.............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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAJTf1I5gl
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BwhbA3k3j
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSVjdlc3Fb
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHnSZxbIr3
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yVlV4tu5s
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BWHTvcGsM
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HfkO8q3yd
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaVoQ69Hs9
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ545M06YQSc
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."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAAz1V7YVn
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89th0a2DSo
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R8VwMcvzY
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5KBiSZTmR
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKZQZpUfpA
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI1EsYYy9Y
"Will it truly heal?"371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIIFCW5csr
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbjgXvqmkf
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE5n8IU2hH
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqPx9rzbej
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCosYUaX4M
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLopWiqEo9s
"H-how can I hate him?"371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2r94HfOuG
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CJVp0Fshq
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16l6LgeoPs
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxisj3MP86D
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRh7nVKwC3
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeMrAS4PDt
I turned to see Ayaan.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFw50R7R56
"Is this like a wax figure?"371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYIGAJeZrW
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7Nxvip6XA
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwKsc6aeit
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNHJfRwOHO
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqrdFNIiyr
"Kill him," he commanded.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAlY1OKP5i
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fg5gDOdwV
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiAvR1ge1r
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLf9KF5Dzc
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYJAED9R1F
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMskmeLNOBY
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrnjayN1ns
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuteO1uBUNB
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rBprfVc34
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mlhksv2JK
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm46lVQZwhE
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptgFXldtv9
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGR1XkuKEG
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPzqhp90FQ
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytIuJcIfC9
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbd1hIhlaA
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiPl2z5Vr3
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NqJcbj61Y
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6HiUjUtSa
"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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLqVtqVfLI
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyejZNUTba
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYzUou8sBZ
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeQxYGtRkH
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAhc5zSOKo
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW1Yujj0Z9
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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrskggCG0Eg
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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUoraUY6Ui
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.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8g8resOHs
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