Chapter 189 - Thicker than Blood, Closer than Brothers

When Mirae woke up the next morning, KJ was gone. She looked around the room for him, but he was nowhere to be found. 

"Where did he go?" she wondered out loud, scanning around till her eyes fell on a breakfast tray next to her with a note on it. She picked it up and unfolded it.

"I'm off to the airport to see Jinhyun off," it said. "The car is ready downstairs to take you to the office. Eat up."

Mirae glanced at the food and immediately her mouth began to water. She hardly ate proper food for the past few days and she realized that she was famished. On the tray were scrambled eggs with crunchy toast and her favorite mushroom porridge. A glass of fresh orange juice stood right next to it.

Mirae picked up the spoon and took a bite of the porridge. As soon as she tasted it, a sharp pain hit her head. It was a momentary pang but for a second, a blurry image came to her mind. A couple eating mushroom porridge together. It popped in her head for a microsecond before vanishing. What was that? Mirae wondered, massaging her head. 

She hesitantly took another bite of the porridge. No pain came to her head but there was something familiar about its taste…

"Awake now?" a voice came out of nowhere.

Startled, Mirae looked around before squaring in on a small, orange cat on the floor. Her eyes narrowed.

"I thought you'd never turn up," Mirae stated. 

"Yeah well it was hard to talk to you with KJ hovering around," Jade replied as he jumped on to the bed.

"Does he know that you can talk?" Mirae asked. She had an inkling KJ knew but she wanted to confirm it.

"He does," Jade confirmed. "But he doesn't know that you're aware of this secret."

"What are you?" Mirae demanded. "I mean...you're clearly a cat but you can talk. This is just absurd! I feel like I'm living a really bad dream…"

"You're not hallucinating," Jade said quickly. "I really want to tell you a lot of things, but I highly doubt I should. Besides, it's hard to explain these things because I don't understand most of the things myself. All I know is that I was sent to change KJ's fate."

"Change his fate?" Mirae frowned. "I don't understand. What fate?"

"I don't know," Jade admitted. "I was sent to put KJ on the right path and I did."

"Are you and KJ connected in some weird way?" Mirae asked bluntly. "When he went into a coma, you too fell unconscious."

"Sort of," Jade said. "I...I had to use my remaining abilities to bring him out of that coma."

"So now you're some sort of cosmic being?" Mirae frowned. "Jade, what are you? What is all this? I can't understand anything! Fate? Abilities? Putting KJ on the right path?"

Mirae's head was spinning with questions and the cat would not answer any of them!

"You know what…" Mirae said. "I don't know if this is cosmic stuff or supernatural. All I know is that I have to protect KJ and I will. Whatever path you've put him on, I'll make sure he stays there. I'd rather have him tell me the truth rather than waste time on trying to figure out about fate and destiny."

"Good thinking," Jade agreed. "Now if you don't mind, can I have some of that?"

He was looking longingly at the porridge and glanced at Mirae with his innocent eyes. Despite herself, Mirae almost laughed. She had to admit, the cat was really cute.

"Fine," she conceded, putting the bowl in front of him. "Eat up!"

Jade immediately pounced on the bowl, slurping happily. Mirae finished the rest of her breakfast and went to the bathroom to freshen up. When she came out, the cat was gone. She went straight to the walk-in closet and carefully went through the clothes before deciding on a soft pink blazer and matching formal pants with a white shirt beneath it. 

It was officially her first day at Mystic Entertainment as the new CEO and she wanted to make a good impression. She dried her hair and kept it loose. She picked up a stylish handbag and made sure that she had all the important files inside it. Putting on a pair of sunglasses and black heels, she checked herself in the mirror. 

"That should do," she said out loud. With that, she exited the room. It was showtime.

….

KJ arrived at the airport early in the morning. His heart was heavy yet, he could not help but feel lighter. Ten years...it was a long journey. They laughed, they cried and were everything to each other. Letting go of EXOTIC felt as if he was cutting off one of his limbs. 

