"No-va! No-va! No-va!"
"SR✶RLiGHT! SR✶RLiGHT! SR✶RLiGHT!"
Countless shining dots filled the dark expanse in front of me.
I almost thought I was in the center of a vast universe, watched by countless stars. I don't know how I piqued their interest, but I'm glad they gave me attention.
Their love was so overflowing it made me dizzy. I became drunk with their intoxicating adoration, and I'm addicted to it. It made me want more—more of their adoration. They made me greedy for their attention.
"Good job, Nova."
"Yaaah! We did it! Nova, we did it!"
Warm bodies enveloped me; it immediately cooled down the burning and budding obsession that sprouted in my heart.
"Our debut is so successful!"
"Ahhh!!! I'm so happy!"
The petite yet tall figure hugging me in front jumped up and down. He looked up with the shiniest eyes I've ever seen.
"I'm really really so, so happy to be able to debut with you, Nova!"
The happiness radiated from him and gently enveloped me. His voice, full of giddiness, anchored me in this reality.
"Hm…" The corner of my lips turned up slightly. "Likewise."
After a small celebration, we lined up and concluded our debut concert with:
"1, 2, 3. Shine bright, Starlings! We are SR✶RLiGHT, your guiding light!"
***
There is a saying that humans become stars after they pass away.
My grandpa said that to me when Mom and Dad passed away, when I was four. I believed him.
So every night, I liked stargazing and would talk aloud to tell my parents what had happened to me throughout the day, although they might have already known since they were living in the sky. So, I added my insights to what I had experienced and learned.
And whenever the night sky showed no stars, I felt sad. Thinking that maybe, my parents were so busy again doing whatever work they had in the sky, that's why they had no time to appear in the dark sky.
When I started elementary school, science became my favorite subject, especially when we discussed astronomy.
Because the discussion of astronomy in elementary school wasn't very deep and only covered the basics, I made an effort to study further since I already mastered reading at the age of seven. And if I didn't understand a word, I could ask my grandpa or look up its meaning in the dictionary.
Soon, I learned how a star is formed. Stars are born from giant clouds of gas and dust in space. They are not made from human remains; in fact, they have no relationship to humans at all. There is no scientific evidence to prove that humans become stars after death.
Grandpa had lied to me, so I told him what I had learned. I corrected him. He just laughed and said, "My Nao is a genius!"
It was only when I became interested in the subjects of English and Creative Writing that I realized not every perspective must be objective or scientifically based.
Words have many meanings across cultures and contexts, and how people interpret things depends on what they understand.
People have different beliefs, and those beliefs anchor them as they move through the world.
When grandpa died, and I became an orphan, I finally came to understand that saying.
Humans become stars after death.
Holding on to this phrase, it somehow comforts me that my loved ones reunite as stars in the sky. And they, who are up there, are watching me. They are still there; it's just that they are far away, and we couldn't be in the same place.
At fifteen, I learned to survive alone in this world. The belief that I must live well so that my loved ones watching me above would feel proud and happy so they can brag about me to their fellow stars.
But for an orphan like me, it wasn't easy living alone. After the adults learned about my situation, they wanted to take advantage of me. Living became like a game where I needed to fight a big bad guy to advance toward my goals. And every time, I almost fell into their trickery.
Fortunately, although adults have lived longer than me, I am much smarter than them. Unfortunately, I couldn't be as evil as them or as crazy as them.
They used every weakness they found to trip me and make me fall into the abyss they created for me.
"Do you want to live?" they whispered. "I'll give you money for your surgery—just obey me. All you need to do is obey me unconditionally."
They wanted me to be their slave, their toy.
But I would rather be a slave to my illness. At least it's short-term, and I know when it will end.
Or to this system that suddenly appeared.
[ A human with endless potential detected! ]
The Star System wants to establish communication with you.
Agree | Decline
[ Hello, human. I am a system made from star fragments in the cosmos. My core program is to find a life-form with endless potential in the universe to help fulfill their wish. Do you want to read the Star System Manual for Potential Hosts? ]
"Hi," I greeted it first. "Sure."
[ Do you want to bind with the System? ]
"Okay."
[ Binding confirmed. Please wait… loading… ]
Today's weather felt good. The sky was clear and blue, and the vast water beneath was calm and cerulean.
"System," I called. "Will I still be bound to you if I die?"
[ Reply to Host: As long as the Host's wish isn't fulfilled, our contract will not end. ]
"That's a relief."
Spreading my arms, the strong wind blew against my body.
The sky was so bright…
Leaning forward, I let the wind carry me to a possible new path.
So, if I do this… Grandpa, Mom, and Dad won't see this, right?
Cold water immediately hugged my body as I sank underwater. The bright sun wasn't harsh to look at underwater, and it looked like a bright star.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
The host's life force is rapidly draining!
System Updating…
System Updated!
Assessing…
Assessment Complete!!!
[ Original Destiny ]
Birth Name:
Blessed Star - B!@*k
Age: 18
Date of Birth: May 28, 2000
Date of Death: May 28, 2018
Cause of Death: Glioblastoma
Conclusion: Her body was retrieved and preserved by Mr. Black.
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[ Host's Wish ]
Live a life that makes my loved ones proud
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Host's Soul Successfully Retrieved!
Status: Damage