Chapter 305 - Jade (5)

"Hey KJ…" Jade greeted feebly.

"Hey Jade," KJ said softly.

He could not bear to see his friend in that state. Jade looked as if he was barely holding on to life with all his willpower. But his will was weakening. His eyes were getting dimmer and he could barely move his limb. The heart monitor also showed his heartbeat rate was dropping to dangerously low levels.

KJ held his tiny paw gently with his fingers. Jade gave him a weak smile but winced. 

"I always thought you'd be by my side forever," KJ admitted. His voice was heavy with sadness. A part of him was crushed beneath an endless abyss of grief. The shock of losing another friend was unbearable, throwing him into an endless hole.

"You still have a lot left to do," Jade mumbled. "Me? My time is over. I was supposed to be dead a long time ago. You saved me and Mirae. But I can't live on borrowed time forever…"

He doubled up and let out a loud cough, alarming KJ. KJ was about to call for the doctor but the cat squeezed his paws around his finger.

"No, stay!" he requested. "Please."

"There's still hope," KJ lied in an attempt to console him. "I'm sure we can find a cure or a medication! We'll find something-"

"There is no cure, KJ," Jade said. "It was fated to happen. You can't...stop…"

His breathing was getting shorter as he struggled to put his thoughts into coherent sentences. KJ looked on in despair. He wanted to help his friend but Jade was right; there was nothing he could do. Not even the best vets in the world could save him because his soul was being snipped from his body. Jade's reincarnation was based on a flimsy thread which would snap any moment, taking him far away from them.

"This wasn't supposed to happen…" KJ whispered. A single tear fell from his eye. He tried to hold in his emotion but the wretched feelings were too hard to control.

"You were supposed to be a human. You were supposed to have a good life, make friends and have a loving family. Not this. This wasn't supposed to happen. I…"

KJ broke off. He never felt so helpless in his entire life. He used to think that the thought of Mirae aborting their child in the previous timeline was the worst he had ever felt but he was wrong. This was much more painful than that.

"Don't cry," Jade begged. "Don't be sad. I had a good life. I got to live with you. I found people who loved me. We went through a lot of ups and downs. When we all used to live in that semi-bas.e.m.e.nt apartment. You, me and the others from EXOTIC. It was fun. And after you married Mirae again, she took care of me too. You guys are my family. I don't think I would have gotten such a big and loving family in my previous life. So don't feel guilty…"

But his words only increased KJ's pain. Mirae had quietly entered the room. Her green eyes were also teary as she watched KJ and Jade trying to come to terms with their impending fate.

"I'm glad I was able to reunite the two of you," Jade sighed. "It took us more than a decade but here we are. All together."

He glanced at Mirae, who was standing in the corner, unsure of what to do. She was simply looking at the little cat which held the soul of a child she was supposed to birth. Even if she did not have the memories of that life, there was a hollowness in her heart which was sucking out all the happiness from within her, leaving behind wounds which would never heal. 

"Mirae…" Jade called for her. She slowly approached him, taking a seat beside KJ.

"Thanks for coming back to this moron," he weakly joked. "He was distraught without you…"

Jade let out another violent cough. This time blood splattered from his mouth.

"We should get the doctor!" Mirae said, feeling alarmed.

"No!" Jade stated. "I don't need doctors. I only want to say something to you two. Just...listen…"

His voice was becoming weaker and weaker but he was still holding on to the last thread of life. 

"Something...something big will happen in the upcoming months," he warned. "I don't know what but I have an inkling, it will be the biggest disaster you two will face. And you won't be able to stop it."

"Don't say that!" KJ said harshly. "None of that matters! We only want you to stay with us-"

"KJ, don't make such a wish," Jade said ruefully. "You never know what and how the Cartel will attack. But they will and it would be their final attack on you. When that time comes, don't do anything stupid."

Even on his deathbed, Jade could only give a vague warning to them. He wanted to help them through the crisis which was about to hit them but he was helpless against time.

"Jade, we can't do this without you," Mirae sobbed. "You've helped us so much. We can't…"

"I can't be of much help now anyway. Just remember. Both of you must stay united. No matter what happens, don't repeat the mistakes of the previous timelines. Just remember that the Cartel was able to destroy your lives earlier because you two weren't together. And they won't be able to harm you as long as you remain with each other."

He let out another cough and to their shock, Jade's color was starting to fade.

"Jade, we only want you to stay with us," KJ pleaded but Jade shook his head.

"KJ, thanks for being a good friend…" he said. His body was getting thinner as he sunk lower into the bed. "Take care of him, Mirae…I hope in another lifetime, I could truly be reborn as your child..."

"No Jade! No!"

KJ yelled at him to stay but Jade was starting to disappear. Mirae was also watching in horror.

"Jade!" she exclaimed. "Jade don't…"

But their cries were in vain.

"Goodbye…" Jade's hollow voice rang in their ears as he faded away. "See you in another lifetime…"

The paw holding KJ's finger vanished, leaving behind an empty and cold bed.