.............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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wCjLmgBcT
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9dCccNeVN
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHJqwf9tRE
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3ByxloLwi
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgPnfREj16
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdd7ZIxZGr
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7K2VgcaAU
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC5u5hazjy
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG7mvkfYIc
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."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp0YMtxLYB
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwWrWKyp7q
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8xGoexspQ
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2lMruXNuo
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznNklYOfpo
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutwSibmbl9
"Will it truly heal?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN9jirAFIL
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiiFhRXScg
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrEgBlcxlS
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYhpfCT6nZ
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2L81MKS9k
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz6v8lehbC
"H-how can I hate him?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnf7d6A37S
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl3NbEVCSj
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgY5PBwN5n
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwmbHHlefB
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡll0ncgVAqo
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1ZxIA3OuY
I turned to see Ayaan.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy6snh85Of
"Is this like a wax figure?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRRvaCZPWQ
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOcubr29KL
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIhqsNboev
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H9qRrRgnj
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VLtLyhxgQ
"Kill him," he commanded.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeTlyNNNr9
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpSKEN8yJl
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kb1ssZtKw
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmhgM3vdqj
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUylhOG968
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDlLuoxfyk
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdRSkyf33v
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrWrbKFboM
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2ZaLWj2CI
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuatQ1daqj
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg6mtzhsyA
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrhUqKQXr7
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxMJb0chg2
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssM4Fv8CBY
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DZdUbUcrK
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxdZwzmL2j
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhiBgJjCjJ
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLWUhWklXF
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBYlxlanIo
"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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7kLbryYid
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fUu2b12TD
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqNV2uBruU
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohSZnj7W6J
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYynmCAGjsk
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37plRyeIs5
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WM5PHFmT4
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfAzOpStsk
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.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9NdW6ZHFz
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