The wind blew, sweeping leaves and branches, echoing a haunting melody.
The first drop of rain fell, soft like a whisper, touching the dry ground that had long awaited moisture.
But then, the rain grew heavier and merciless, as if the sky itself was crying endless tears. Its roar filled the air, like a great rumble from an angry universe.
In the sudden flash of lightning, the entire city was revealed in darkness, only to be swallowed again by shadows.
That bright white light opened the view for those brave enough to see it, showing a scene that shook the heart.
The flash of lightning also revealed a terrifying sight of fallen trees, rooftops torn apart, and car wheels tossed around the flooded streets.
The thunderous sound tore through everyone's hearts, making them feel small and vulnerable before the overwhelming power of nature.
That eerie atmosphere became the witness of a pact between two women, sitting face to face with a candle between them.
"Are you sure you can solve my problem? I have no hope left." A beautiful woman named Sandra spoke in desperation. Her eyes were empty. It seemed all the hope in her life had truly vanished.
"I will try my best."
"I'm giving you all my savings. There's five hundred million on that card. Use it, it's all I have." Sandra handed over her debit card along with the PIN.
"This is more than enough." Alana smiled.
"Please make my husband cancel the divorce. Make him leave Kayla, his ex who became the main problem in our marriage. I'm tired." She sobbed, her tears flowing heavily.
"Why would you risk something dangerous like this for one jerk?"
"I love him. That woman Kayla is so evil. I don't want Lukas to be with the wrong person. There is one more reason I must stay with him."
"What did Kayla do?"
"You don't need to know what Kayla did. Your task is to make Lukas stay with me. Make him love me and forget about that woman."
"I've never had a request like this before. Usually people just ask me to release the things they can't say aloud." Alana sighed, uncertain.
"Please..."
"One month. If it doesn't work within a month, I'll return half of your money."
"Alright." Sandra nodded in agreement after Alana's words.
"Remember, take care of our bodies. Because if one of us dies, we'll be trapped in this swap forever. Especially me, I will no longer be able to use my ability to swap bodies again."
Sandra just stayed silent and nodded slowly. Meanwhile, Alana began the soul-swapping ritual while explaining all the rules.
"To know that we've swapped, a small cross mark will appear on each arm. A black mark means safe. If it turns red, one of us is in danger. If it turns white, one of us is dead. And we're trapped forever."
"I understand."
"Take good care of our bodies. Understand?" Alana warned. "While we're swapped, stay at my house. I've provided all the essentials."
"I understand, Alana."
"Let's begin. Soon Alana will become Sandra. And Sandra will become Alana. One last rule, never call yourself by your real name during the swap. It's forbidden."
"Alright."
"Close your eyes and count. One... two... three..."
*****
Soaking wet, Sandra looked at the big house in front of her. She had now successfully swapped lives with someone else and had to carry out her mission.
Her client's house was very luxurious. But in that luxury, her heart wasn't truly happy. People were right. Being rich and abundant didn't always mean being happy.
Remember, Alana must never call herself by her own name. Now she was Sandra Louisa. They had swapped souls.
Sandra opened the door with the spare key. Her body shivered slightly as the inside of the house that she would be staying in for a month came into view. This was her first job that required them to swap bodies for quite some time.
As her feet stepped inside, her eyes were met with the sight of a man and a woman sitting sweetly together, watching TV. They sat close, snacking together.
Was that Lukas and his ex? No wonder the real Sandra was desperate.
"Where have you been?" the man's cold voice made Sandra frown.
So this was Lukas Emilio? That woman was Kayla? Ugh. Disgusting. A man like him should be divorced, thrown to Antarctica, not fought for.
"Does that question really matter, dear?" Sandra replied calmly.
"Sandra!" he snapped.
Sandra shrugged, then looked around the room, searching for the bedroom the real Sandra had described earlier.
Sandra slowly walked toward the room when she spotted it. She wanted to dry herself off first before thinking about the perfect mission to get rid of the homewrecker.
"Mop the floor! You're making it wet!" Kayla shouted angrily.
Sandra giggled at that. She turned and walked toward Kayla, who was staring at her arrogantly.
"Who are you?" Sandra lifted Kayla's hand with a laugh. She compared it with her own hand, where a beautiful diamond ring sat. A wedding ring, proving that she had more right to this house.
"Look at this. Who do you think has more right to this house?"
Everyone stared in disbelief. The woman who was usually weak and tearful had become so arrogant and confident.
"Sandra..."
"If you want to be lovey-dovey, go somewhere else. Find another place."
"You were just an arranged marriage! Your two years of marriage mean nothing! You know that!"
"So what? Arranged or not, I'm the madam of this house. And you're just a guest."
"Sandra, stop! You know I'm trying to find a way to divorce you, so my parents will accept it!"
"Go find your way. I don't care anymore. That's your problem, not mine. Who cares about a man like you?"
Lukas stared at Sandra, who looked completely different. She used to beg him not to divorce her. But tonight, she said the opposite.
"Lukas, she's being so arrogant!"
"Go home. I need to talk to her," Lukas interrupted before Kayla could say more.
"But it's raining!"
"If my mother suddenly comes and sees you here, I'll lose my inheritance. My parents already made a deal. If I cheat and divorce her, I'll end up penniless."
"Oh my god!"
"Sandra's late father donated his heart to my father. Her late mother served my family for decades. It's not easy to get rid of Sandra."
"I'm sick of all this! I've stayed by your side for years. We love each other! Why must she be here?"
"We can't do anything. I don't want to lose everything. You have to be patient until I find a way."
"I'm leaving!" she shouted, grabbing her bag. "I feel like your mistress now. But I'm your real girlfriend. We've been dating for years. Your parents are cruel!"
"Be patient." Lukas took the umbrella from the corner of the room and opened the door. He was just about to walk Kayla out when suddenly...
"Alana!" Sandra screamed, breaking his focus.
"Alana!" she yelled again, running fast after reading the message on her phone. The mark on her arm had suddenly turned white.
Alana had died?
"Sandra, what's wrong?" Lukas held her body as she tried to run out into the rain.
"Alana is dead..." she cried hysterically. "Let me go!"
"Alana who?"
"Let me go!"
"It's already late. Don't be crazy and go out alone!"
"What do you care? Let go!" she shouted, kicking Lukas and running hard once she broke free.
But before she reached the gate, Lukas locked the automatic door tightly, stopping Sandra from leaving.
"Lukas, let me out! Alana is dead! Alana's gone! I didn't want this to happen!"
"Sandra, who is Alana? Don't hallucinate. You don't have any friends here! I know very well that for two years in Jakarta, you haven't made a single friend!" Lukas hugged his wife's trembling body.
"I don't want this! I don't want to live with a man like you! I can't stand it! Let go!" Sandra kept struggling.
"What's wrong with you today?"
Kayla watched with clenched fists. Seeing Lukas holding Sandra so tightly made her anxious. What if he started to fall in love with her?
Why did his family have to be bound by an agreement and arrange him with a village girl like her? Tacky and low-class! A maid's daughter!
"Go home by yourself. Sandra isn't well." Lukas told Kayla in a panicked voice.
"Lukas..."
"The situation is serious. Please understand. She's never like this! Her behavior is very strange!" Lukas carried Sandra inside after she passed out.
"That woman must be faking this to get Lukas's attention. She still hasn't learned her lesson with me!" Kayla muttered. "And Alana... why does that name sound so familiar?"