Chapter 306 - Their Second Chance

"KJ…"

He vaguely heard Mirae's voice calling out for him. She had woken up to find his side of the bed empty. Knowing where he was, she put on a t-shirt and headed for the patio to find him. And she was right. He was sitting there with the guitar in his hands, stringing a random tune.

It had been three weeks since Jade had left them. While KJ tried his best to hold up all day, at night he was lost and broken. He tried not to let the loss of Jade affect their lives but his heart was restless. For the first time in a decade, he realized how important Jade was to him. Not seeing his innocent face in the morning felt strange to him.

"You're up," he said in a hollow tone. "I couldn't sleep so I just came here to get some fresh air."

Mirae saw through his lie. He came to the patio because he was missing Jade.

"It's alright," she said, sitting beside him. "You don't have to lie. You miss him a lot. I can tell."

KJ let out an ironic snicker. "For ten years, he was my only companion," he lamented. "And now he's gone and I don't know what to feel…"

Mirae held his hand, squeezing it. She wanted to assure him and tell him that everything was going to be okay. That Jade led a happy life. But she knew that false assurances only made things worse. Words would not fill in the hole that Jade had left behind. Nothing ever will.

"He was a good soul," she finally managed to say. "I know he was happy with you." 

She threw her arms around him. He hugged her back, seeking solace within her embrace. He was glad that she was not giving him false assurances like everyone else did but was simply there to hold him. 

"If he's ever reborn," KJ started. "Do you think he'd remember us? Will we meet him again?"

Mirae knew that he was not going to cry. He was done crying but the numbness within him was even worse. It dashed any hope which brewed in his heart.

"I don't know," she admitted. "But we can always cherish the memories he left behind."

KJ only hugged her tighter. Jade's last words stuck with both of them. When united, the Cartel would not be able to harm them. Something big was about to happen and maybe they would face something which would destroy everything they held dear. 

But Jade wanted them to stand together. The mistakes of their past had cost them a lot and it was time for them to listen to Jade's advice. It was the least they could do for him.

"We'll get through this," he said. "The Cartel...whatever they're planning to do with us. We'll defeat them and live. As long as we're together. Just like what Jade wanted."

Mirae nodded in his embrace. His last wish...they would fulfill it no matter what.

Just then KJ's phone began to ring. They broke apart as KJ took out his phone. "Who would be calling at this hour?" he wondered out loud. The caller ID flashed Hyun Jung's name.

"Hyun," he said, glancing at Mirae.

"He wouldn't call at this hour unless it was important," Mirae pointed out. KJ received the call.

"Hello Hyun," he greeted. "What's up?"

"KJ, can you meet up with me in the morning? Around eleven?"

There was a strange urgency in Hyun Jung's voice. Was he in some sort of trouble? Or did he receive any bad news about the Cartel?

"I'll be there," KJ said at once. "Where shall we meet?"

"I'll pick you up from Mystic Entertainment," Hyun Jung replied. "Please try to make it. Alone, if possible."

"Alright," KJ said.

"What happened?" Mirae asked.

"Hyun Jung wants to meet up," KJ stated. "He sounded really desperate. Something is not right."

"Should I come along?"

"He asked me to accompany him alone. He'll pick me up from Mystic Entertainment around eleven."

Mirae bit her lip. What was so urgent? If it was about the Cartel, Hyun Jung would have asked her to meet as well. Was it something else? 

"Guess we'll find out tomorrow morning," she said at last. 

"Yeah…" KJ said. "Let's go back inside. It's getting late."

Mirae nodded and followed him back to their room. KJ headed straight for the bed while Mirae went towards the bathroom. She was washing up her face when her eyes fell on something inside her toiletries' cabinet. 

Frowning, she counted on her fingers. 

"Five…" she mumbled. She bit her fingernail, recounting in her head. It still came to five. 

KJ looked up when she came out of the bathroom with a confused look on her face.

"You look worried," he noted. "What happened?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "I was just…"

"Just doing what?"

"I was just counting my monthly cycle in my head," she shrugged. KJ sat up straight, listening intently.

"And?" he asked, a familiar anticipation building up in his heart.

"I think I'm five days late," she whispered. "KJ, does this mean…"

She was a little nervous. Were they thinking too much into it? Were her assumptions correct? What if she was wrong? Was it even a good time for them to go through this?

Her mind was swirling with many questions which she could not help but ponder on. KJ could read the dilemma inside her. He held her hand and made her sit beside him. 

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I feel fine," she said. "I'm just...afraid."

"Mirae, it can be a scare," he pointed out. "Might mean nothing. But the question is, if it turns out to be true, do you want the child?"

"Of course I do!" she exclaimed. "But I'm just afraid. The world around us isn't safe for a baby. Will we be able to protect it?"

He knew that her concerns stem from their past timeline. Even if she did not remember it, the fear is still there. Their lives were constantly targeted by the Cartel and bringing a baby into the world would complicate matters.

But he also knew that they were no longer the naive twenty year old who were barely scraping by. They were now stronger and most importantly, together. This is what Jade had talked about.

"They won't hurt our child," KJ said firmly. "We'll protect him. Together."

She gave him a small smile and settled into his arms. He held her close, not letting her go all night. Their little glimmer of hope was sparkling in front of them and this time, they would not fail. It was their second chance and they would not let anything ruin their happiness.

Not even the Cartel.