When Stars Are Born

"Did you know that the more people make wishes, the more stars there are in the galaxy? And when your wish is one of the stars that fell to earth, they said that your wish would come true. It might be absurd, but as a kid, I believed every word of that lie."

~

The moon glowed as the twinkling lights showered across the night sky. There, on the shore sat a lone man, thinking about that same lie. It was a make-believe fact that he gulped down his very being, making his stomach flip. He tried it every time but it never proves itself. Absurd. Ridiculous.

Under the moon, the water reflected the shower of lights making it glitter. His once dull eyes that stared straight squinted when he saw a bubble in the water surface. Seconds later, something emerged from the water.

'A person?' He thought.

The thing was standing still under the light of the moon. It was not that far from him and so he knew that it really was a person. He saw that it took one step forward before collapsing. Hurriedly, he helped the guy and brought him to the sand. The poor guy was cold and naked, but he wasn't shaking nor did he seem to be bothered by the cold.

'What's with his hair. It's not even blonde. Is it bleached?'

He covered the guy with his shirt and carried him to their summer house. He entered through the back door and tried his best to hide from his mom. Gently, he placed the guy on his bed and locked the door. Now, what was he to do? He can't let his mom know that he brought some random stranger in their house. But he also can't leave the poor guy alone.

He turned when he heard a ruffle from the sheets. The guy slowly sat up and wiped his eyes like a kid. He stared at the guy only to be met by a pair of glowing blue eyes. He froze and slightly took a step back.

'I-it doesn't seem like contacts.'

The white haired guy was just looking at him with nothing but curiosity in his face. That same look that kids would give you when you would scold them. He had doubts if this guy was safe or not. First of all, he doesn't look human and second, he doesn't seem bothered by him being naked with some stranger. He doesn't even try to talk or something.

'Or maybe he looks human but has a rather rare face.'

"J....ji.....uh....ih"

He frowned.

"Uuhh..jii...ihhh"

He sighed. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked.

The guy jolted when he heard his voice. Suddenly, his eyes teared up. And finally, the guy cried. The man panicked. He tried comforting the guy that seemed to be surprised because of his tone.

'What is he? A baby?'

After some time, the guy finally stopped crying and was now sobbing. Everything he did was like an action from a baby itself. The man went out to bring food and when he came back, the guy was still sitting in the same position when he left. He didn't even try to move an inch or find some comfortable clothes.

He placed the tray on the bed and sat on the chair, facing the guy. He crossed his arms and legs and stared at him. The guy just stared at the tray of food. He stretched his arms to eat, but he passed through the food and instead grabbed the glass of water. He drank it and looked at the man. They stared at each other for some time.

"What?"

The guy pointed the glass at him.

"Do you want water?" He quirked his eyebrows.

"Wahh...wuh."

He sighed before going to the kitchen to get a pitcher. He poured him water and he gladly drank it. He didn't stop drinking until the pitcher was empty. The guy seemed satisfied making him frown.

'He drank all the water but didn't even touch his food.'

He gave the guy some clothes and told him to wear it. But instead of moving, the guy just stared at the clothes. He looked at him then at the clothes then back again at him.

"Look, just what is your problem? Don't you know how to dress yourself?"

The guy jolted and once again, his eyes began to tear up. He sighed and slowly approached the guy. He patted his head and apologized. He also helped him wear the clothes, or more like he dressed him up.

He told the guy to just stay where he is while he takes a bath. When he walked out of the bathroom, the guy was already asleep. He sighed and wore his pajamas before laying an extra mattress on the floor. He doesn't want to share a bed with someone he doesn't know so for the time being, he needs to bear with sleeping on the floor in his own room.

The next day, his mom and little brother went home. They even asked why he would stay behind but he just said that he still wants to enjoy his break. That's true, but the other reason was because of that mysterious guy. He truly seems intriguing but at least, he was not dangerous. In fact, he is like a baby in an adult's body.

For the rest of the day, he learned everything he has to know about the guy he picked up last night. He doesn't know the exact reason why he was doing this,. Truth is, he can just leave this guy somewhere and not regret it. But something just keeps pulling him towards the guy.

He also taught him how to walk. It was like teaching a baby how to do things. He once dreamed of doing something like this for his children but he didn't expect that it would come true in a way such as this. Everything the guy didn't know how to do, he taught him.

Weeks passed and finally, he can walk properly. He also started to do things on his own but still with his assistance. He can now talk but not fluently. For no reason, he felt accomplished. He felt like a father.

They were in the balcony, sitting beside each other. They stared at the sky where stars were twinkling. The guy leaned his head on him making him smile.

"Are you tired?" He asked.

"Hmm."

"Do you wanna hear a story?"

"Hmm."

