Thanks for playing!
I agree that the popups could use some more refining after the game jam. At the moment there are some that disappear after you leave a task’s trigger box, while some disappear after a timer expires. We actually did come across a bug where specific popups disappeared instantly like you said. I guess it came back somehow haha.
As for finishing the game…
SPOILER ALERT
We intended to stay as true as we could to our inspiration of The Backrooms, an area where people can legitimately get lost in.
So all I will say is: keep exploring, be curious of the environment, stay safe, and hopefully you can find your way out!