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In a clearing some ways away from the hideout is a campfire and a bag of rations hidden in the bushes.
Earth was, surprisingly, even more beautiful now that most humans were gone. It went largely ignored by the aliens, but they still kept in hiding underground or between dark shrubs to remain undetected. Some days, when the walls of the hideout grew suffocating, members spent time reclaiming their peace of mind in nature.
For Mizi, these days came more often than not. Every day, she was haunted by a spirit long gone, one she still so desperately yearned for. It was hard to care about anyone else, even those who tried to be kind and welcoming. In the end, they all looked the same to her—people who had never loved someone like she loved her, people who still have a spark in their eyes. A will to live, a want to fight.
There was only one person who understood even a modicum of her.
The said person came up behind her, leaves cracking under her sneakers. Mizi glanced behind herself discreetly—better safe than sorry, as the rebellion says. It was exactly who she assumed it would be.
"I brought you this." Hyuna held up Mizi's pink heart pillow, uncharacteristically hesitant.
Hyuna was the one to take Mizi under her care since she was rescued from the alien stage. Sometimes, oftentimes, Mizi wondered whether she regretted saving her, with the stink she had raised about their insane plan. She hopes she does. Hyuna never looked at her like she did.
Mizi took the pillow silently, hugging it to her chest. She had nothing to say to Hyuna—she had already said so much this evening, yelling and crying her every frustration with the rebellion. Hyuna understood her, even if she disagreed about the mission being useless—it was hard for her to hear that everything she's been working for is pointless, even if it was the truth.
There was nothing to say now. Mizi can't change the plan. The mission is the only way, and Mizi is going to lose her family again.
Hyuna opened her mouth. "About earlier—"
Mizi hugged the pillow harder, glaring at nothing. "I don't want to talk about it."
"R-Right," Hyuna stammered, "Alright. Okay."
The silence resumed. Stars look way prettier from a distance than up close—Mizi quickly got bored of seeing them while on tour, shiny but all big and white and blinding. Here, so far away, they promised a sort of mystery, one that the galaxy had already solved, but Mizi could cling to anyway. It must be so easy to be a star, just floating happily across the vast sky.
Not like the moon. It was larger than life, commanding attention even when undesirable, never truly left alone. Everywhere she went, the stars followed her glory, unable to help themselves from wanting her light. It was only natural to love her.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
Mizi peered at her over the pillow. Hyuna was staring up at the moon, expression entirely neutral. She didn't know if Hyuna knew the meaning of the words she spoke—Mizi hardly understood them, as well, since they were of a human language belonging to a different kindergarten. But years ago, Sua had read a book discussing 'I love you' in different human languages and (lovingly) tormented Mizi with constant words of affection.
One of them was said just like this—the two of them, under the night sky, gazing at the moon they thought was real. Mizi hadn't known the answer, back then, hadn't been able to reciprocate. She knew what to say, now, to sign that her feelings were mutual.
She couldn't say it. It would be a betrayal to a spirit long past, but most importantly, to her friend, too. The stars wanted the moon—so did every planet in the galaxy—but her heart belonged to the sun.
"It is too far to reach." She looked at the moon, and thought of a soft face she remembers as if it were just yesterday that they were face-to-face. Mizi couldn't picture herself reaching the moon with anyone else, try as she might.
A long pause. A nod, and an inability to meet her eyes. Maybe she did know the meaning, and maybe Mizi had just ruined everything again.
When Hyuna met her eyes, they were brimming with tears. "You are my dearest friend, you know that, right?"
Mizi didn't reply—she only threw herself into Hyuna's arms, and let herself be selfish, just this once, and let Hyuna hold her under the stars. The sun was gone, and so was she.