.............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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta9ygxFiSZ
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2MIJCdOkJ
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ8MGXeftL
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D6F4KyEeG
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCJv6N1sIK
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLEUbZuewY
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yjFytqmKK
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplr2JpnB4Z
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcjfbrI6m8
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."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqM5gFERin
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PW7ZDar6W
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBNVKqrmEG
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgzCjHTwgL
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxq4AtF7PG
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxoA5hmbNI
"Will it truly heal?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u9tPveCFW
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglqBhuCLf6
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2jzLcUFh3
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzOFrJ8fcC
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3xs0N0lFp
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJyH3grTzN
"H-how can I hate him?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6M785zuUS
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNYpikaLrr
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkk2LudbHs
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKzg2daTH7
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpr2eZxhnx
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdMmpNCOEj
I turned to see Ayaan.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdcWb8iseW
"Is this like a wax figure?"195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5DxAZQMo5
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdnuV9iCKq
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vIeRnYcLP
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7KwQ1dsZ3
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJHUqKFhpL
"Kill him," he commanded.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIBC3heyiS
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSc4jHgVOk
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zpBuNkteX
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wca46nE7k
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeLcLH3Jud
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTgTpf1DO2
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuei8C69xw
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTIz0VSiZz
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaLmuce1Wu
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Y5Vz5FXa
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruDBq2eJSk
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcmsqGlpuu
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl7cUlBKQz
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EyC5C1XA9
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0HZZGrsKj
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT88VRmkBB9
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOkwJ15FId
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijPuxNL1y3
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStitUGxMLy
"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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOGWWEZEhz
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoUXfwPsk2
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l4Qg8tp4g
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvSbj14VgL
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunzQypWUxJ
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcMsbPDf77
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZLVYAY4lh
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ87uG7kRxt
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.195Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4RPGzhw2U
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