The crisp morning light filtered through the curtains of Jack B’s room, casting a golden hue over the scattered textbooks and notes that littered his desk. He stirred awake, his body heavy with exhaustion, his mind still foggy from the strange events of the previous night. The headache that had plagued him was now a dull throb, but the memory of the shifting numbers and the inexplicable pain lingered like a shadow. He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples, and glanced at the clock. It was time to get ready for school.
As he washed his face and dressed, Jack B couldn’t shake the feeling that something was profoundly wrong. The world around him felt… off, as if the fabric of reality had been subtly altered. He tried to recall the details of the previous day—his conversation with Jill, their visit to the café, the way she had smiled at him—but the memories seemed fragmented, like pieces of a puzzle that no longer fit together. He shook his head, dismissing the unease as a side effect of his exhaustion, and grabbed his bag before heading out the door.
---
At school, Jack B spotted Jill near the entrance, her familiar figure a comforting sight amidst his growing confusion. He approached her with a warm smile, eager to reconnect after their pleasant afternoon together. “Hey, Jill,” he greeted, his voice cheerful.
Jill turned to him, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. “Oh… hi, Jack,” she replied awkwardly, her tone hesitant. She glanced at him briefly before looking away, as if unsure how to respond.
Jack B frowned, puzzled by her reaction. *Did I say something wrong?* he wondered. But before he could ask, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. They walked to the classroom together, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions.
---
During break time, Jill approached Jack B’s desk, her steps slow and deliberate. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Jack… did you… write me a letter?” she asked, her voice soft but tinged with curiosity.
Jack B looked up, his brow furrowing in confusion. “A letter? No, I didn’t write you anything. Why do you ask?”
Jill’s eyes widened slightly, and she bit her lip, clearly troubled. “I found a note in my backpack yesterday. It just said, ‘I’m sorry.’ I thought it might be from you, but… if it’s not, then who could it be from?”
Jack B’s mind raced. *A letter? An apology?* He had no memory of writing anything to Jill, but the mention of it stirred something deep within him—a faint echo of guilt, as if he had done something he couldn’t quite recall. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice tinged with unease. “Maybe it was from someone else? One of the bullies, perhaps?”
Jill shook her head. “I don’t think so. It didn’t feel like something they’d write.” She paused, her gaze searching his face. “Are you sure you didn’t write it?”
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“Positive,” Jack B replied, though his certainty wavered. The conversation left him unsettled, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. To lighten the mood, he offered, “Hey, do you want to go to the café again after school? We had a good time yesterday, right?”
Jill’s confusion deepened. “What café? There’s no café near our school that just opened. Are you feeling okay, Jack?”
Jack B froze, his heart skipping a beat. *What is she talking about?* He vividly remembered their visit to the café—the cozy atmosphere, the laughter, the way Jill had smiled at him. But now, she was acting as if it had never happened. His mind flashed back to the previous night, to the shifting numbers and the headache that had overwhelmed him. *Could it really be a glitch in reality?* he thought, his pulse quickening. *But why am I the only one who remembers?*
---
Determined to find answers, Jack B excused himself and hurried out of the classroom. He ran through the streets, his breath coming in short gasps, until he reached the spot where the café should have been. But instead of the quaint little shop he remembered, he found a gas station—a mundane, unremarkable building that had clearly been there for years. Jack B stared at it in disbelief, his mind reeling. *This can’t be real. This can’t be happening.*
The headache returned with a vengeance, sharp and blinding, and he clutched his head as the world around him seemed to spin. He stumbled back, his vision blurring, and leaned against a nearby wall to steady himself. *What’s going on?* he thought desperately. *Am I losing my mind?*
---
Meanwhile, in Universe A, life continued as usual. Jack A sat in the dimly lit internet café, his eyes glued to the screen as he played a video game. The familiar glow of the monitor and the rhythmic clicking of the keyboard provided a temporary escape from his troubles. He had skipped school again, unable to face the mounting pressure of his failing grades and the growing sense of inadequacy that haunted him.
At the same time, Jill walked home from school alone, her shoulders slumped under the weight of another day of bullying. The taunts and jeers from her classmates still echoed in her mind, each word a sharp sting that left her feeling smaller and more vulnerable. She had hoped today would be different, but it seemed the universe had other plans. Her steps were slow, her gaze fixed on the ground as she tried to steady her breathing and hold back the tears threatening to spill.
Just as she turned the corner onto a quieter street, a familiar voice called out behind her. “Hey, Jill! Where are you going in such a hurry?”
Jill froze, her heart sinking. She recognized the voice instantly—it was Rina, one of the girls who had made it her mission to torment her. Jill turned slowly, her hands clutching the straps of her backpack tightly, and saw Rina approaching with two of her friends. Their smirks were wide, their eyes gleaming with mischief.
“What’s wrong, Jill? Cat got your tongue?” Rina sneered, stepping closer. Her friends chuckled, their laughter sharp and mocking.
Jill took a step back, her voice trembling as she tried to respond. “I… I’m just going home. Leave me alone.”
Rina feigned a look of mock concern. “Oh, are we bothering you? Poor little Jill. Always so quiet, always so scared. Don’t you ever get tired of being such a coward?”
The words cut deep, and Jill felt her cheeks burn with shame. She wanted to run, to scream, to do anything but stand there and take it, but her feet felt rooted to the ground. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Rina's grin widened. “What’s the matter? Can’t even defend yourself? Pathetic.”
Just as Rina reached out to shove her, a voice rang out, sharp and commanding. “Hey! Back off.”