In his heart, he used to think that EXOTIC would go on forever. He always thought that they would never break up. After changing the timelines, EXOTIC was the only thing that kept him sane. He had a purpose with them.

But now...he was unsure of what to feel. Should he feel sad that their journey together came to an end? O should he look forward to the uncertain future?

"Penny for your thoughts?" 

KJ broke out of his reverie to see Dasom and Jinhyun had arrived. 

"What are you thinking, KJ?" Dasom asked.

"Just thinking of how ten years passed by," KJ admitted.

"They went by in a flash," Jinhyun nodded. "If only...we could get those moments back. But it's not possible to turn back time."

Was it really not possible anymore? KJ wondered. For a wild moment, he wanted to return back to those days. He wanted to turn back time again and relive his moments with EXOTIC. He would even be happy to have Ash back. 

But he knew that it was no longer possible. Even if he had turned time around again, he knew too much now. Things would not be the same.

"Do you really have to go?" KJ asked again. He kept on repeating this question to Jinhyun even though he knew the answer would be the same every time.

"Yes," Jinhyun replied patiently. "I really want to go abroad and study music. For ten years, we've lived for each other. The moments I've spent with EXOTIC are way too precious for me. I know what Ash did was unforgivable. But I want to remember the bond we had shared. For me, EXOTIC is all of us or none of us."

"You're leaving coz of Ash's betrayal?" Dason questioned him.

"I'm leaving because it's the only way we can let go of his memories," Jinhyun said sadly. "EXOTIC has to go. You know that too."

Dasom lowered his eyes. No matter how hurt he was, he knew that Jinhyun's words were true. As long as EXOTIC existed, he could not forget Ash. After all, they shared a bond thicker than blood.

"Will you be in touch?" KJ asked. Jinhyun hesitated.

"I don't know," he said honestly. "I want to take some time off to evaluate a few things. You may not hear from me for a while. But I'll miss all of you…"

"But you'll come back, right?" KJ asked. 

"I will," Jinhyun answered. "I promise."

He then took out an envelope and handed it to KJ.

"What's this?" KJ asked.

"Read it after I leave," Jinhyun requested. "Please."

Just then a woman's voice came out of the loudspeaker.

"Shin Jinhyun, flight number 2175 Korea to England. Please come to counter number 5 to collect your boarding pass," the voice announced.

"That's my queue," Jinhyun said sheepishly. He pulled both KJ and Dasom into a long hug. 

"I'm sorry…" his voice broke with unshed tears. 

"Take care, Jinhyun," Dasom croaked. He, too, was holding back his tears with great difficulty. KJ did not say anything but held them even tighter. 

It felt as if time had stopped for the three friends. They did not know how long they stood there, hugging each other. Finally, they let go. Jinhyun took hold of his trolley and began to wheel it forward. 

He turned back one last time to wave goodbye to his friends. They waved back as he retreated to board the plane. Soon, he disappeared into the crowd. 

KJ and Dasom stood there, watching the plane he had just boarded. Within minutes, the doors closed and the plane began to rev its engine. They watched it go around the runway before finally, it took off. They watched it getting smaller and smaller until it vanished in the sky.

"What will happen now?" Dasom asked. 

"I don't know," KJ admitted. They were on their own now. 

….

Inside the plane, Jinhyun took out a small package from his bag. It was delivered to him that morning by an unknown sender. Even the delivery man did not know who might have sent it.

Jinhyun observed it curiously. It was a rectangular package and was extremely light. He opened the package to find a small photo frame inside it. Framed in it was a picture of four boys smiling widely at camera. Two of them were in their mid teens while the other two were a little older. 

Jinhyun remembered that day well. It was his birthday and as a special treat, the other members had taken him to an amus.e.m.e.nt park since he had never been to one. They had taken this picture there. It was many years ago and Jinhyun thought he had lost this picture.

There was no note on it but he had an inkling who may have sent it. Jinhyun did not know whether he should be happy or sad upon receiving the picture. He leaned back, clutching the frame to his heart.

"Why?" he whispered. "Why did you do it, Ash?"