top of page

Between Earth and Elsewhere

25

Chapter 25

Yeomyung’s answers were like riddles.

 

“Do you prefer someone who works at a proper company, or someone who does part-time jobs?”

 

“As long as they can make a living, right?”

 

​​His response seemed simple at first—that he didn’t care about the type of work as long as someone could support themselves. But looking deeper, the words “make a living” stood out. Company jobs provided more than enough to live on but demanded grueling work in return. Society had conditioned people to believe they needed that excess money.

 

By specifically saying “make a living,” wasn’t Yeomyung suggesting there was no need for surplus wealth? Part-time jobs paid less than corporate work, but they covered basic needs. Maybe he preferred Arin’s path of part-time work over a corporate career.

 

“Do you prefer someone who dresses up, or someone who dresses casually?”

 

“I guess as long as it suits them.”

 

Seorin dressed impeccably. She wore heels and polished outfits that changed daily. She coordinated her bags with care and never neglected her hair or makeup. Yet something felt off about her style. Despite her youth and beauty, she resembled a child playing dress-up in her mother’s closet. The formal clothes didn’t match her natural charm. A yellow sundress with lace or athletic wear would have suited her better.

 

Meanwhile, Arin’s wardrobe was simple: t-shirts, jeans or black pants, and sneakers. Basic, but comfortable and fitting for her personality and sandwich-making job.

 

Could this mean Yeomyung saw something more appealing in Arin than in Seorin? The alien must have his own hidden criteria. That would explain why he stayed despite witnessing her mistakes. He’d even held her hand—something he wouldn’t have done if he’d been disappointed in her.

 

Though Arin had worried, perhaps she was actually closer to becoming a spaceship passenger than Seorin. The thought drew a soft laugh from her. What a relief. She felt her anxiety melt away.

 

Suddenly, the smile vanished from her face.

 

The possibility of being chosen didn’t mean Arin would abandon Seorin. Even if the alien favored her, she would never board the spaceship alone. Never. The thought hadn’t crossed her mind even once.

 

And Seorin wouldn’t leave her behind either. Yet sometimes Seorin showed moments of vulnerability. Not because she was insincere, but because she wasn’t always strong enough. Because she might yield to the temptation of going to space alone.

 

Arin fell silent, a heaviness settling over her.

 

She believed in Seorin—truly, she did. If she couldn’t trust her sister, who could she trust? There wasn’t another soul on Earth.

 

“Seorin and I are one,” Arin whispered. “We can’t be separated. We trust each other completely. I’ve never doubted her, not once. I absolutely—”

 

She jerked her hand back with a startled “Ah!”

 

Her fingers had brushed against the rough edge of the wooden table.

 

Even that slight contact made her fingertips throb. The injury would need time to heal.

 

Yet the pain didn’t sadden her. Each ache reminded her of how the alien had held her hand. His touch had been warmer than any human’s. Maybe he would hold her hand like that again and lead her to the stars. Maybe he would tell her that she, among all Earth’s people, was most qualified to go to space.

 

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

 

***

 

“Yeomyung, sit down for a moment.”

 

He just blinked, rooted in place.

 

“It’ll only take five minutes,” Arin said, pressing gently on his shoulder and guiding him to a nearby chair. Though his expression read ‘Why is she doing this?’, he complied.

 

She trotted to the kitchen and returned with a plastic container, setting it before him. Inside lay yogurt topped with peach jam and cereal.

 

“Eat this before you go,” she said. “It’s our shop’s new menu item. It was my idea.”

 

She placed a small spoon in front of him.

 

Yeomyung glanced between the spoon and yogurt. “I need to get home quickly.”

 

“Then eat quickly.”

 

“…I’ll take it with me.”

 

“No, you should eat it now while it’s fresh. It’s cool, just out of the fridge.”

 

He hesitated. Arin swallowed nervously.

 

“I’ll make some for you to share with the boss next time. Today, please eat before you go. Okay?”

 

“Then I’ll eat with the boss next time. I need to go now.”

 

Yeomyung stood. Was he really leaving? Over five minutes for one small treat? His attitude felt different from before—from that day when space travel had seemed just within reach.

 

Fear crept into Arin’s heart.

 

“Yeomyung,” she said, grabbing his hand.

 

He paused at the door, turning to look at her. They stood in silence. The moment felt like that day—their joined hands, his downward gaze.

 

Arin brought his hand to her cheek, just as before.

 

Yeomyung’s eyes wavered. Was that good or bad?

 

Then he yanked his hand away, roughly pulling free from between her hand and cheek.

 

“Ah.”

 

She stared at him. His eyes wavered more intensely, lips parting as if to speak. But he left without a word.

 

Through the glass window, Arin watched his back as he pedaled away on his bicycle, never looking back.

