Mission Aborted

When I gave up on my mission and confessed to the existence of the system, my girlfriend, who couldn’t seem to give up on her first love, suddenly agreed to marry me and bear me a child. I thought my sincerity had moved her and excitedly began preparing for the wedding. She, however, tricked me into going for surgery. “You’re on a mission and have unlimited lives. He has end-stage heart failure and is on the verge of death. Don’t worry, after his surgery and recovery, I’ll come back to our family and continue helping you with your mission.” What she didn’t know was that the moment she took my heart away, I had utterly failed my mission and all my memories were erased. One month later, when she called out to me sweetly and asked if I had thought of a name for our baby, I looked at her all confused. “We don’t even know each other. How could we have a baby?” Chapter 1 “Nina, this isn't the way to the wedding venue, is it?” I sat in the front passenger seat looking at the unfamiliar sight out of the window, my voice flat. My wife, Nina Jones, grabbed my hand tightly, her eyelashes trembling. She then explained with a smile, “Heath, are you getting the wedding jitters? We’ve been preparing for this wedding for so long. Where else would we be going if not the wedding venue?” I fell silent at Nina’s response and gave none of my own. Despite her best efforts at hiding the truth, she forgot one thing. We’ve been together for seven years since I was first sent to this world on a mission. I understood her way too well. She would subconsciously bite her lip whenever she lied. She even locked the car door the moment I questioned her, as though she was scared that I would try jumping out of the car. I wasn’t surprised to arrive at that conclusion. Conversely, I felt rather relieved. I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket. With a click of my lighter, a flame flared out. I took a deep breath and the taste of nicotine spread out in my lungs. It tasted bitter but made me exceptionally alert. “Nina, I’ve been taking you on as a mission for seven years. No need to lie to me.” I blew out a puff of smoke and spoke calmly, my voice laced with a tinge of self-derision. “There’s no need to, and it’s pointless anymore. You’re bringing me to the hospital to help Shane with his heart surgery, right?” The mention of Shane’s name made Nina slam on the brakes, almost making the car behind her crash into our car. I wasn’t shocked by Nina’s reaction. He was her first love, the one whom she almost married. She took a moment to recover before she barely managed a pained smile. “Heath, things have long been over between Shane and me. I just want to be with you right now. Trust me, Shane.” Those were wonderful, reassuring words she spoke, but the glint in her eyes was unmissable and she somehow couldn’t bring herself to look straight into my eyes. I took a deep breath. “In that case, why aren’t you in your wedding dress on such an important day? Why did you insist on driving? We engaged a driver for this occasion, didn’t we?” Silence ensued in the car, leaving only the sparking of the lighted cigarette. A moment later, she bowed her head and confessed everything. “You’re a time-traveler and can come back to life after completing your mission, but he’s suffering from end-stage heart failure and can’t survive without surgery. He’s so kind and still so young. His life shouldn’t end just like this.” She choked back tears, a plea and justification in the same breath. Chapter 2 I smiled bitterly. “That's why you fooled me into getting married. You want to take away my heart and give it to him, right? Do you know that’s against the law?” Before I could say any further, Nina kissed me, sealing my lips shut with tears streaming down her cheeks. They landed on mine and trickled down my chin. Her kiss, which used to taste so sweet, now only felt bitter and acrid. “Enough. I… I really can’t stand idly by watching him die. On account of the fact that we’ve already registered our marriage, help me out one last time, won’t you? Once his surgery is a success and he recovers from it, I’ll pour my heart and soul back into our family and help you with your mission.” She grabbed my hand, her words seemingly draining her of all her energy. I looked at her pleading with me and smiled bitterly. I’ve been working on Nina as a mission for seven years, and I have never seen her bow her head to anyone. Even in the face of her superior’s threats or slander from her colleagues, she always stuck to her guns and her principles. Yet now, she was willing to cast everything aside just so Shane could live. It was exactly as I had thought. Before I could open my mouth to reject her, I felt a sudden wave of dizziness. My body suddenly felt weak. Nina seemed to expect it and said calmly, “Heath, don’t struggle against it. I mixed some sleeping pills into your breakfast this morning. I have no other choice. I have to save him.” With that, Nina floored the gas pedal and drove in the complete opposite direction of our wedding venue. - When I woke up again, I found the car parked in an abandoned private hospital. Taking a heart from a perfectly healthy person was contrary to medical regulations, after all. Very soon, a fully-geared medical team armed with surgical scrubs and face masks appeared, binding me. “Ms. Jones, you finally brought the donor here. Any later, and Mr. Gotham wouldn’t have made it.” Nina’s face turned pale. She rushed to Shane’s ward, not even caring about me, the heart donor. Very soon, she saw Shane lying weakly on the bed, his face ashen. “Shane! How did you become like this?” She gasped and lurched forward