The clock struck 9 PM, and the world outside was cloaked in a serene stillness. In a small, dimly lit room, a 12-year-old boy named Jack sat by his window, his chin resting on his palms as he gazed at the vast expanse of the night sky. The stars twinkled like scattered diamonds, their light traveling millions of years to reach his eyes. Jack's mind, however, was anything but still. He was consumed by questions—questions that seemed too big for a boy his age, yet too urgent to ignore.
*What are these shining lights in the sky?* he wondered. *Why do they exist? And why do we call them stars?* His thoughts spiraled deeper, into the abyss of existence itself. *One day, I'll die,* he realized with a pang of fear. *And when that happens, I'll never see these stars again. Is there any way to live forever? To never die?* The thought of death terrified him, but it also ignited a spark of curiosity. *Why am I here? Does the world have an end? What lies beyond the stars?*
Jack exhaled slowly, his breath fogging up the cold glass of the window. The questions swirled in his mind like a storm, but exhaustion eventually claimed him. He drifted off to sleep, his dreams filled with stars, planets, and the infinite mysteries of the universe.
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The next morning, Jack woke up to the sound of his alarm clock blaring. He rubbed his eyes, still half-lost in the cosmic wonders of his dreams, and hurriedly packed his bag for school. At AKJ Primary School, Jack's mind continued to wander. He sat in class, his eyes fixed on the chalkboard, but his thoughts were light-years away. His teacher, Mr. Thompson, called his name three times, each call growing sharper and more impatient. When Jack failed to respond, Mr. Thompson hurled a piece of chalk at him, snapping him back to reality.
"Jack!" Mr. Thompson barked. "Since you're so lost in thought, why don't you come up here and solve this equation for us?"
Jack hesitated, his heart pounding. He had never been particularly focused on his studies, but to everyone's surprise—including his own—he walked up to the board and solved the equation with ease. The class erupted in murmurs, but Jack barely noticed. His mind was already elsewhere.
During break time, Jack made his way to the school library, his sanctuary. He gravitated toward the science section, where books about space, stars, and planets lined the shelves. He pulled out a thick, dusty volume titled *The Wonders of the Universe* and began to read. The book revealed a truth that fascinated him: the Earth was round, not flat as he had once thought. This revelation sparked a fire within him. *What else is out there?* he wondered. *What lies beyond this rounded Earth?*
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As the years passed, Jack's life took a turn. By the time he reached junior high, his classmates—except for his best friend, Peter—continued their studies at CSNR. Jack, however, transferred to a new school called TPTK Junior High, which was farther from his home. His father, the vice president of TPTK, had suggested the move, believing it would offer Jack better opportunities.
On his first day at TPTK, Jack encountered a girl named Emily. They both reached for the same seat in the classroom, and a heated argument ensued. Jack, shy and unassertive, lost the fight and retreated to a bench outside, tears streaming down his face. His father found him there and asked what had happened. Jack explained, his voice trembling with embarrassment. His father, sympathetic but firm, arranged for Jack to be transferred to a different class. Despite the change, Jack couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy. *I lost a fight to a girl,* he thought bitterly. *I'm such a coward.*
But in another universe—a parallel reality where choices led to different outcomes—Jack won the fight against Emily. In this universe, Jack was confident and assertive. He claimed his seat and earned the respect of his classmates. From this point forward, we'll call the universe where Jack lost the fight *Universe A*, and the one where he won *Universe B*. The two Jacks—Jack A and Jack B—were the same in many ways, yet profoundly different.
In Universe A, Jack struggled academically. His vision began to blur, though he didn't realize it at first. By the time he entered Angsdok High School, his grades had plummeted. His first math exam resulted in a devastating zero. Panicked, he finally got a pair of glasses, but it was too late. Years of poor vision and lack of focus had left him far behind his peers. At the end of the month, Jack A found himself at the bottom of the class rankings.
In Universe B, however, Jack thrived. He was a top student, excelling in every subject. His curiosity about the universe drove him to study harder, and his sharp mind earned him the top spot in Angsdok High School's monthly rankings.
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Despite their differences, both Jacks shared a common interest: their fascination with the universe. They also shared a common crush—a girl named Jill. Jill was kind-hearted but often the target of bullies. One day, as Jack A and Jack B walked past the schoolyard, they witnessed Jill being taunted by a group of classmates.
In Universe A, Jack stepped in to help but scolded Jill instead of comforting her. "Why don't you fight back?" he snapped. "I hate cowards like you." Jill, hurt and humiliated, ran away in tears.
In Universe B, Jack handled the situation differently. He confronted the bullies, his voice firm and commanding. "Leave her alone," he said. Then, turning to Jill, he asked gently, "Are you okay?" He offered her his friendship and promised to protect her. Jill smiled through her tears, grateful for his kindness.
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As the two Jacks navigated their separate yet interconnected lives, their stories unfolded in ways that would shape their destinies. In Universe A, Jack grappled with self-doubt and missed opportunities. In Universe B, Jack embraced his potential and forged a path of success. Yet both Jacks continued to gaze at the stars, their shared wonder binding them across the divide of their realities.
And so, the tale of Jack's World began—a story of choices, consequences, and the infinite possibilities that lie within the cosmos and within ourselves.