 

***

 

Seorin stood silently as she entered Arin’s house, her eyes sweeping the room.

 

“What’s this? Why is the house like this?”

 

Arin sat huddled in a corner, face buried in her knees.

 

Seorin started to remove her shoes but thought better of it. She nudged aside the debris scattered across the floor—broken glass, food waste, tissues, clothes. Every household item lay broken and shattered.

 

She approached Arin slowly, her stomach twisting. Settling down in front of her, she stroked Arin’s shoulder. “Arin, what happened?”

 

Silence.

 

“Who did this? Was it you? Or someone else?”

 

More silence.

 

Seorin gritted her teeth. She gripped Arin’s shoulders, fighting to control her emotions.

 

“Arin. It’s okay. You can tell me, right?”

 

Arin lifted her head. Tears streaked her swollen face, and a small scratch marked her cheek, likely from flying glass.

 

“Why are you hurt here?” Seorin reached for the wound.

 

Arin jerked away, lips pressed tight.

 

Seorin withdrew her hand. Arin didn’t look frightened; she looked furious. Had she done this to the house herself?

 

Getting angry wouldn’t help. Seorin needed to understand first. If she lost her temper, Arin would only withdraw further.

 

“What’s troubling you?” she asked softly. “Can’t find a way for the three of us to go to space? Or… are the reptilians bothering you?”

 

Arin’s bloodshot eyes shifted to Seorin. Her lips quivered. “Why are you asking about that?”

 

“Huh? About what?”

 

“About not finding a way for the three of us… About the reptilians…”

 

“Well, you seemed angry. I was just thinking what might have caused it.”

 

Arin fell silent once more.

 

Seorin sighed inwardly, forcing patience into her voice. “Should I try meeting Yeomyung? Should I ask if there’s a way for all of us to go to space together?”

 

Arin’s eyes flashed with resentment. “Why? Why can’t I ask but you can?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You told me not to ask because Yeomyung might not like it. That three people in a two-person spaceship would use too much fuel and might break down. So why can you ask?”

 

Seorin realized her blunder. She’d invented excuses to keep Arin from talking to Yeomyung, then forgotten her own lies.

 

“Oh right. That’s true. I forgot for a moment. Then I guess I shouldn’t ask either,” she said, trying to sound casual.

 

“You knew I asked Yeomyung, didn’t you?”

 

“What did you ask?”

 

“If he prefers someone who works at a company or someone who does part-time jobs… if he likes someone who dresses up or someone who dresses casually.”

 

“Why would you ask that—”

 

“So you got angry at me, right?” Arin cut in. “You were disappointed, right? That’s why you tried to abandon me? You were going to secretly ask the alien to take just you, weren’t you? You were… you were going to sell me to the reptilians.”

 

Seorin blinked, processing Arin’s words. Abandon her? Go to space alone? Did Arin think Seorin would betray her because only one person could ride in the spaceship?

 

So that’s why she’d questioned Yeomyung about his preferences between them.

 

They stared at each other in silence until Arin exploded. “I’m right, aren’t I? Admit it! Otherwise, why would the alien do that? He clearly liked me, so why would he do that! Why… why wouldn’t he eat the yogurt I made? Or push my hand away… Or hurt me…!”

 

So Yeomyung had caused that wound. Until now, Seorin’s heart had ached to see it. She’d wanted to soothe Arin’s anger and tend to her injuries.

 

“Seorin… were you going to leave me behind?” Arin’s voice wavered.

 

Seorin said nothing.

 

“Really…?”

 

“You… you’re the same!” Seorin burst out. “You were trying to leave me behind, too!”

 

Exhaustion suddenly crashed over her—all the tension and pressure she’d been holding back.

 

What was she trying so hard for?

 

Silence stretched between them. Seorin knew if she spoke now, things would unravel completely. As she stayed quiet, worry and anxiety crept into Arin’s angry eyes. But neither spoke.

 

Seorin turned away and began picking up the scattered debris from the floor.

Previous Chapter
Vote button
Next Chapter

An error occurred. Please log in again.

Comments

Small Title

No comment yet. Add the first one!

New Stories You May Like

I Fell in Love With My Tomboy Friend’s Avatar

My friend from elementary school was always athletic, with a tomboy look about her. She never showed any interest in being cute - in fact, she seemed to actively avoid anything even slightly feminine, like it was beneath her. That's just how she was, or at least that's what I'd thought for over ten years.

Between Earth and Elsewhere

Yeomyung's voice was steady. “Why would I lie?” “You’re…” The woman’s brows knitted into a frown. Yeomyung’s throat tightened as he swallowed hard. Then, with her breath finally under control, she spoke clearly, her voice sharp and unwavering: “You’re an alien, aren’t you?”

bottom of page