.............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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA1Sl1aDHq
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG93aiP9qiS
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAzDf7vH36
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI3s78FJAq
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNwamZKRY7
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6Yyk9E0jl
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO20F8FyWo
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZJJKL6KL0
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QyjKmArCw
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."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EkgsgItyP
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7QUe0y5lb
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg1RrWN0mY
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxl2DLIR5y
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wPAXsf2zS
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2SpDt2G3r
"Will it truly heal?"329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8LAnhAU3z
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojZXGVHrbQ
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqeZfukyRT
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2CTp5Pb0N
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8thgQeWjBg
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQnmBnQugo
"H-how can I hate him?"329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5IZVbVsfN
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57He9O8dS8
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW0D1jxe4o
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlh53d9dA7
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi5efuWOEM
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P4oX0XvPk
I turned to see Ayaan.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9z2saeiUR
"Is this like a wax figure?"329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRtJjgNtdo
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EbxIV3qsj
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfvZWWBXIo
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS9aWEYZE4
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunEtEhzH9A
"Kill him," he commanded.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyOIOzRXfi
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnMd1pcSYa
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJNi2dNtou
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE0z7J9o81
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSEZpDqCA1
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJGFekmM09
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8LFxBDVby
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa2q0a1zcO
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8VLjYrAa9
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuPjH1WQgt
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcn12aOR3T
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRXEgk1ggM
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFvxgVe44S
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBQIPgPXGH
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp6rIRakbA
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqMpgo4WK9
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC4RNI1uXs
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzLtaaygqf
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNJMxOfgZE
"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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpEpjBMnZB
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2suIjB38e2
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4yigbONXb
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyncn5tjnwu
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwyYSjBoGH
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85B5oUWf4j
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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5ToEGPhTQ
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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndc0mxNw6Q
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.329Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6PziWMcs8
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