1. alien
High School 1st Year, Science Class
The students were seated in groups, pricking their fingers to check their blood types. A-type, B-type, O-type, AB-type... As the results of the tests were gradually coming out, Jena was frowning, fiddling with her dark brown wavy hair, seemingly because something wasn’t going well. When no blood type matched hers, she called the teacher, puzzled.
“Teacher! Mine isn’t working!”
The science teacher, who had her hair tied up high, approached Jena’s desk, asked her about the testing method, and observed her technique. Then, the teacher herself took a sample of Jena's blood to test it again, asking Jena a question as she did so.
“How did your blood type test turn out when you were little?”
“Well… I don’t remember.”
In fact, Jena was adopted and had grown up with her adoptive parents, who had never told her about her blood type.
After completing the test, the teacher found that, just like with Jena's earlier attempt, none of the blood types matched. The teacher, puzzled, said to Jena:
"It's really true. None of the blood types match. So then…”
“Then what blood type am I?”
The teacher didn’t answer Jena’s question, seemingly lost in thought, and the class bell rang, signaling the end of the science period. Startled by the sound, the teacher snapped back to reality and said to Jena:
“Ah. Sometimes the results don’t come out. A scientist I know is visiting the school tomorrow. When he comes, we’ll run a more detailed test.”
“A scientist, not a doctor?”
“Yes… He can determine your exact blood type. Let’s check again tomorrow.”
The teacher mumbled her words before quickly leaving the classroom. Jena, feeling confused, got up and left the classroom, mumbling to herself.
“What’s going on with my blood type?”
...
After finishing all her classes, Jena returned to the dormitory next to the school. The sky was gradually growing darker, and it was close to midnight. In her dorm room, Jena turned on the TV. A drama was playing, telling the story of a girl who overcame poverty to become the top student and live a successful life. Jena frowned and muttered to herself:
“It’s always the same story. Do they think it’s that easy? In reality, poor students just cry…”
Grumbling, Jena turned off the TV, ran her fingers through her long brown hair, and sat down at her desk. The high school dormitory felt much better than her old home. Her desk was cluttered with first-year high school workbooks, and she pulled out a math workbook. Despite having a test tomorrow, Jena really didn’t feel like studying. She doodled with her pen, stopping after one problem. Struggling with the problem, she frowned and stared at it intensely. After about five minutes, she finally solved it, only to find that her answer was wrong. Frustrated, she closed the workbook, fuming.
“Ugh... Always wrong. I’ll never be like the heroines in those dramas.”
Jena abandoned her attempts to study, got up from her desk, and went up to the dormitory rooftop to get some fresh air. The rooftop was empty, and the cool night air filled her lungs, clearing her mind. She walked past a large wooden platform and a long laundry rack to stand by the railing, looking out at the scattered lights in the houses below as she muttered to herself:
“If I don’t study, I’ll fail. I know that! I have to work harder than others to have even a slight chance at success. My adoptive parents treat me like I don’t exist. When I graduate and become an adult, I’ll really be all alone. If I grow up like this, I won’t make much money. I’ll probably live a hard life, just like now. Why couldn’t I have been born into a normal family, in a beautiful home?
Maybe I should just jump off and end it all… No, I’m too scared to die.”
Recently, Jena had been going through puberty, and her negative thoughts were overwhelming her. She sighed, moving away from the railing, and flopped down on the wooden platform. She gazed up at the twinkling stars, the slightly yellowish ones, and other stars, slowly observing them. Focusing on the brightest star, she spoke again:
“Dear star, my wish is to become incredibly rich in the future! Like Elon Musk rich? Oh, and please give me a really handsome and cool boyfriend, too!”
As she watched the star she wished upon dimming, Jena lay quietly, listening to the croaking of frogs in the countryside, feeling her eyelids grow heavy.
*Croak. Croak.*
(Cricket sounds)
For a moment, something bright in the high sky seemed to fall toward Jena. As it grew larger and appeared to be heading straight for her, Jena, startled, opened her eyes wide. A transparent plastic case, about the length of her forearm, fell onto her torso. Startled, Jena jumped up from the platform, examining the fallen object as she spoke.
"What is this? Where did it fall from?"
