.............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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjXj3E0ohP
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnOr6ywxfW
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eRvGjPpjW
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x4DetjHZ4
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCtLofRU9E
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNwO2BCAWT
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezAiiJ1Xzi
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L1ZfBREzY
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNKzVpoN6m
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."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EM4KYROCI
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlfIKCzwIM
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwqQblVYwF
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MgANCSCRl
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn0rf0wUzv
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTccqYGVpDh
"Will it truly heal?"49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRxLWdvNNo
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgguaNs1JOQ
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rHXtB5UZ5
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UG0Hfprw8
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb3VVhewx4
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkA6ILiPPFA
"H-how can I hate him?"49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRO3ZiPiYB
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKh4i5XICE
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWmwc1DtB0
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b3WW6wyd8
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc22unYcHQ
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dqkXzPSE2
I turned to see Ayaan.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡek06DGgfvG
"Is this like a wax figure?"49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hWUipjKR7
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNUpkf5qrm
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanBYFD7SFg
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYJ1s9WAHB
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfQspWKLZv
"Kill him," he commanded.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjW40LS5O1
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44pnXyEcLa
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgO0sDLojP
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50sGfJAHJA
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKhFweeTuC
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mqvO99B1m
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwdgqq02Lp
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC87Nm71Wm
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cTQg2DYF3
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrfXeR8TfL
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfmHQqIAsB
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp0Duv5uOv
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJEhX0Ze5H
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViotYA35kq
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhobV56vZ7
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8ncIRDTgw
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7rZsPX8PP
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeViMX36VBi
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs8ozRLySH
"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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJI855qlFI
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6lnnNcQac
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9aWrlpXZi
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9xGDxJSO8
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH03TRThDt
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxPebszOeW
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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqSXZ3Yvql
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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2pfeOjdnF
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.49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX28Xd95Pos
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