The Alien and the Cursed Star

"Old lady, can I sit with you?" The guy asked, motioning to the empty seat beside Sabrina.

Probably not just some random stranger—she recognized him. Nathaniel. Her neighbor.

He was one of those people with two faces: the kind who smiled brightly at work, always eager to please, charming and polite to everyone. But behind closed doors, he was a completely different person—distant, careless, and completely indifferent to those around him.

No one else seemed to notice. But she had seen it.

And now, here he was, asking to sit beside her. If she is into her normal form, she probably rolled her eyes on him.

"Sure, young boy." She said with a gentle smile, a gentle fake smile. Nathaniel sat beside her and opened his ice cream. It was the same brand and flavor she had—strawberry with mochi bits. She glanced at it briefly. What were the odds?

Nathaniel ate quietly, not saying much. Like Haein, he did not recognize her at all. And why would he? Right now, she looked like someone's aunt, not the girl he occasionally passed in the hallway and not the girl who he once scolded for just singing. Remembering that first night, how inconsiderate this guy is.

She started eating faster, hoping to finish before he tried to start a conversation. The last thing she needed was to bond with him like this.

But the moment she stood up to leave, Nathaniel gently grabbed her wrist.

"Uhm, old lady, can you sit here for a while? I… I need to be with someone right now."

She blinked. What the heck?

Nathaniel, the guy who liked being alone more than anything, suddenly wanted company.

"I need to go back to my condo. My nephew's waiting for me." She said calmly, trying to pull her hand away. After hearing that, she assumed that Nathaniel would let go of her hand.

But he did not.

"Just tonight, old lady. Please."

She looked at his face. He did not look sad, just… uncertain. Not broken, not panicking. More like someone lost in his own silence, afraid of being left in it.

Whatever was going on, it was not her problem. She needed to leave.

"My body needs rest. I have to go home." She said firmly.

But then—

"Hey! Old lady, listen to me!" Nathaniel raised his voice.

Her eyes widened. Did he just shout at me?!

"Yah! How dare you disrespect me!" she snapped.

Nathaniel immediately looked guilty. "Sorry—I did not mean to yell. I just… I do not know. I did not want to be alone."

---

Later that night, Nathaniel saw Haein in the elevator. Did not think much of it until the guy pressed the button.

Ah, right. The guy who was with Sabrina in the restaurant and the clothing section too—back when he was with Nicole.

He is probably going to see her but wait— Nathaniel checked his phone. It's 8 PM. That means... Sabrina's probably already in her older form.

He frowned. He had seen it once—on the yacht. A glimpse of that strange transformation. He never forgot.

He shook his head to clear it, just as Haein looked at him briefly. Nathaniel looked away, pretending not to notice.

As they passed by Sabrina's unit, the door opened—and there she was. In her older form.

Sabrina froze when she saw them. Panic flashed across her eyes.

"Oh—oh! Good evening, ma'am." Haein said, startled. "Is Sabrina home?"

Sabrina swallowed and forced a calm voice. "She just stepped out. She had an interview with the investigators. I thought she told you. I heard you two talking earlier on the phone."

Investigator? He thought to himself, quietly listening nearby.

"Sorry — if you do not mind me asking… what's your relation to Sabrina?"

"I'm her aunt."

He nearly smiles when he heard that. He does not really want to eavesdrop, so he goes inside his unit.

A few minutes later, he stepped out of his unit to take out the trash—and that's when he heard a voice near the hallway.

"Copy, sir. She is living with an old lady now. Should I go in?"

He froze in place.

His mind raced. They're still after her.

That's when he knew—he couldn't let Sabrina go back to her condo tonight. Not alone.

He followed her all the way to the park.

"You can't go back to your unit tonight, Sab!" He called out as Sabrina's very persistent to go back.

"Huh? Sab?" She said, startled.

"You can't go back to your unit tonight, Sab!" Nathaniel called out, voice urgent, as Sabrina tried to walk past him.

She froze. "Huh? Sab?" she echoed, startled, eyes narrowing.

Nathaniel blinked, caught himself a second too late. "I mean—Sabrina's aunt. I saw you with Haein earlier. And... Oh, I just remember, only now, yeah right now, that I have talked to you before. Remember when I am looking for Sabrina at her condo, you were the one who talked to me." He added quickly, scratching the back of his neck, trying to play it off.

Sabrina did not respond right away. She gave him a suspicious look.

"Then why can't I go back to our room?"

Nathaniel hesitated, trying to think fast without scaring her. "Because I overheard something." He finally said. "A man on the phone. He was talking about entering your unit. Someone might've tried to break in. You need to warn Sabrina not to come home yet. And you shouldn't either. We'll ask the building admin to check it out first."

Sabrina stared at him, her lips parting slightly in shock. Even now… someone's still after her. The fear she'd buried tried to claw its way back up.

"You can stay in my unit tonight." Nathaniel said, this time softer.

"But…" She paused. Her chest tightened. There were too many risks. She couldn't stay long. What if she changed again before she gets out into his unit?

"You can leave early if you want." He added, as if sensing her hesitation. "I won't stop you. Just… do not sleep in your unit tonight."

And in his voice, there was something she did not expect—genuine concern.

Maybe… just for tonight — she nodded.