.............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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjptfuV0JI8
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZXQtZhK55
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTccHiTED1Q
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkecePotX7E
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xIpm87I9a
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoQX0n9iOE
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKyzYZ6V6h
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy7SZN0ozr
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2hyQHOYlW
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."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlvbdxlItB
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cD613RqIj
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWa1k5aLqAQ
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmSDguNCS9
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9XdF63s1Z
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2IdZQhVMz
"Will it truly heal?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0TFwwkQRT
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtUDZp0zRd
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOSN2TnEvz
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnCP1j8BhV
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEblD0vYaA
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOtohTZF7j
"H-how can I hate him?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpli805zG4
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgkFGsE3uk
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDId8ymGSSw
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyPURcpvfj
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsip5oT8NDV
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh81Ftd0KvK
I turned to see Ayaan.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIatiY42si
"Is this like a wax figure?"205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpF9nAfUvw
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJrOmGbmHp
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEiNzygzEX
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju3REQre54
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6kPcy9GQ0
"Kill him," he commanded.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicMDMKaP7W
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVfiDvHclI
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbodxZdVyIb
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdPTOTzalX
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSin9kTJMwP
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMbb9ekrmy
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu1zz64WPY
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgHwvV2vEW
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUbYf4HGHj
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI11oZr40zA
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m6YjC2rJw
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsWeZIBxB0
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5Kjv8cYu8
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTknutZiqpJ
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBvWB5tGPr
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOlQAANywX
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYvGGReovu
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdAnwhMGbt
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ULZNCMKFj
"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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkofVcvTttK
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQaMvqCSSS
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9T1TUqWEg
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQqbKT9VBW
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnJcVFXlh4
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr5WecvMmh
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvpwh0FSaK
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGxorDJ1yt
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.205Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAphQFLVeQ
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