My Time

Chapter 1

A sharp chime echoed in the distance

My eyes flew open.

For a brief moment, everything felt disoriented. It was like my soul had been dropped into a body that wasn't fully mine yet. The air felt different. Warmer. Alive.

"Where am I?" I whispered, my voice shaky.

A faint glow flickered in front of me. A hologram appeared.

I stiffened, instinctively stepping back, but before I could react further, a familiar voice spoke.

"It's 2026," it said calmly. "Eleven years after your death."

"...Eleven years?!"

The words hit me like a physical blow. My chest tightened.

Reborn? Was I... actually reborn?

I stared at my hands, trembling slightly, then pinched the skin on my arm. Hard.

"Ow!"

The sting was immediate. Real. Not a dream. Not an illusion.

"...This is real," I muttered, eyes widening in disbelief.

"This is the year where all the tragedy for your brother will happen," The voice, Nova, continued.

My heart dropped.

So it begins.

I swallowed, forcing myself to stay grounded. "Where exactly am I?"

"You're currently inside a restroom in a mall."

"A... mall?" That snapped me back to reality.

Without wasting another second, I rushed toward the door and pushed it open. Bright lights flooded my vision as I stepped out.

The mall was... strange.

It was too quiet. Too empty.

Stores were open, lights were on, but there were barely any customers. The few people present looked like staff, moving hurriedly as if preparing for something important.

"What is going on...?"

I scanned the area, confusion written all over my face. Two women, dressed in store uniforms, were talking near the entrance of a boutique.

I quickly stepped back, hiding behind a nearby pillar. It wasn't exactly graceful, but it worked.

"Let's hurry up," one of them said in a hushed but excited tone. "The CEO just booked the whole mall and requested to clear out all the customers."

I blinked.

A CEO... booked an entire mall?

"This is so cliché," I murmured under my breath. "CEOs are always so unnecessarily extravagant."

The second woman giggles. "It must be for Ava. He probably doesn't want her to be disturbed while shopping."

Ava.

The name struck something in my memory.

"So sweet!" the first one continued. "Liam must be regretting everything now. I can't wait to see him try to win her back."

Ava.

Liam.

The female lead... and the male lead.

Right on cue, a hologram flickered in front of me. I flinched, my heart jumping into my throat.

"Relax, Aiza," Nova said. "You're the only one who can see this."

I let out a breath of relief. "You could've warned me first."

The hologram shifted, displaying a photo of a beautiful girl. Soft features. Elegant aura. The kind that naturally draws attention.

"Ava Claire Lopez," Nova stated. "The female lead. Currently in a complicated relationship with Liam Arlo Rivera."

I stared at the image.

So this is her.

The center of everything.

The girl my brother would eventually revolve his life around before destroying himself in the process.

"...Wait."

My eyes widened slightly. "The CEO they're talking about..." A sinking feeling formed in my chest. "...Don't tell me it's Thiago."

My hand curled into fists. A surge of irritation rushed through me.

"That idiot..." I muttered, my steps growing heavier as I walked forward. "He's already started acting crazy."

Clearing out an entire mall? During peak hours?

"No wonder he goes bankrupt in the end," I scoffed under my breath.

Before I could go any further, a guard stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"Ma'am, please leave the mall immediately."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why so harsh?"

"I'm just following orders," he replied stiffly.

"Tsk." I clicked my tongue in annoyance but didn't argue further. Causing a scene right now wouldn't help me. Not when I barely understood the situation myself.

With one last glance around, I turned and headed towards the exit.

The moment the cool air outside hit my face, I stopped. Reality settled in.

I was really back. Back in a world where everything was set to fall apart.

"How am I supposed to contact Thiago?" I muttered. "Nova," I called out. "Do you have his phone number?"

"Yes."

My eyes lit up. "Nice! Then--wait." I froze. "I don't even have a phone."

"Not a problem," Nova replied.

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Hold out your hand."

Slightly skeptical, I raised my hand, palm open.

For a second, nothing happened. Then, a faint glow appeared above my palm. It intensifies and then...

Thud.

Something dropped onto my hand.

I gasped. "A phone?!"

A brand-new smartphone sat in my hand, sleek and completely untouched.

"OMG!!!" I immediately turned it on, my excitement momentarily overpowering everything else. "Okay, okay. Focus," I muttered, quickly navigating through the interface.

Nova displayed Thiago's number in front of me. Without hesitation, I dialed.

Ring...

Ring...

Each second felt longer than the last. Then, the call connected.

["Hello?"]

His voice. Sharp. Cold. Familiar.

"Is this Thiago Dalil Xu?" I asked, gripping the phone tightly.

["Yes,"] he replied without hesitation. ["How did you get my number? Who are you? What do you want?"]

I paused. Then sighed internally.

Still the same, huh? Always interrogating first.

"I'm your older sister. I--"

["Get lost"]

Click.

The line went dead.

"...What?"

I stared at the phone in disbelief. For a second, my brain refused to process what just happened.

"...Hey." My grip tightened. "...Hey, you brat---!" I pulled the phone away from my ear, glaring at it like it personally offended me. "How dare you hang up on me?!" I snapped. Even though the call had already ended. "You've really got some nerve!"

My chest rose and fell as irritation bubbled up inside me.

Unbelievable. Absolutely Unbelievable.

"I died for eleven years, came back to fix your life," I muttered, pacing slightly, "and this is how you treat me?" I scoffed.

"Fine." A slow, determined smile formed on my lips. "If you don't recognize me over the phone..." I turned my gaze back towards the mall.

"...then I'll just have to meet you face-to-face." My eyes hardened.

Thiago.

Mateo.

Denver.

This time. I'm not going to let any of you fall.

No bankruptcies. No scandals. No prison. No death. Not even mine.

I clenched my fist, determination burning through every vein.

"This story..."

My lips curved slightly.

"...is getting rewritten."