He smiled. "When I was a kid, I saw this jellyfish that was trapped in a hole in the shore. My dad once told me that jellyfish are harmful and if ever I saw one, I need to leave it be or get away from it. But you know, the jellyfish I saw wasn't harmful. It looked helpless so I helped it get to the ocean. I proudly told my dad about it but instead of praising me beacause of helping it, he slapped me. He scolded me, saying what if it were to sting me. I told him that it didn't but he still was angry."

"I don't get it. Parents are supposed to be proud when their child did something good. I helped the jellyfish get back home. Wasn't that something good?" He smiled sadly. "The real good thing they were talking about was receiving a thank you for doing something good. The jellyfish didn't thank me. That's why he got angry."

He scoffed. For a 28-year-old man, he sounded like a child. He didn't want to look lame in front of Jill but his emotions just got the better of him. His eyes widened when he felt an arm wrap around him.

"Thank you." Jill said.

He laughed. "Hearing that from you doesn't make it better. Plus it doesn't really bother me anymore. It was in the past."

The hug tightened. "Thank you, Liam."

He couldn't stop smiling. "Yes, you're welcome, Jill."

For some reason, that just made his feelings lighter. If ever he would think about leaving this guy somewhere despite knowing his effect on him, he would probably regret it big time.

~

Liam went back to his work now that he knows Jill can already handle himself. But instead of going home to their house, he would go back to their summer house where the two of them were currently living. Until now, his family still doesn't know about Jill. He makes up excuses as to why they couldn't stay at the summer house to keep Jill hidden from his family.

It's not like they would do something, he just wants to protect him from anything. Especially when he knows that Jill is specially sensitive. One time he freaked out when Jill suddenly became pale. He was running hectic in the house when the only thing that he actually needed was water. Ever since then, Jill would soak in the tub for 5 hours each day. Liam also became constantly worried and would ask every now and then.

"Are you thirsty?"

Jill would smile. "I am."

They were happy until one day, Liam's mother suddenly visited the summer house. He had to explain everything from the start but the rest he just skipped past to the present. Jill was also worried. He thought maybe she would steal Liam from him. But in the end, his mom couldn't care less. She just wanted to know what her son was up to and was relieved when she knew it wasn't something bad.

"Goodbye, Liam. Goodbye, Jill." His mom smiled before entering her car.

"Goodbye mom, I love you."

She was the second person Jill has ever become comfortable to. Liam doesn't bring Jill outside, except when it's just outside their summer house so he hasn't really gotten used to crowds yet. Their house stood in their priavte beach resort and they are the only ones in there. It was a perfect home for Jill where water was surrounding the area.

With the time they spent almost together, they've gotten real close. Liam developed a sense of responsibility and sees Jill as someone he needs to protect and take care of. Jill has also become comfortable living his new life and adapted quickly with Liam's guidance. But unlike Liam, Jill sees him as someone he wants to love.

There was no time they ever got sick of each other. They were as close as siblings but they loved each other more than that. They were happy, they really were. But everything is just not meant to stay forever.

~

Humans' death are caused by diseases, accidents and old age. Though they can live the way they want, whenever they want, they can't be the one deciding how they die, and when they do. For them, it is just a normal cycle of life. They rejoice for being born, enjoy living their life, and mourn when their time is done. No one can escape it, not even Liam.

After years of being together, Liam didn't get married or even dated anyone. He stayed with Jill until the end. He wasn't even surprised why Jill still hasn't change since the first time they met, he already had a rough idea. And Jill knew it too.

The time left for Liam wasn't that long, and in those remaining time, Jill didn't leave his side. He was there when he cried in pain, when he forgot what he just said seconds ago, when he had nightmares. Jill was always there, until his time stopped. And his last words?

"Are you... thirsty?"

Even after the burial, Jill hasn't left Liam's grave. He sat there under the night sky, leaning his back against the tomb stone that carved the name of his beloved. He hugged himself and sighed. No tears fell down even though he was hurt so much. He already cried everything the moment his grip on his hand loosened.

"Hey, Liam," he whispered. "I'm thirsty... I.. really am."

Cold winds blew but instead of a chill, he felt warmth making him smile sadly. The night sky glistened when lights started showering, making his blue eyes shine even more.

"You told me that when one of the stars that fell to earth holds my wish, it would come true, right?" He asked, talking to someone who wasn't there. "Even though you told me that it was just nothing but a lie, I didn't believe it. Because mine was granted."

"I wanted to meet the guy who saved me when I was trapped and thank him. I did, thanks to you. So I'm going to make a wish one last time." He smiled.

'I wish to follow you.'

~

"Hey, what does I love you mean?"

"It's to show affection through words."

"Hmm."

"Do you wanna know how I say it to you?"

"I do!"

He smiled. "Are you thirsty?"

With love he answered, "I am."

fin