.............Present............
" I tend to overanalyze everything, painting myself as the antagonist in every scenario. I remained in that state for the entire following week, silent, practically numb and lifeless. Eventually, I threw myself into my studies, aiming to break free from the cycle of overthinking. Before I knew it, I was immersed in intense studying for our pre-board exams, receiving accolades from everyone. Nishkarsh, on the other hand, continued to ignore me at school, as if nothing had transpired between us. We were essentially strangers, with that one incident defining his perception of me. Things seemed to settle, but my performance in the second math pre-board went down as I suffered headache during the exam. This led to me seeing the true sides of everyone they criticized me for my scores, even the kids who score nothing , questioning my unexpected dip in scores, even saying that I had scored below the average student in my class. My maths teacher said that I am being worse day by day and my father said I am not anymore the kid I once was, and my mother's harsh words pushed me to my breaking point..." I paused, tears welling up, as Tis gazed at me with sympathetic eyes."
"You've been through a lot---" he said quietly.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdFdXJmi9K
"I then locked myself in my room and studied again. Once, while crying over something my teacher said, I accidentally cut myself with a cutter. It was painful, but the physical pain distracted me from the pain in my mind... So, I took the blade from my sharpener and it became my companion," I explained.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0Zf2VY1vI
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQLassJHHv
"So, what was I supposed to do, huh? Yell at my math teacher, or confront my father that I'm doing my best? Or tell Ayaan that despite hurting me deeply, I still care for him, huh?" I vented.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwhyk3gaLl
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXt54juVip
"I-I don't know, everything felt like it was suffocating me. I can't trust anyone, and even now, walking down the streets, I fear someone will approach me and declare me worthless." Tears streamed down my face. "You can't understand how I felt. One wrong answer, one cut; two wrong answers, two cuts. It felt like I wasn't solving questions; they were complicating me," I confessed.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8g6j9GIpi
"It's okay, nothing happened, right? I know you've been through a lot, and trust me, give me your arm. I'll make those scars disappear. Don't cry like this; I don't know how to make a crying human happy," he reassured.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpYnrIlAXe
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRmPC2PO8D
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCe7rdxvGi
I gazed into his eyes for a few moments before responding, "Yes, please. I actually want to dislike him."
"Alright, first show me your arm; these scars look quite severe."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSb1TzLRVP9
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiSOUb0nG9
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o2O1tYRmi
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RHXMuK2ES
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV31rdxsk0z
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8yZAsWvp4
"Will it truly heal?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCbSaR5FaG
"Remember, kid, I can erase your scars but not your pain. So, make sure you don't do that again," he said in a very serious tone.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49kWOzVjBA
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNQPI9JV2m
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifKtVNWNcm
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF9FOpCGFn
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh7by01gZj
"H-how can I hate him?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2D2FIexjL
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXqIkTeYBm
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyxrteyjNz
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc30eszWiY7
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCfC0juYaT
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcjfNVMCzA
I turned to see Ayaan.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePxHJIIAcV
"Is this like a wax figure?"197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPS3mgBNwx
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPb7ih0P3o
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee8f6KXvSC
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrmxJcCrNV
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe398LvTvIG
"Kill him," he commanded.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq6zTn4CBW
"Y-yes," I stuttered, unleashing a flurry of punches and slaps on the statue. "This one's for hurting me," I exclaimed with each blow, "and this one's for damaging my mental health," my anger fueling each strike.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXuKFGdj0w
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysJDoSFyAi
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS3DTGmpQo
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOtKWngcYd
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bywuOnoqN
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9uGst1F3k
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4TvhZTLKl
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75WF1QUtaf
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO52Nsb4ID
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFNOFIGszX
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg48m5JxMqK
"Yes, you'll soon understand the harsh reality of this world. Just wait a bit longer," he concluded with a chilling certainty.
I stood there, lost for words, unsure how to respond.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hB6ZtKZYA
"Hey, you gotta change your ways, kid. Being a victim won't get you anywhere. Become the hunter, or you'll be the one getting hunted," he advised, stepping closer.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5laqzsoF7
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk3bV6G3SP
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKX56USl6N
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0IcqxsBiU
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPYovVDecG
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CTaFr47bm
"Yeah, when you were chosen, I think the creator froze time. That's why when we went back, it was still the same day and hour," he clarified.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPbEmkKHFB
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwvmwNDfQ6
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4zMbRVu80
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6SBsACpBA
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5G7d5kmpp
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFHiVMM2Sb
As we returned to Earth, it wasn't quite morning yet, so I headed to bed to get some rest. I was determined to fix myself and knew I could do it. I decided to ignore Ayaan, focus on my career, which I was still contemplating.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9tzbBZhvl
A few days later, my parents enrolled me in the science stream. They had asked for my opinion, but it felt more like they were telling me to choose science without any other option. Uncertain about my future career path, I agreed to follow their decision, giving myself these two years to figure things out.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4KG7T8YgC
I was resolute as I began my 11th-grade classes, embracing a new class, new faces, and a new version of myself. I made a promise to myself not to harm myself anymore, no matter what. While Tis kept a watchful eye on the women around me, it seemed like we were both busy transforming our lives, only to realize later that my assumptions were mistaken.197Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVSvHoapwB
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