Chapter 304 - Jade (4)

KJ's whole body was shaking out of fear. He did not know what to think or do. His mind was blank and numb, unfeeling to anything. Behind the door, was his last link to the past he had forgone. The soul which should have been born as his son, was instead fighting for survival in a world where it did not belong. All for him.

Yes, it's all because of me, he thought. The guilt inside him was killing him. He truly regretted his actions. If only he had not run away from Mirae in the original timeline. If only he did not believe her lies and stayed back. If only he had turned around when she called out to him. If...if...so many such if's were circling his head, tainting his heart with the regrets he held. Jade should have been an eleven year old boy with a happy childhood and loving parents. But he was stuck inside a cat's body, trying to live. And it was all because of KJ.

"KJ…" Mirae said. Her voice was heavy as she tried to control her sobs. "You have to see him."

���I can't…"

He lowered his head in shame. A drop of tear fell on the floor followed by more. They would not stop.

"You have to," Mirae sobbed. "He wants to see you. You should go to him."

"He's in this state because of me!" KJ gritted, clenching his fists. "It's all my fault. If only I hadn't changed time…"

He broke off. His heart was in a messy turmoil. Jade was going to die. He really was going to die and never come back. KJ would be alone once again in this alien timeline. The Cartel did not have to do much to destroy KJ since his decisions always put him on the path of self-destruction. His choices cost him all his loved ones. His teacher, his grandfather, Mirae and now Jade. It was ironic how he did more damage to himself than the Cartel ever did.

"He's your friend," Mirae urged him. "Go and see him. He needs you. Don't let him be cold and alone in there. That'll be an insult to everything he has done for you. Jade saved your life twice because he cares for you. So don't let your guilt get in the way of your friendship. Go and meet him. Even if...even if…"

She dared not to say it out loud but KJ knew what her unsaid words were. If KJ did not go in there, he would never be able to see Jade alive again. His last hope had abandoned him and he was truly alone. Jade was with him through thick and thin. Of all the people in KJ's life, Jade was the only one he could say a proper goodbye to.

KJ took a deep breath and looked ahead. It was time to face the inevitable. He raised his hand to open the door.

….

*Flashback*

KJ opened the door to his apartment. He had recently moved out of the house he had once shared with the other members of EXOTIC. Their popularity had skyrocketed and they were currently the nation's biggest boy group. Every member was being signed up for famous brands and also dramas which meant that their schedules were packed. 

KJ, in particular, had a grueling routine, leaving little time for rest. He finally got a three day long weekend and he was ready to sleep for a long time.

He entered the apartment, yawning widely. He did not bother to change his clothes and headed straight towards his bed, lying down to fall asleep. As soon as his eyes were closed, something soft and furry jumped on his chest.

"KJ! Wake up!"

He opened his eyes to see an orange tabby cat with green eyes looking at him hopefully. The cat was excited about something.

"Not now Jade," KJ mumbled, rolling over.

"KJ, there's a limited edition cat food in the big mall near the turn!" Jade said excitedly, poking him with his paws. "These are really popular among cat owners! They're only gonna sell a hundred boxes tonight. I want some!"

"I'm tired," KJ complained. "And you already have cat food."

"But not the limited edition cat food!" Jade insisted. "Oh come on! It's just cat food. Come on KJ pleeeease!"

The cat was persistent. ��Ain't I your friend?" Jade pouted. "Didn't I help you when you needed me the most? I used my only ability on you! And even stayed with you in this timeline. Come on KJ…"

Jade jumped over to face him. KJ's eyes were closed but Jade probed his face.

"Please…" he m.o.a.ned. "Just for tonight. Come on!"

KJ groaned and got up. His eyes were heavy with sleep but there was nothing he could do. The cat would not shut up if he did not buy him the cat food.

"Come on," he conceded. Jade leapt in joy.

"YES!" he exclaimed. "My cat food!"

He jumped on to KJ's lap, purring with excitement as KJ got off the bed. In his drowsy state, he put on a mask and a cap before wearing his shoes. 

"Let's go!" Jade declared.

Ten minutes later, KJ arrived at the shop. To his surprise the shop was crowded by many pet owners and their cats.

"What the-"

"The brand is very popular," Jade explained. "Which is why it's 300 dollars."

"300 dollars worth of cat food?" KJ said, feeling outraged. "That's a ripoff! What do they put in it? Diamonds?"

"You just don't know anything about good quality food," Jade scoffed. 

KJ looked at the crowd. How the hell are they supposed to walk in through all of these people?

"Hold on to me," he muttered at Jade. He tightened his grip on the cat and charged forward.

He tried to push through. "Excuse me please," he requested as he squeezed through some customers who were trying to get their hands on the cat food packages. People were fighting to go forward to grab the cat food. KJ felt suffocated and could hardly breathe through the crowd.

