.............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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RruPwzWXz
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2QMUFpxsD
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN987o0s2A
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zlQeUIfBI
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRBIJDoZLT
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfp5M7Z3gl
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQopnGDGrZL
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLugTNjLWnv
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26FCVKvN2n
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."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEmYDtnX6p
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgciA8aJuT
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQaP5PGedl
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3zVJ4rnXr
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S01BKSJ5r
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmIuDrmgKu
"Will it truly heal?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC79KznbvrY
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYheyNcZ6b6
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3JbMwrWLx
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBOum9Jw5h
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWJW6AOPeW
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eAyS9hO5p
"H-how can I hate him?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDIgwsdUPB
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQO5aqV922
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzscrFfoGd
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGwzkaih9m
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvGIIWD6jX
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYLMLazbXc
I turned to see Ayaan.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98FDrik7B6
"Is this like a wax figure?"228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuLlwk86KU
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiCau0TXUT
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApaK5C3JKd
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VsdCdZUiv
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3py9yxikfo
"Kill him," he commanded.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxhIOf9BtY
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zFDXkyFKZ
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIWs9mqNHz
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ4n9b7V7E
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0Tai4Wm2b
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYWHJWAi2i
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAclGkAjWog
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17iz9vsbJp
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqITF90e1L
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4jTUKbRhp
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89Q7aCHFmi
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG9aKZUtyp
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmYbRfd7nI
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i8aIV9L2C
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9SLB4gB0O
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ARvQxuJg8
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACnIlHblag
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKyjDiK9qI
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bdLl6BJaQ
"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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeotNXXhko
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvARm4cJ3c
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTzCaHa28j
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH75VjvvjqE
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qeNL8cnOa
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvFJ0SsVhe
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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF65VL8AXG
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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcetMSDa8e6
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.228Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG6oUVmHAz
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