Alex froze, his breath catching in his throat.

  For the briefest moment, the reflection in the pod’s glass had shifted. He thought he had seen Clara standing there, staring back at him. But a blink later, she was gone.

  He turned to Marcus, who was scrolling on his phone, completely oblivious.

  ‘Am I… seeing things?’

  An anxious pulse fluttered in his chest, his heart skipping a beat before hammering out a double-time rhythm to catch up. Was this because of the dream? Was his mind playing tricks on him, clinging to the morning’s unease like a jack-black stuck to fabric?

  He had never hallucinated before. Weird dreams? Sure. Strange thoughts? Maybe. But seeing things that weren't there? That was new.

  Or so he thought.

  Alex turned back to the window as the pod continued its ascent. They passed through a cluster of weeping willows, their delicate leaves filtering the sunlight into patterns on the path below. The pod glided through a tunnel carved into jagged rock, emerging moments later into the heart of the campus.

  “So, any exciting plans for the semester?” Marcus asked, breaking the silence with a teasing grin.

  “Exciting? Not really. Survive classes, survive projects, and… maybe get some sleep,” Alex replied, managing a faint smirk.

  “You know I don't trust that smirk,” Marcus laughed. “But I get it. The eternal struggle of assignments and deadlines. At least we’re finally seniors. Can’t be long now before we’re done with this place.”

  The pod hummed to a stop, the doors hissing open.

  “Technically, we’re associate seniors. Third year, remember?” Alex corrected him as they stepped out.

  “Dude. Third or fourth, we are still seniors,” Marcus said, grinning. “Ah… the Central Station.”

  “The Nexus,” Alex muttered, eyeing the sprawling plaza.

  Students had nicknamed it "The Nexus" because it connected everything, the dorms below, the academic halls in the middle, and the research towers at the summit.

  ‘Whoever named it was definitely into sci-fi.’ Alex mused.

  The late morning sun painted the campus in bright golden light. Pine trees lined the pavements, casting long shadows against the modern buildings. Walls of black-tinted glass shimmered, turning each structure into a monolith reflecting the clouds.

  “You still thinking about joining any clubs?” Alex asked as they walked past the Hall of Languages.

  A group of freshmen stood near the fountain, their nervous chatter filling the air. One of them caught Alex’s eye. A girl with asymmetrical black hair, the ends dyed a deep blue. She had a sharp, self-possessed presence, standing with an edge of danger mixed with elegance.

  Alex frowned. ‘I’ve seen her before.’

  He tried to place her face, but the memory slipped away like smoke, leaving only a nagging feeling. He shook his head, forcing his attention back to Marcus.

  “Maybe,” Marcus shrugged. “We’ll see. Mostly here for the girls anyway.”

  “Classic Marcus,” Alex laughed.

  They pushed through the heavy doors of the Student Commons. It was the vibrant, noisy heart of the university, a multi-level atrium with balconies overlooking a bustling food court.

  “By the way, have you registered for the new semester?” Alex asked, pulling out his phone. He navigated to the school app, but the error message greeted him again. “Tsk. My grades are missing, so I can't register.”

  “You too, huh?” Marcus chuckled. “IT office again. I’m actually surprised I could see my grades without issues this time.”

  “I guess I’m the unlucky one,” Alex sighed, sliding his phone back into his hoodie.

  “Alex! Marcus!”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The voice boomed across the atrium.

  “Carner,” Marcus grinned.

  Carner approached them, his presence commanding despite being shorter than both of them. His broad shoulders filled out his black hoodie, and his neatly taper-fade afro and thick beard gave him the look of a young, stylish professor.

  “Look who decided to show himself on the first day,” Marcus said, offering a fist bump.

  “You’re one to talk,” Carner shot back, bumping his fist before turning to Alex. “I get Alex being here, but you?” Carner said it jokingly, but they knew there was truth to it.

