“Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it’s about to start!”

The words pierced the fog of Eli’s mind, dragging him out of the murky haze of sleep. Leo’s voice cut through the confusion like a sharp blade, yanking Eli back to the present. His body jerked upright, eyes fluttering open as he blinked, trying to make sense of the world around him. His heart pounded against his ribs, beating out a frantic rhythm of panic.

What’s going on? I was just about to leave. How did I end up here again?

The classroom came into view, familiar yet wrong, like a painting where the colors were slightly off. Desks were in their usual place, Leo sat next to him as always, but a sense of dread gnawed at Eli’s insides. Something was missing—something important, but he couldn’t place it. His mind raced, thoughts jumbled as he struggled to orient himself.

This can’t be happening again. No, it has to be a lie.

Panic clawed at his throat, and his skin prickled with unease. His hands trembled as he turned toward Leo, his friend’s face now filled with concern.

“Oi, you alright?” Leo’s hand landed gently on his shoulder, shaking him, his eyes searching Eli’s face for an answer. There was genuine worry there, but Eli could barely process it. The world felt surreal, like he was caught in the pages of one of the novels he had read, where reality bent in impossible ways.

For a moment, he met Leo’s gaze, feeling the weight of everything—of not being able to explain, of not knowing what was happening. Why am I so different? he thought bitterly, glancing at Leo’s confident posture, his presence so grounded, so normal. Why can’t I handle this like him?

Without a word, Eli abruptly stood up, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. His sudden movement startled both Leo and Alex, who had been watching quietly. The weight of their worried stares made Eli’s skin crawl, but he couldn’t stay there any longer. He needed to escape—to run from whatever twisted reality was unfolding around him.

Ignoring the tension, he bolted for the door. His footsteps were loud in the quiet room, each step a drumbeat echoing his mounting anxiety. He had almost reached the handle when the door swung open.

Ms. Lena stepped in, her presence both unexpected and unnerving. Eli frowned, his heart hammering in his chest. She wasn’t supposed to be here at this time, was she? It was another inconsistency, another crack in the fabric of what should have been an ordinary day. But he couldn’t focus on that now—he had to get out.

“Eli, wait!” Ms. Lena’s voice was sharp, laced with irritation as he brushed past her, his pace quickening. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest tightening with each step. The noise of the school—students talking, the creak of old floors—faded into the background, blending into a dull hum as he ran through the hallways.

The gate came into view, the heavy iron bars standing as the only barrier between him and some form of sanity. He skidded to a stop, his breath coming out in short bursts, his palms slick with sweat. The cold air hit his face, doing little to calm the rising tide of panic that surged within him.

Calm down, Eli. Get it together.

But it was no use. His thoughts spiraled out of control, the sense of déjà vu mingling with a deep, gnawing fear. Gathering every ounce of courage, he pushed the gate open.

And then—a wave of dizziness. The world spun, his vision blurred, and before he could make sense of it, everything faded into black.

---

When Eli opened his eyes again, the confusion was gone, but dread lingered like a shadow. He stared at the ceiling for a long moment, the realization sinking in like a weight pressing down on his chest.

It’s real. I’m trapped in a time loop.

His throat tightened, and his heart pounded in his ears. How? Why? A thousand questions swirled in his head, none with answers. The classroom was the same as before—Leo and Alex nearby, the hum of life going on as if nothing had changed.

Why is this happening to me?

“Thanks for waking me up,” Eli muttered, his voice hoarse as he forced a weak smile in Leo’s direction. The words felt hollow, his throat tight with suppressed emotion. How could he act like everything was normal?

Leo studied him with furrowed brows, clearly sensing something was off. “You sure you’re okay, man?” There was a touch of concern in his voice, but Eli could barely focus on it.

“I…” The words got stuck in his throat. How could he explain this? How could anyone understand? He forced a weak chuckle, trying to brush off the worry. “I’m just… tired, I guess.”

Alex, who had been watching quietly, leaned forward, his intense gaze pinning Eli in place. “Maybe you just need to relax,” he offered, though the concern in his tone was palpable.

Relax. If only it were that simple. Eli wanted to tell them everything, to make them understand what he was going through, but he couldn’t. Not yet. He knew how it would sound—insane, delusional. They wouldn’t believe him. I wouldn’t believe me, either.

“Yeah, didn’t sleep well last night,” he added, his voice strained as he tried to force a smile. “I’m just tired.”

