The Time Leaper (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1: Time Leaper

My name is Horace, a 20-year-old college student living what seems to be an ordinary life. But the truth is, the word "ordinary" doesn't suit me at all. Why? Because I've been hiding something that only I know.

As my name suggests, I have a connection to time. It may sound absurd, something straight out of fiction, but it's real. There are things in this world that science can't explain, and my ability is one of them.

It all started seven years ago...

*Flashback: Seven years ago*

"Horace, my dear? Have you finished your assignments?" my mother asked as she entered my room. I was hunched over my desk, my focus entirely on solving a stubborn math problem.

"Not yet, Mom. I'm still working on my math problems," I replied, frustration evident in my voice.

"Make sure to turn off the lights when you're done, okay?"

"Yes, Mom," I answered. She gave me a peck on my forehead before leaving my room.

I sighed, staring at the quadratic equations in front of me. "Man, this is tough. I'm just a seventh grader!" I groaned, running my fingers through my hair. But I had no choice—I had to finish this homework if I wanted to sleep early.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally completed it. With a relieved sigh, I brushed my teeth and collapsed onto my bed. Tomorrow was another school day, and I needed all the rest I could get.

The alarm blared at 5:30 AM. My classes started at 7:30, so I quickly took a bath and put on my uniform.

After getting ready, I went downstairs, greeted my mom, and sat down at the dining table. "Good morning, Mom," I said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Good morning, dear. Eat your breakfast quickly so you can brush your teeth and head to school," she replied with a warm smile.

I glanced around the table. My younger brother sat across from me, while my older sister sat beside Mom. Dad, as usual, wasn't around—his work as a researcher often kept him out of town.

We chatted about our plans for the day while eating. Mom always emphasized the importance of family conversations during meals; she said it strengthened our bond.

After breakfast, I brushed my teeth and left for school.

"I'll be checking your assignments today," our teacher announced as she walked into the classroom. "And just so you know, this will count as a surprise quiz. I'll give you your scores before class dismissal."

A wave of shock rippled through the class. None of us saw that coming.

After several hours of classes, our graded papers were finally returned. One by one, our class representative handed them out. When I received mine, I hesitated before looking at the score. The moment I saw it, disappointment settled on my face—only 7 correct answers out of 30.

"How many did you get, Horace?" Shawn, my best friend since first grade, leaned over to ask. I was comfortable with him, but that didn't make my embarrassing score any easier to admit.

I sighed. "Look, dude, we both know your score is higher than mine."

Ignoring my avoidance, he followed me to the restroom. "No way, man! I only got 20!"

I stared at him in disbelief. "You only got 20? Are you serious? Should I break your neck right here and now?" I muttered, half-joking.

"What about you?" he pressed.

"I got a 7," I admitted.

"Oh... that's bad news, man."

"You think?" I grumbled, turning on the sink to wash my face. My frustration only grew as I remembered my score. "If only I could actually time travel... I'd be perfect."

Shawn chuckled. "Too bad, bro. Time travel isn't real."

"I know! But imagine how convenient it would be if I could Time Leap!"

The moment the words left my mouth, my surroundings changed.

My eyes widened as a strange blue light surrounded me. I gasped when I saw my reflection in the mirror—my irises glowed an unnatural bright blue. Around me, countless clocks spun counterclockwise at an alarming speed.

"Dude, what's happening?! What the hell are those things?!" Shawn shouted, backing away.

But I had no answers. My whole body trembled as I watched the impossible unfold before me. A strange sensation coursed through my veins, as if time itself was slipping through my fingers. I wanted to scream, to run—but before I could react, everything turned white.

Then, suddenly, I was back in my room, sitting at my desk, pencil in hand, staring at my unfinished homework.

I blinked rapidly, rubbing my eyes before pinching my cheek. Pain shot through me. This was real.

"Was that all a dream? But... it felt so real..."

I rushed to my bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. As I reached for a towel, I caught my reflection in the mirror—and froze.

Bright blue eyes stared back at me.

I dropped the towel. My breath hitched. "What the fuck?" I muttered under my breath.

Within seconds, my eye color returned to normal, but my hands were still shaking.

I sat back at my desk, trying to process what just happened. "Did I... just travel back in time?" It sounded ridiculous, but there was no other explanation. I had experienced this moment before.

"Horace, my dear? Have you finished your assignments?" Mom called from outside.

My blood ran cold.

I remembered this. Every single word. Every single detail.

Testing my theory, I responded exactly as I had before and completed my assignment in the same way. Everything played out exactly like before—breakfast with my family, my walk to school, the surprise quiz, and even my disappointing score.

It was all the same.

"It's clear now. That wasn't just a dream... I really did travel back in time," I whispered to myself.

"What's clear, dude?" Shawn suddenly appeared next to me. "By the way, how many questions did you answer correctly?"

I smirked. "This score is useless. Next time, I'll make it perfect."

Shawn blinked in confusion as I walked to the middle of the classroom. No one would remember what was about to happen—even if they saw it. Shawn had already witnessed it once, yet he had no memory of it.

I turned back to him, my smirk widening. "And guess what, Shawn? You were wrong. Time travel is real."

I took a deep breath and whispered the words that had changed everything before.

"Time Leap."

Once again, a blue light engulfed me, and countless clocks spun counterclockwise around me. The cycle began anew.

*End of flashback*

Ever since that day, I've been using my ability to bend time to my will, making sure everything always turns in my favor. People call me a genius, but that's not entirely true. The reality is, I've been time leaping every time I make a mistake, correcting it before anyone else even knows I failed.

Over the years, I mastered this ability. I can now leap back to any point in my life, though I'm limited to the years after I was born. Still, that's more than enough. I've exploited this power to the fullest—I've won the lottery multiple times just by memorizing the numbers and going back to buy the winning ticket. Money is no longer a concern. With every mistake erased and every opportunity seized, I've sculpted myself into an unstoppable force.

I have become the person everyone aspires to be. I am the very embodiment of perfection.

"Here he comes, guys! The genius."

I can't help but chuckle whenever I hear people whisper about me. It's inevitable. My so-called intelligence has made me a well-known figure, even among strangers. It's amusing, really—people admire what they think is brilliance, unaware of the secret behind it.

I walk through the university corridors with effortless confidence, the chatter of students barely registering in my mind. To me, their voices are echoes of a timeline I've already altered. I know every word they will say, every action they will take. Nothing is surprising anymore.

Except, of course, for Shawn.

"Horace! Horace! You only got 20 out of 100 on the exam!"

He rushes toward me, panic evident in his voice. I can't help but laugh. To me, this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"Relax, dude. It'll be perfect soon enough." I flash him a knowing grin. "Time Leap—five days ago!"

The familiar sensation washes over me as the world around me dissolves. Blue light engulfs my vision, and time unravels before my eyes. The countless clocks appear, rotating counterclockwise at a dizzying speed, pulling me backward through the fabric of existence.

And then, as suddenly as it began, it stops.

I'm back.

Five days earlier.

I exhale slowly, already knowing exactly what to do. This time, I'll make sure I ace that exam. I'll memorize every question, every answer. I'll be flawless.

No one will ever know I failed the first time.