  “Alex, my guy! How’ve you been?” Carner turned to Alex, fist waiting.

  “Can’t complain,” Alex said, returning the bump. “You’re looking fresh.”

  “You noticed, huh?” A smirk spread across Carner’s face.

  “By the way, how’s your girl?” Marcus asked, his tone casual but laced with teasing.

  Carner’s smile faltered. He turned his face away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Alex sighed, scratching his forehead. “Don’t tell me. You guys broke up.”

  “What? No. Maybe. Look, I don’t know, okay?” Carner sighed heavily. “It’s complicated. That’s the best answer I have.”

  Alex and Marcus shared a glance. The anguish on Carner’s face left no room for jokes.

  “Anyway, why are we standing here? Don’t you guys have class?” Carner asked, swiftly changing the subject.

  “I doubt there are any classes today,” Alex said. “It is the first day after all.”

  “Good thing, too,” Marcus added. “I don’t feel like learning anything yet. Let’s head to the cafeteria; we might see some girls.”

  ‘Classic Marcus,’ Alex thought.

  “Classic Marcus,” Carner said out loud.

  They made their way toward the cafeteria, passing lounges that were surprisingly empty. It seemed most students had decided to skip the first day entirely.

  “Here we are,” Alex said as they entered the cafeteria. He paused, frowning. “Hmm. They changed it.”

  It looked different. The cafeteria he remembered was dim and poorly ventilated, with a constant shortage of tables. But now? It was bright, airy, and filled with sleek new furniture.

  But it was the floor that caught his eye.

  ‘White resin flooring?’

  “Wait,” Alex muttered. “What did the floor look like before?”

  The memory felt slippery. Was a two-month break really enough to make him forget?

  “It actually looks nice here,” Carner said, looking around. “I wonder what else they’ve improved.”

  “Hey… do you guys remember the old floor?” Alex asked, staring at the pristine white surface.

  Marcus looked at him, puzzled. “Dude, what do you mean?”

  “Look, it’s resin now,” Alex pointed down. “Haven't you noticed?”

  “Dude, it was always like that,” Carner said with a soft laugh.

  “Yeah,” Marcus chimed in. “What do you mean 'old floor'? It’s always been white.”

  “No way,” Alex scoffed. “The floor was grey polished plaster. It was never white. Remember?”

  He looked at them, expecting a laugh, an admission that they were messing with him. But their expressions were utterly sincere.

  “What are you talking about?” Carner asked, his laugh tainted with confusion.

  “It's just been two months, Alex. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what this place looked like,” Marcus added, genuinely baffled. “I mean, you’re forgetful, but we eat here every day.”

  A cold knot tightened in Alex’s stomach. The feeling from the morning rushed back. They weren't lying. They genuinely remembered a different past than he did.

  “Let’s just grab a seat,” Carner said, moving toward their usual corner.

  Alex followed, his mind racing. Their spot, a table tucked in the corner by the window near the courtyard exit, was the same, even if the table itself was new and glassy.

  Sitting down Alex couldn’t let it go. He pulled out his phone.

  ‘I have proof,’ he thought. ’I know I do.’

  He navigated to his photos, scrolling back to the last day of the previous semester. He searched for the group selfie they had taken.

  ‘It was grey,’ he told himself. ‘Smooth, dull grey plaster.’ He found the photo.

  “Here,” he whispered.

  The screen stared back at him. It was a selfie of a group of five. The girl in front held the camera, smiling wide. Next to her, a blonde girl with neck length hair wrapped her arms around the first. Behind them stood Carner, his glasses reflecting the light. Then Alex himself, smirking in a green hoodie. And finally in the back, Marcus, who made a face.

  But Alex didn't pay attention to the faces. He looked at their feet.

  His heart stopped.

  The grey floor he clearly remembered, the one he knew existed… was gone. In the photo, taken two months ago, the floor beneath their feet was a pristine, gleaming white resin.