"Move!" he shouted at one guy who was clogging up the counter.

"Watch your mouth!" the guy retorted.

KJ did not reply but kept on squeezing through the people until he managed to reach the shelf. There was just one cat food packet on it. He reached out his hand to grab it when suddenly someone jerked it from his hand.

"Hey!" he protested. "That's mine!"

To his shock, the person who took it was an old woman. 

"Granny, I took that first," KJ said politely. But the old woman glared at him angrily.

"Young people today have no manners!" she said loudly. "You should let the elders shop first!"

"But I took it first," KJ insisted. "I can buy you another one if you want-"

"What an insolent brat!" the old woman yelled. "Do you think I want your money? Huh?"

Everyone was staring at them, whispering. KJ did not want to create a scene in case the media caught a whiff of it. Instead, he lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry, granny. You can have that box-"

"When I was your age, I always let the elderly get things first!" she shouted at him. KJ could hear the whispers around him getting louder. The old woman kept on ranting at him, belittling him. He was so engrossed into what the old woman was saying that he did not notice Jade slipping off his arms.

"Granny, I'm sorry-" he began but there was a sound of several boxes falling. The old woman looked around to see that her bag had been torn open and several boxes of cat food fell out of it. Jade stood there, meowing as the old woman was bewildered by the turn of events.

"She was stealing?" one customer spoke up.

"What a rude old lady! Not only was she stealing but also bullied another customer!"

The lady was speechless. Before the shop owners could catch her, she ran off, leaving the boxes behind.

"We are so sorry for the inconvenience," one storekeeper apologized to KJ. "We would be glad to give you a discount on the cat food as a token of apology. Should we nab that old woman?"

"Let it be," he said hastily. "She didn't manage to steal anything anyway."

The storekeeper handed over a cat food packet to him, apologizing again. KJ thanked him and left the store after paying with Jade in tow.

"What is so special about this?" KJ wondered as he stared at the bag in his hand. 

"It's tasty and nutritious according to the ads," Jade claimed. 

"And you believed that?" KJ sneered. "Those ads are designed to make you buy these things regardless of the taste and nutrition value! This thing might have harmful stuff in it."

Jade was about to stick out his tongue when he stopped short. He was looking at something. Frowning, KJ followed his gaze.

The old woman from earlier was stooped low on the pavement. She was petting a cat with white and orange patches on it. There were several kittens huddled around it for warmth.

"I'm sorry Junie," she croaked. "I tried to bring some food for you but failed. I'm so sorry…"

They watched as the old lady shed tears over her failure. The cat looked very weak and sickly. She was clearly not getting enough food and her kittens were also malnourished. 

"KJ, give me that bag,�� Jade suddenly said. Startled, KJ stooped down and held out the bag for him. He held it with his mouth and walked across the street, towards the old lady and the cat.

The old woman was about to get up when she saw a tabby cat, holding a bag in its mouth. The cat put the bag on the ground. Before the old lady could react, the cat ran off. She opened the bag and to her astonishment, there was a packet of cat food in it.

She looked up and scanned the area for the tabby cat but it was nowhere to be found. Her wrinkled face broke into a wide smile.

"Looks like there are good people in this world after all!" she said out loud, feeling grateful. She poured some of the cat food on a piece of newspaper and put it in front of the skinny cat. The cat immediately dug into the food, happy for some relief from its hunger.

KJ and Jade watched them from behind a wall. 

"That's a very noble deed you did there Jade," KJ smiled. "I'm proud of you."

"Well...that cat needed it more," he sighed. "Besides, that thing really was a rip off. 200 dollars after discount. Bite me! Your cooking is much better."

He faked anger at the price but KJ knew he was longing for it. The latter picked him up and stroked his fur, trying to assure him. 

"I'll contact the brand directly and ask them to send us some supply," he promised. "But what you did today was priceless."

Jade pouted a little but glancing back at the cat and its family, he was certain he did the right thing.

"I'm happy to have you as a friend," KJ admitted. "Thanks for being there for me."

"And I'm happy to be your friend," Jade said, purring on his lap. "Now let's go home! I'm sleepy."

He yawned widely. KJ shook his head and sighed. The cat was a handful but it was his closest companion. For a moment, a fleeting thought entered his head: for how long will Jade be by his side.

KJ quickly dismissed that thought. Jade would be with him forever. He knew it.

Shaking off all worries from his head, he walked ahead with his friend, oblivious to the reality which was about to hit them.

….

*Present*

KJ pushed open the door and almost gasped. Jade was kept on a table, lying on his side. His heart was wired to a monitor, showing his feeble heartbeats.

He was barely breathing and his vitals were getting weaker. Upon hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes and saw KJ standing there, pale faced.

"Hey KJ…" Jade greeted feebly.

"Hey Jade," KJ said softly.