.............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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10YJFyj2Bt
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17Q2m92VFL
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9bODvMRCJ
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm64E4HoMjW
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagXj1DmDmV
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4ARXmuKS1
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bpzhyHpfh
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0AZxZ6tXG
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5CenUumA8
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."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYJrr45oQJ
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwHLWQ1Rf6
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1df47BrnbY
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTGjTsl6y2
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr2SLVo0Ar
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uqt9qF2TL
"Will it truly heal?"299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpg3BDIVKs
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXaPeiGlMl
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqBOwfpms8
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkp4SEjXTj
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewzONzsgK9
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ejSi8gYs
"H-how can I hate him?"299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCALf8ABY8
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyAwdtyaMc
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PUhR51KUk
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QiuKYHBvz
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp79KWY8bf
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlo8kSORpe9
I turned to see Ayaan.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8mWl9XGdI
"Is this like a wax figure?"299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODYcQK67im
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybG5eyYL4A
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBppR4qgnoE
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OHpq4M0Cl
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUk8YlmTfK
"Kill him," he commanded.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYMDDVv957
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp98iBFS4P8
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EqULKy1ek
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAZjGmNBdJ
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd77MaIE5t
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxko1jIBXV
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcwAodUvWM
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAdTbdoXW2
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqZuFaEQVh
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY8xFZmMlR
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wMLM0aMbL
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU5FnLiWov
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHNNfwRiMO
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zdrLsoTXg
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL4vfbNSs3
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5isEwjtB0
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad7PZUXNwa
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNzTqphrOn
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4eLkXU8YY
"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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDk81r5rjk
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5gVoazMPa
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHkNtCvvWn
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgR9Rr01qI
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6woiJ7VnY6
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWoj0Qm9K2
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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzx9kjGP0U
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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd0wZOJqIV
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.299Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUakSU4eKC5
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