to grab his hands, her heart breaking into a million pieces. “You’re going to be fine. Everything is going to be alright. You’ll have a new heart very soon.” Her voice was shaking as she choked back tears. Shane smiled weakly and held her hands. Joy over his life being saved filled his eyes. “I knew you’d come, Nina.” I was still bound next to them, smiling self-derisively as I watched the scene before me unfold. Shane was everything to Nina. What about me? Just a partner to eke out a living together? Or a mobile blood bank that can save lives? I knew no one could ever give me an answer to that question. Nina could sense my gaze from afar. She suddenly turned back to look at me and drew closer, making a move to try to hug me. I turned to my side and avoided her touch, the look on my face cold. “Alright, don’t you want to save your darling Shane? Get a move on it.” Nina paused for a moment and said with a trembling voice, “I’m sorry, Heath. But don’t worry. Once Shane recovers from his surgery, I promise I’ll come back to our family and help you with your mission.” I said nothing to her promise. She didn’t know that the moment my life was used as a tool to save Shane, I had completely failed my mission. Chapter 3 I started losing consciousness when the anesthesia started taking effect. Just when I thought the system would wipe me out due to my failure to complete the mission, I heard the system speak up. “The host has failed the mission! Wipe out all of the host's memories of Nina Jones.” I was stunned to hear the system’s punishment. I didn’t expect the system to just erase my memories of Nina. It didn’t kill me. Rather than a punishment, it came as a relief instead. At the next moment, the system extricated my soul from my body. All the memories I shared with Nina over the past seven years floated before me like a movie reel. Seven years ago, I had just arrived in this world. I didn’t know how to speak its language and was met with difficulties everywhere. I started to feel dispirited, drinking myself silly every night and almost freezing to my death in the middle of a cold, snowy night. Nina was the one who saved me and brought me back to her rental apartment. Even though I hadn’t bathed for a month at that point and was reeking of a sour, unpleasant odor, she didn’t mind it. She even brought home two cartons of beer and drank with me through the night. That night, she shared a lot about herself. She told me she had thought of taking her own life, but the thought of a promise she made with someone made her grit her teeth and persevere. That night, her smile was so pure and sincere. It was like a ray of sunshine, lighting up my broken heart. It was also that day that I set my heart on living for Nina Jones. From that day on, her wishes became my wishes. Her dreams became my dreams. Perhaps because of our similar experiences, we quickly became a couple. At that time, we were both very poor. Suppliers we worked with refused to give us a refund and the company was stuck with no money left in its account. During year end holidays, the only feast we could enjoy was cup noodles, an upgrade from our usual instant noodles in packets. Even so, our days were filled with joy. Nina and I would hole ourselves up in her apartment, enjoying our noodles. I boasted to her about my talent and abilities, claiming that after our company got listed, I’d throw her the grandest, most luxurious wedding that would make her the envy of everyone. She smiled so happily that day. Her eyes twinkled like crescent moons, lighting up my entire life. I thought we would be together forever. Until that fateful day, when Shane Gotham returned and my dreams shattered into a million pieces. Despite being so career-minded, Nina gave up on a deal worth three million dollars and rushed to the airport without so much as turning back. She only returned to the office one week later, as though nothing had happened. However, from that day on, she started growing closer and closer to Shane. I didn’t mind it at first. I thought our relationship was strong enough to withstand the re-entrance of her first love who had disappeared for a long time. However, I started panicking when I saw her always giggling at her phone. Those were the signs of falling in love. I knew it better than anyone else. I subsequently realized that the promise she had been clinging onto all along was with Shane. She had promised to wait for him to come back and marry her no matter what happened. She had waited for this day to arrive for a long time. The good thing was, everything was about to come to an end. I would give her freedom and release myself in the process. Just when my soul was about to hit the button to erase these memories, a huge commotion sounded from the doors to the operating theatre, which were tightly shut. Chapter 4 The next moment, someone pushed the doors to the operating theatre open. I was stunned to see who it was. Nina? What was she doing, barging into the operating theatre like this? One of the doctors tried to stop her from interrupting the surgery. “Ms. Jones, we’re in the middle of the surgery right now. Please leave!” She threw all caution to the wind as she rushed toward my body, lying down all cut open on the operating table. I felt a tinge of excitement brewing in my soul. Was she… Was she regretting her decision? Did Nina care about me after all? At the next moment, Nina grabbed the doctor’s arms and asked anxiously, “Doctor, can you take his liver and kidneys and give them to Shane, too?” She glanced at me and made sure I was completely unconscious before sighing in relief. She went on, “Shane just told me that his liver