But his mind was anything but tired. It raced with thoughts, questions, fears. Eli glanced up at the front of the classroom, noticing with unease that the teacher wasn’t there yet. His heart pounded louder as fragments of memory began piecing themselves together. When I tried to leave earlier, Ms. Lena came in. But she wasn’t supposed to. Could it be…?

“Guys, do you know anyone named Mr. Hart?” Eli’s voice was quiet, almost a whisper, as if saying the name too loudly would make everything real again. His voice trembled, betraying the fear he tried so hard to suppress.

Leo blinked, puzzled. “Mr. Hart? Never heard of him. Why do you ask?”

Eli stared at his friend, searching for any sign of a joke. But Leo’s expression was genuine—confusion, not deception. And he knew Leo wasn't one joke around like that.

Mr. Hart is gone too… Eli thought bitterly, the weight of the realization pressing down on him like an anchor. His mind raced as he recalled the unsettling events of the past few days. Just what is going on? How did all this start? Hah, I need to calm down. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on his breath, trying to find a sliver of peace amidst the chaos swirling in his mind.

Opening his eyes, he glanced at Leo, who sat nearby, watching him with a furrowed brow. The concern etched on Leo's face only added to Eli's growing unease. What if Leo notices something’s off? What if he asks me directly? Eli thought, his heart racing. He didn't want to worry his friends, but the strange occurrences had left him feeling isolated, trapped in a bizarre puzzle that seemed to have no solution.

Finally, Leo made a decision. He stood up, hesitating for a moment as if gathering courage, about to call out to Eli. But before he could, the classroom door swung open, and Miss Lena entered, her presence cutting through the tension like a knife. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to her.

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Eli’s thoughts were interrupted as he watched Leo’s shoulders relax, his own anxiety mirrored in his friend's demeanor. “I guess I’ll talk to him later,” Leo muttered under his breath, settling back into his seat. Then he nudged Eli and said “You need to stand too,”

Caught off guard by Leo’s nudge, Eli jolted upright, the sudden movement sending a jolt of adrenaline through him. He turned to Leo, mouth opening to express his gratitude but only managing a brief, shaky smile. “Thanks,” he mouthed, hoping it conveyed what he couldn't say out loud.

“Good morning, ma’am!” the entire class chorused, their voices ringing out in unison. Eli felt the urge to say "sir" bubble up, but he caught himself just in time. He sat down, trying to blend in with the rest of the students, but the scene of normalcy did little to soothe the storm brewing inside him.

Okay, think, Eli commanded himself, focusing intently on the familiar surroundings of the classroom. Everything started after I met that girl. She apologized for… something incomprehensible, and then I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in class, but it didn’t feel like the classroom I knew. Everything was slightly off, the air charged with an unnameable tension. Then i blacked out again when I woke up one hour has already passed. And then Mr. Hans disappeared, marking the beginning of the loop.

His breath quickened as a cold realization washed over him. And now, Rose is gone too. He felt his face pale further, heart racing as he counted the loops in his mind. Three loops, three people missing. One person disappears for every loop… Panic surged within him. What does this mean? Did i just use one loop just to make myself believe it's loop?

Before he could spiral deeper into despair, Miss Lena’s voice pierced through the fog of his thoughts. “Eli,” she called, her tone sharp and clear, pulling him back from the edge of his spiraling worries.

“Here!” he responded a bit too loudly, standing up abruptly. He quickly sank back into his seat, a flush creeping up his cheeks as he felt the curious gazes of his classmates on him. Eli's heart raced as he scanned the room, relief momentarily washing over him when he noticed that other than Rose, everyone else was present.

But then a fresh wave of anxiety crashed over him. This isn’t the only class in the school. The realization struck him like a cold wave. What if something is happening in the other rooms? I need to know! The urge to leap out of his seat and check every classroom nearly overwhelmed him, but he wrestled with the impulse, reminding himself that he needed to remain calm. I've already wasted two loops. If I act strange again, the loop might reset, and I can’t let that happen.

Just then, Miss Lena’s voice interrupted his frantic thoughts once more. “There will be a quiz today.”

A quiz again… Eli thought, dread creeping in. A sudden idea sparked in his mind, and he leaned over to whisper to Leo. “Hey, what subject does Miss Lena teach?”

Leo turned to him, eyebrows raised, confusion etched across his face. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re acting… different.”

Eli felt a bit confused but then he felt his throat tighten, realizing how out of place he sounded. Right, I'm supposed to know that, he cursed silently under his breath. Forcing a strained smile, he replied, “Haha, just joking!”

