Chapter 10

Alessia's eyes were fixed on the clock as it kept ticking. She found herself inside the room after the Timekeeper held her hand, and though she was surprised, she wasn't so bothered. Jenna and Bryan were asleep on the bed, with their backs facing each other while Alessia stood with the Timekeeper at the edge of the bed. They already took off her wedding dress and though Jenna still had the mask on her face.

“Everyone has a soulmate” The Timekeeper suddenly said behind her and she raised a brow, turning to him immediately. “Including you?” She asked but he gave no response until after a few seconds. “I guess, I died three years ago” he said and her eyes widened. “Huh…” she voiced in surprise. “And you failed your task?” she asked, fixing her gaze on him but his was on the clock.

“I wasn't given a task, I volunteered to be a Timekeeper instead” he said and for the first time in minutes, his eyes landed on her. “I want to be a Timekeeper too” she said and he scoffed. “You weren't destined to have such an option” he said and when she tried talking again, he forcefully turned her head to the clock. “A minute more” She whispered, still with her gaze on the clock and after some seconds, she turned to back him with raised brows.

“How do I even get into her body?” she asked but he didn't reply, his gaze remained on the table clock and he sighed. “How do I—-” she wanted to say again but the clock made a sound indicating it's exactly twelve and immediately, he pushed her to Jenna. Alessia's eyes widened, assuming Jenna was going to feel the effect of her fall on her but nothing like that happened, instead, she found herself inside her body. Immediately, Jenna's eyes stirred open and she sat up. Alessia (in her body) stirred at her hands, looking around in surprise.

“So easy,” she squealed and he raised his forefinger to his lipslips. “Shh” he voiced and she held her lips quickly. The Timekeeper's eyes landed on Bryan who's eyes were still closed and was sleeping soundly. “ You're now human, in a human's body, your words could be heard now” he said, diverting his gaze back to her. She nodded, giggling silently.

“Remember the rules” he warned and she nodded, her eyes suddenly landed on the bracelet in her hand the same one he had shown her and she stared at it amazingly. “It gets to your hand once you're in her body” the Timekeeper said and she nodded, still smiling sheepishly. She rushed to the mirror immediately, staring at herself. It was crazy because she looked like the normal Alessia. It was her normal self. Same features. She raised her hand to the mirror and touched it freely, her eyes widened and she heaved heavy breaths.

“Once you realize the one who is your soulmate, your bracelet will cut but if you don't realize his or identity even when you're around him, it won't” The Timekeeper's words made her turn to him and she breathed, nodding affirmatively. “Here..” he said, handing her a cell phone and she smiled, receiving the phone immediately. “You can only contact me with this” he said and she chuckled. The phone was entirely different from the normal ones people use. “Feel free to unravel secrets apart from doing your task” he said while her gaze remained on the phone she was checking out.

“You have thirty days, eleven hours and fifty minutes left” Those were his last words before he finally disappeared. Alessia turned back to Bryan who was still sleeping, she moved towards him and bent over to his position to check him out. “His cute, I made a good choice,” she whispered thoughtlessly and slowly, she raised his hand to his face, tracing his brows. Maybe because she felt so attracted to him as her supposed fiance or because she was used to touching people without them feeling the effects. Either way, she found herself touching his face without a second thought. Bryan's eyes flew open immediately and her eyes widened, moving back immediately.

“What are you doing?” he asked bluntly and the Timekeeper's words echoed in her ears. She immediately remembered Jenna is only in a contract marriage with him as she has to ask according to the contract. “Err..” she stuttered, racking her brain for an answer. “I was only removing a white piece on your lashes, don't be flattered” she rolled her eyes, trying to act as Jenna always did. Bryan scoffed and his eyes landed on the unfamiliar bracelet in her hand, he squinted his eyes, furrowing his brows and staring back at her.

“How did you get this?” he tried touching it but she took her hand away, assuming there was a consequence if it was touched by someone else. “Mind your business” she rolled her eyes and with that, she walked back to the other side of the bed, laying on the spot Jenna was earlier. Bryan scoffed and closed his eyes again, intending to sleep but Alessia didn't even feel a single urge to. “Spirits don't sleep when inside humans ” her mind developed an answer and I sighed. Seconds rolled into a minute and then more minutes but still, Alessia couldn't sleep. Suddenly, she began feeling dizzy and her eyes were rolling on their own. Her eyes landed on the clock even without controlling them. It was a minute to one o'clock.

“What's wrong with me?” Her eyes widened and immediately, she stretched her hand towards the stool where she had dropped the cellphone, intending to contact the Timekeeper but before she could, her spirit jumped out of Jenna's body. Alessia's eyes widened, seeing Jenna look around suspiciously.

“I thought I laid to sleep” Jenna sighed and Alessia heaved heavy breaths, watching her lie down. “What was that?” Alessia muttered, looking around confusedly, she picked up the cellphone and proceeded to call the Timekeeper but he appeared before she could. “You were only given a one hour chance inside her body since it's midnight” he said and she breathed in relief, turning to him. “And stop doing nasty things, why did you touch him that way? I told you they are only married through a contract? Are you trying to cause suspicions?” He half yelled. “He's my supposed husband isn't he?!” she yelled back and he sighed frustratingly before shooting a glare.. “Trust me, you might lose your second chance with your nastiness”