Text somehow masks text and i can't turn it off

[20shiaoj]

Please, I need help asap. My head has been in pain for 3 hours trying to undo whatever the heck I did. I am a novice at After Effects.

I have two text layers. The top text layer says 3 and the bottom text layer says 4. The preview/screen shows no 3 unless I reposition 3 to be in the same location as 4. If I move 3 to the right of 4, it completely disappears. If I move 3 to the left or above the 4, both the 3 and 4 move together and to the left and up. 

I want the 3 and 4 to show up separately, independently, not masking each other, completely unlinked. I have no idea how it got to here and I have no idea how to turn it off. Please help me.

[20shiaoj]

i figured out something, if I put a solid as the bottom layer both show up and don't affect each other. But that means I'll have to put a solid in every single comp I make. Not that that's necessarily time consuming, but it certainly is a hassle. If there is a setting I can change then this would be a lot easier and I don't have to remember to put a solid every time. Any settings that control this exact problem?