Jena examined the fallen object and found that inside the plastic case was a male doll that looked like a figurine. She looked around to see if anyone was nearby, but when she found no one, she looked back up at the sky. It seemed no different from before. Jena examined the male doll closely and said:
"Wow, this is a perfectly handsome doll."
Like most dolls, it had a flawless appearance with no trace of human imperfection. The doll had bright brown and blonde hair, eyes that were a mix of the most beautiful greens and blues, a smooth and high nose, slightly pouting pink lips, and a soft triangular face that was both handsome and beautiful. The doll was dressed in a purple, spacesuit-like outfit made of a material called Bath bomb and its physique was perfectly proportioned. Jena read the name and instructions on the bottom of the plastic case:
"Hah-il. Bath bomb? Use it by putting it in water. Huh? Where did this come from?"
Finding no answers after scanning the area again, Jena took the male doll and returned to her dorm room.
Jena placed the male doll on one corner of her desk and said:
"Did someone throw this from afar? It can't have fallen from the sky. Ugh. I should just study."
Before her mind wandered further, Jena turned her attention to her science workbook. She picked up a pen and tried to focus on the problems. As it approached 3 a.m. and she couldn't fight off sleep any longer, Jena stood up energetically and said while holding the male doll:
"Alright! Let's freshen up and clear my mind for an all-nighter!"
Jena filled the bathroom with water, then gathered some clothes to change into and entered the bathroom. She threw the male doll, dressed in the Bath bomb spacesuit, into the bathtub. As the doll’s Bath bomb material dissolved, purple bubbles formed, and Jena commented:
"Wow, this is like a 19+ bath bomb. It looks like it's undressing! Haha."
Jena undressed and sank into the warm water. She searched for the doll in the water by stirring it with her hands but found nothing, so she gave up and closed her eyes.
Then, the water in the bathtub started to bubble as if it were boiling, and the water began to churn violently. Jena, frightened by the continuous rising bubbles and the absence of any operational device in the bathtub, quickly jumped out of the tub. The water gradually became clearer, and someone emerged from it, lifting their head. When the figure opened its eyes, Jena saw a boy who looked exactly like the doll, and they locked eyes.
Jena was so shocked that she couldn't close her mouth or blink, staring at the boy in disbelief. The boy’s perfectly proportioned body, with slim, well-defined muscles, was reflected in Jena’s widened pupils. The boy smiled slightly and said:
"Did I really come to Earth???"
Jena, covering her body with a towel from the towel rack, shouted at the boy:
"What!!! What is this!!!"
The boy got out of the bathtub and, completely naked, happily looked at Jena. Jena’s eyes darted at the unfamiliar naked male body. She stumbled backward and quickly turned to flee out of the bathroom.
Despite Jena’s reaction, the boy casually exited the bathtub and dried himself with another towel from the towel rack. He covered his lower body with the towel and walked out of the bathroom. Jena, still facing away, sensed the boy approaching from behind and said:
"What? What is this? Who are you!!!"
The boy walked up to Jena, making eye contact, and said:
"Well, I'm an alien. Thanks to you, I got to come to Earth. Thank you."
Jena felt as if the perfectly handsome Bath bomb doll had come to life before her eyes. No, the boy wasn’t just a doll. She stared in disbelief, unable to blink, and said:
"What are you talking about? No. What is this? An alien?"
The boy, now with a curious, kitten-like expression, said:
"Yes. Don’t worry. I speak Earth languages quite well. I know Earthlings very well."
"But... how can a doll become a person... I mean, an alien?"
"I made my body like a doll. And to become an Earthling, I need water."
"Water? From the bathtub?"
The boy, who claimed to be an alien, nodded and flashed a charming smile.
"Oh... I see. Ugh! No! I don't understand! Is this even possible???"
"Actually... we aliens have been on Earth all along. Come here."
The so-called alien slowly walked to the veranda and opened the veranda door wide. Jena awkwardly followed him out onto the veranda. The boy looked up at the starry sky and said:
"Look! Spaceships! There are so many spaceships, aren’t there?"
Jena looked up at the sky but could see nothing but stars. She scanned the sky for any spaceships but, finding nothing, turned her head to the boy and said:
