.............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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy5YIdqPRr
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zWFijJFWR
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kOCWobaBa
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIpTDBnGCu
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMz6qdcDYS
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsFXHdaFr7
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4APoGykGE
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimGnBc1y44
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbdZTIHMP2
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."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhcEg6YuwH
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ZrGXsBRS
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALCXCI7avM
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovkNfyY89F
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilXcSeWcgR
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB1We36d3T
"Will it truly heal?"284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVuzwYMVC5
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpcKloTLzO
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5urx5fVzeR
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDywMWgS8e
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQZsFwLMYe
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok6Jjwab8D
"H-how can I hate him?"284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ988RoP1B7o
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPMpv037fX
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFhKB59I3s
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB04WhuuE5c
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjiWjbGRgb
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFL4ZeuR9g
I turned to see Ayaan.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr6YaQqY7d
"Is this like a wax figure?"284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSBiBfVNrX
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfvcxLTd4h
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRBcDqHH7v
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDygKzXuGG
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrZH5hEouC
"Kill him," he commanded.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNhBvobQJu
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VnxFEIcvh
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gPmOXFt3N
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGB6b0bkCK
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyO8eahxO1
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2LDtNCblv
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeH4PyyCuY
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgBdNygODb
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRR11DCxTJ
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDtMhVRyd0
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUKbzfFfuz
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYfIY7RYhm
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRJLy8x9RA
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDL5eCnmMJ
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DCbOPajqv
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zmw765Exr
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRhVYvDRZu
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqOAm856yC
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbBFcuFffg
"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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1qK287pXl
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjvkxbSxEC
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7AajIeY0H
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJRcbfxurA
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaVwYws14T
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63MGmSPfmX
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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r2hhjKcjt
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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAT30tEerj
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.284Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK0qYD2oGA
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