“Riiight…” Leo said, though skepticism lingered in his eyes. Eli sensed that his friend wasn’t entirely convinced but was relieved when Leo didn’t press further.

Eli sighed inwardly, grateful for the small reprieve. "Forget it; I’ll just check the quiz questions myself," he thought, determination pushing him forward.

After a few minutes, Lisa, who sat in front of him, turned around and passed him the quiz paper. “Here you go,” she said, her playful grin lighting up her face. “You’re acting kind of weird today. Did you have a wet dream or something?”

Eli chuckled awkwardly, normally quick with a retort but now at a loss for words. Instead, he focused on the quiz paper. Lisa watched him for a moment, expecting a comeback, but when none came, she turned back around, her curiosity evident.

With a long breath, Eli felt a bit steadier thanks to Lisa’s teasing. He scanned the quiz, his heart sinking. Of course, it’s the same questions as before. Miss Lena was now teaching both English and math, Mr. Hart took math class before. And he was rarely absent but when was usually the math teachers from other class filled in. This doesn’t make sense. If Mr. Hart was not here, there should be a math teacher as a teacher, right? Why is Miss Lena taking over? Logic seems twisted In the loop.

As he filled in the answers mechanically, he thought about the distorted logic of the loop. Should I tell anyone about it? He remembered the last loop when he had spoken to Miss Hela. Nothing changed then. I guess I need to gather more information first. If I can’t figure this out by lunch, I’ll consider bringing it up.

He completed the quiz quickly, hardly caring about the result. With the rest of the class stretching on, he tried to recall everything he could about time loop stories, yet the ideas felt jumbled and chaotic in his mind.

Maybe that girl was the last time looper, and somehow she passed the power on to me, he pondered, frustration gnawing at him. But why me? I don’t even know her! Maybe she disappeared too. But I can see her. He felt a flicker of hope—if everyone else forgot her too, then perhaps they didn’t completely disappear. But the questions remained, swirling in his mind like a storm. Why did she pass the ability to me? Why does she avoid facing me directly? And what does she mean when she says I’m special?

Before he could delve deeper, Lisa knocked on his desk and exasperatedly, breaking him from his spiraling thoughts. “Hey, give Miss Lena your quiz paper,” she said, her tone light yet firm.

“Ah!” Eli realized with a start that class had ended. He sprang to his feet, catching Lisa’s eye as he said sincerely, “Thanks.”

Lisa blinked, a soft blush rising to her cheeks as she quickly looked away. “It’s fine,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Eli hurried to the front of the classroom, handing the quiz paper to Miss Lena, who nodded at him with approval. Feeling a rush of urgency, he returned to his seat, mentally preparing for whatever came next. The weight of the loop hung over him like a shadow, but he knew he had to find a way to break free before it consumed him completely.

Eli sat back down in his seat, his mind racing while trying to maintain the facade of normalcy. He could feel Alex's concerned gaze on him, the way his friend’s brow furrowed slightly, a clear indicator of his worry. Leo glanced between them, leaning in slightly, his expression shifting from casual to serious.

“You sure you’re okay, Eli? You’ve been acting weird all morning,” Leo asked, his voice softer than usual, as if trying not to intrude too much but clearly concerned.

Eli bit his lip, unsure of how to answer. He wanted to tell them—he needed to. But how could they possibly believe him? And even if they did, what could they do about it? The pressure built within him, and he forced a laugh, hoping to ease the tension. “Yeah, just didn’t get much sleep. You know how it is,” he added, trying to sound nonchalant.

But Leo wasn’t convinced. “You’ve been spacing out for the whole day. Something’s definitely up.”

Eli glanced at them, feeling the weight of the truth pressing down on him. Although he had originally planned to tell them after lunch, he couldn’t think of any solution on the spot. The feeling of isolation gnawed at him; he couldn’t carry this burden alone any longer. “Listen, guys, I need to talk to you about something,” he said, his voice wavering, but he pressed on before he could lose his nerve. “I think I’m stuck… in some kind of time loop.”

There was a beat of silence as Leo and Alex exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting from confusion to skepticism.

“A time loop?” Alex repeated, the skepticism evident in his tone. “Like in those stories?”

Eli nodded, desperate to convey the gravity of his situation. “Yeah. Every time I… leave, or the day ends, I wake up, and it’s the same day again. And it’s not just déjà vu—it’s real. I’ve been through this day more times than I can count.”

