.............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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTwRlRyXBf
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxHOQciQwK
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVGiZgZbF1
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRGGmFchOa
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNP0H8Doosz
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UDqNrbBoa
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB7wdwy2QV
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElaGWKKm8B
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ICZgM5EE8
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."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ67BkVBSmZ
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOuGmI8xZ0
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVkhaMGCwy
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy7lqTyePq
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRGafxqmk4
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zlz7UdkFM
"Will it truly heal?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ybf8s9TpT
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0Po1gWKUh
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRgvAF5cid
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX2ptEbmME
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHLxHneyTC
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWiCcYtNam
"H-how can I hate him?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJF4GaGsH6
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDH6LjWwwK
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp21bN6exFi
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrZb2AGgDj
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmLIID3xoa
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqENEchlmB
I turned to see Ayaan.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1FGkVIV5q
"Is this like a wax figure?"189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtNaO1SHFf
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmn8BGq5L4
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnshrPTaWmG
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP44LRNvzXr
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGWgFwz3H6
"Kill him," he commanded.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinoCH4xJ36
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLaq6P4SjC
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79HF2MM4yv
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6CQF06TEy
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbp5OMtPWh
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMSu50KYid
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ljXJqUZkv
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp4g49Id0j
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYw3ISGZXg
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bize84wn4
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LyWQ81gk2
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBonMluwoAW
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBoKVV4xRj
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ETTv3IQNr
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlyiqEn6JX
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2kVRgsH8B
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VFTSprDNL
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfH4HR4r6A
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrlg1Iuayy
"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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO7HLPk3aY
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUI3hVXSlK
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPG8wP4FCs
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmz0qSNCQP
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU3cn1IL2k
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJR5gyGYCO
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpndbWByT8z
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV15vazDVQD
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.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCfEhq4Lbp
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