, staring at the empty space.
“Kae…” he whispered, his voice breaking.
The weight of the message, combined with the realization that he had been too late, pressed heavily on his chest. He clutched his jacket, replaying Kae’s words over and over in his mind.
The vibrant beauty of Ilvaris faded into the background as Rei sat there, consumed by regret.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.
YOU ARE READING
Chasing Starlight
Science FictionRei, a young planet explorer, arrives on the stunning world of Ilvaris, eager to immerse himself in its beauty and uncover its wonders. As he journeys through lush forests and vibrant communities, he begins to sense that something meaningful is unfo...