Leo scratched his head, his brow furrowed in thought. “Dude, that’s… kind of crazy.”

Mia, who had been eavesdropping from behind Leo, leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with an air of disbelief. “You’ve probably just been stressed. Exams are coming up—maybe it’s messing with your head.”

Eli clenched his fists under the desk, a surge of frustration coursing through him. He wanted to shout that this was more than just stress, but instead, he forced himself to remain calm. A quickly searched for way to make them believe him and found two things “I’m serious! I can prove it—just watch. Ms. Yuri is going to call me to the front in exactly ten minutes to talk about my project. Then, a bird is going to hit the window right after.”

Leo snorted, clearly not taking him seriously. “A bird hitting the window? Really?”

Alex, however, looked at him more seriously. “Okay, let’s see.”

The minutes dragged on agonizingly slow, each tick of the clock making Eli’s heart race. He watched it intently, praying that his prediction would come true. When the ten minutes passed, Ms. Yuri did indeed call his name, asking him about his project progress.

Leo’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he quickly shrugged it off. “Okay, lucky guess.”

Then, as Eli had predicted, a soft thunk echoed through the room as a bird collided with the window. The group turned their heads just in time to see the startled creature flapping away.

Mia stared at Eli, her face pale and eyes wide. “How did you…?”

“I told you,” Eli replied, his voice strained, the weight of his experiences heavy on his words. “I’m telling the truth. I don’t know how or why, but I’m stuck, and no one else remembers.”

Leo, still processing, shook his head. “Okay, that was weird, I’ll give you that. But are you sure this isn’t just… I don’t know, some kind of coincidence?”

Eli's frustration mounted again. “It’s not a coincidence! I’ve lived this day before. And worse—people are disappearing. You won’t even remember them once they’re gone!”

Leo and company were taken aback by what Eli said and his intense attitude.

Mia shifted in her seat, clearly unnerved. “Disappearing?”

Eli nodded, lowering his voice as if the walls themselves were listening. “Yeah. So far four people have disappeared.”

The gravity of his words hung in the air between them, thick with tension. Mia bit her lip, uncertainty clouding her expression. “Eli, I don’t know if I can believe all this… but I know you wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

Leo sighed, rubbing his face in frustration. “I don’t know, man. This is insane. If it’s true, what are we supposed to do about it?”

Eli didn’t have an answer. He looked at his friends, his last lifeline in a world that felt like it was unraveling around him. “I don’t know. But I can’t do this alone.”

Leo sighed again, shaking his head. “I mean, this is just too unbelievable.”

Eli was starting to reach his limit of patience. He quickly took a deep breath to calm himself, trying to make sense of their perspective. That’s right—if Leo told him this, he wouldn’t have believed him either.

He racked his brain for ways to make them understand, but just as he prepared to speak again, Ms. Yuri called him up to the front. He went, his mind still racing with thoughts.

As he absentmindedly discussed his project, he realized he was losing focus. Perhaps Ms. Yuri saw through his distraction because she called him out. “Eli, stop. Go back and focus on the class.”

Phew, that’s why he liked her. Unlike Ms. Lena, she wasn’t strict—she was chill most of the time.

Returning to his seat, he looked at Mia and said, “Mia, look at that seat.” She turned to where Rose’s seat used to be, then back to Eli, confusion etched on her face. He pressed on, “Don’t you think it’s weird that every class has 20 students, yet ours has only nineteen seats? Have you guys never thought of this?”

Mia frowned, and in front of her, Leo and Alex both looked disturbed by this realization.

Alex turned serious as he glanced at the empty space. “I should have noticed this long ago, yet this is the first time I’m seeing it.”

Mia looked at Eli, clearly bewildered. “What’s going on?”

Eli sighed, his heart pounding. “Remember the disappearances I told you about? That seat belongs to one such person. Her name was Rose; she was your friend. She always commented funnily.”

Mia’s expression shifted as she processed his words, her eyes widening. “Are you serious?”

Eli didn’t reply; he simply held her gaze, trying to convey the truth without words. After what felt like an eternity, Mia closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, resignation flooding her features. When she opened her eyes again, she began to speak, but Eli couldn’t hear anything because his head suddenly started ringing, and then everything faded to black once more.

“Eli, hey, Eli! Wake up, it’s about to start!”

Once again, Eli jolted awake at Leo’s call, looking around in frustration. “What now?”