.............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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQR8H24vKt
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsbbmsTiwj
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3VfYjHyxC
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtYxaUuVaj
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76fAu8gweL
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXOjdYHAdL
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNktIO2O1Kq
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzrASo7tiD
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeRoHOOHpA
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."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSxiM6O9CO
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpUMpejpDf
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr4I3wtxPB
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxLtjKMYeO
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hESIMTGGs
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOHYcL4Szi
"Will it truly heal?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcejHuY9Qpb
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNpKtLmwWo
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy37MviSkty
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYQqC9ettN
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1PZX4jHsU
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPKw7MVzMf
"H-how can I hate him?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTCe3HLJHR
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaUrw2fTTb
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiD0IJ4QBb
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZA3cAVajq
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV55ijnNUNJ
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzEEAzgHVt
I turned to see Ayaan.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVbrau05Gb
"Is this like a wax figure?"269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfpGU9qLQE
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQabXZS1i5
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1vhCXsvVe
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSvHuCnz3V
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrS2vd1VSl
"Kill him," he commanded.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKy54IW0sp
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXLIDQC9tz
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDtUtMbshr
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsoIKRDzOZ
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL6ftq5ORc
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdwIxCqw4Y
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNtmfQGgrs
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBYIuQEGgM
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9rKxEQccB
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9VBoOqgsY
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2iGvQasjO
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBIo0WxnRy
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbLS2soARi
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00zFT0tguA
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjS2CrdVGE
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm2sguzHxq
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7F0mFazXx
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxqcKOKvzS
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cANXRtXFs
"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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu84bXq17nT
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Uy3Zh8m1l
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhBaqj7cjI
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLd3YXjqAQy
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTDWO0d5xK
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF8722xQPG
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY915tDOGt
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyXYesboXi
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.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7auSPQiaR
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