and kidneys have been badly damaged from long-term medication and treatment. Giving him a new set of organs would ensure quick recovery for him, too.” I heard Nina talk about taking away my organs so carefreely and felt as though someone was putting my heart through a juicer, grinding it into smithereens. Was this the kind of love she claimed to have for me? She only had Shane’s post-surgery recovery in mind. She couldn’t bear to see him suffer even a little bit. And me? Be it the wedding of bearing children, she didn’t mind dragging her feet over those. Those could wait, those could be sacrificed! A bitter smile stretched across my face. I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and hit the button to erase my memories of Nina. A relationship like this would only make me suffer more. I’d rather not remember anything about it. From today on, I’ve decided to live for myself! - After a long while, the sharp, strong smell of disinfectant woke me up. A young nurse walked over and adjusted the IV bottle hanging next to me. “You’re awake. How do you feel?” “Alright. Where am I?” I said. The nurse frowned. “The hospital. You’ve been unconscious for a week.” A week? I racked my brains and tried to recall what happened, but my mind was blank. The nurse sighed, as though seeing this for the hundredth time today. “All other patients have family members taking care of them, but you… Your bedside has been as quiet as a morgue over the past week. Since you’re awake now, contact someone you know and settle your hospital bills later.” I switched my phone on and was about to contact my parents when a bunch of unread messages popped out. They were all from a man called ‘Shane Gotham’. [Heath, the surgery was a huge success! It’s all thanks to your organs that I managed to live on. Thank you!] There was an accompanying image of Nina resting in his arms. [Nina made some soup for me today, I’m so fortunate. Do take care of yourself, too.] It came accompanied with another image of Nina holding a bowl of hot soup as she fed him. [Nina said she’s bringing me out for some sun today. The thought of it alone makes me so happy. Heath, when are you getting discharged? Join us!] - Shane would text me similar messages every day, boasting about the great time he was having with Nina. His words were clearly aimed at provoking me. My brows were furrowed. Who was this strange man? Why did he keep texting me strange things? I didn’t even know the lady in his photos. She was only slightly better-looking than average. Was there a need for him to show her off like this? Chapter 5 What a nutcase! I cursed him under my breath before blacklisting him without hesitation. Not long after, someone pushed the door open to my ward. It was Shane Gotham and Nina Jones. The moment Shane saw me, he rushed over and pulled me into his arms. “Heath, you’re finally awake! Turns out that your ward was just opposite mine. Why didn’t you tell me that earlier? I'd have come to visit you immediately. If it weren’t for you, I would have died!” His tone was exaggerated, and the expression on his face was so fake. Despite calling me his savior, there was only disdain in his eyes. I was speechless. Why was this man behaving this way? He sounded exactly like a pretentious, two-faced snake. He was clearly trying to provoke me via text over the past few days. What was he trying to do by pretending to be the good guy here? The thought made me shove him away coldly. “Leave. Do I know you? Quit coming so close to me; it’s disgusting.” Shane stood stunned, but he quickly recovered as a smug look flashed across his face. He collapsed to the ground and started putting on another act. “Oh! Heath, I know you’re angry at me! I should just die!” He clutched his chest, looking like he was having difficulty breathing. Nina hurried over to help him up, comforting him. “Shane, don’t get agitated. The doctor said you’re still weak, since you’ve just undergone major surgery.” She turned to look at me and grabbed my hand, counseling me patiently. “Heath, I know you’re upset, but it’s all over. You’re fine now, aren’t you? Isn’t that more than enough? Why did you push Shane away? He’s still weak from his surgery.” I looked at this rather good-looking woman I didn’t know right in front of me. I felt nothing for her; in fact, I somehow felt a trace of disgust toward her. Who was this woman? Was she blind? That man collapsed on the ground himself. Why did she jump to conclusions and slander me? How was this man weak, anyway? Texting away in the middle of the night, trying to provoke me with his texts. I’d say he’s in great spirits! Nina sighed. Before giving me time to clear my thoughts, she grabbed my hand and lamented, “Alright, honey. Whatever it is, it’s all in the past. I know you won’t forgive me just like this. So…” A thought suddenly came to mind as she paused for a moment and explained gently, “I came to give you a surprise today.” She pulled out a pregnancy test kit from her bag and looked lovingly at me. “Honey, I tested positive. Haven’t you always wanted a child? Your dream finally came true! “Have you thought of a name for our child? “Oh yes, let’s quickly get married before I show. I promise we’ll have an extravagant wedding, even grander than the one you planned before! “The three of us will live happily ever after from now on, okay?” Nina caressed her belly while holding my hand. She looked so tenderly at me, as though she were deeply in love with me. I flung her hand away and looked at her in disdain. “Child? We don’t even know each other. Where did this child come from? Is this the latest, most creative way to find a sucker to pass the buck to?”