.............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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesqvoQCket
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPyqu5xSxV
"That's not right. You faced everything because you allowed it to happen," he retorted loudly.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VpltcR7y5
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCi1A8uNxt
"No, you didn't have to do anything, but you didn't have to paint yourself as the villain," he responded.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaIi47bH2Z
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcDzwvjlmt
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8Qr2bNXBB
"I won't cry anymore, but can you do something that will make me forget Ayaan forever?" she asked hesitantly.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQWmJtupE9
"Forget? I can't do that, but yes, I can help you hate him forever," he replied firmly.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRwGkZL86u
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."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJRUo1hDLz
"And I wonder why everyone always believed me when I said I felt down and got these."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN64Vl3Lidz
"They probably never cared; humans can be disgusting."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcC3VnjduN
"Finally, you get it. Nobody cares about anybody else until they need something from them."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy9BXaeweB
"And even the thought of this is frightening."he replied.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRfyAc6zwM
As I extended my arm, he closed his eyes, and a green smoke enveloped my arm.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYngwit8qB
"Will it truly heal?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlGitFrMtk
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJatKkOGcA2
I Remained silent, gazing at the pond, without uttering a word as the scars on my arm vanished.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexbuq9Wj8z
"What? Don't you think you can stop hurting yourself?"He asked again.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qQy8svu9h
"No, I can stop it. I know that, but I can't mend myself; something inside me is broken."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqzJJzBv8g
"You don't have to do that. It will happen in time; just live," he comforted, his eyes meeting mine.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBIdpDoTag
"H-how can I hate him?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqWD5fDPyh
"Hmm... Want to see him naked?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktq1nBxx1z
"What???" I exclaimed in shock.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXVkkdAVvz
"I was just joking, hahaha. And look at you, you fell for it."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wuuwVnlqX
"Yuck, what kind of joke was that?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y1JrBYwP6
"Here," he said before closing his eyes, muttering something under his breath, "turn around."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXry6q65Y0y
I turned to see Ayaan.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpSLw0T0Kx
"Is this like a wax figure?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7poW5ZxFdF
"Kind of, but you can direct all your anger at this statue," he said, smirking.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWjS6rcAGS
"Oh," as I lunged towards the statue and touched its cheek.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvfOmaAXQD
"Kiddo, if I were in your shoes, I'd be smashing that statue by now instead of just poking its cheek."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd3CeNIqnO
"Yeah, you're right. Despite his handsome face, he made my life hell," I said as I punched him.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxqloFAiYv
"Kill him," he commanded.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVmlF2Yem8
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8Pu7nqd3O
"Want me to make more people?" He inquired.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxrBsxt1WR
"Yes, Pankti, Arth," I echoed.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNczU9TLbw
"I haven't seen them, little human," he replied in a somber tone.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ5ShQJ3nN
"Fine, I'll introduce you to them," I retorted.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT27pmn3zj
"No need, focus on destroying this human first," he insisted, as I continued my assault on the replica of Ayaan for several more minutes.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBfTrgm534
Exhausted, I rested, hands on my knees, feeling drained like an athlete after a grueling race.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ejk3gKca8
"Feeling relieved?" he taunted with a smirk.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkAvd1JIwa
"Yes, but I can't bring myself to hate him," I confessed.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EDzjqcQL1
"You will, mark my words. In a few days, you'll come to despise everyone," he predicted ominously.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIYGRPao6d
"What? Everyone?" I gasped, taken aback by his dark prophecy.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyQ1XX39ad
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e5pcVWeJs
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJITRBRA9t
"I... I don't get what you mean," I stammered.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2CWOaES9m
"You'll figure it out, don't sweat it," he reassured me.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sf8ccItGY
"It's been about an hour since we left Earth. Should we head back?" I asked, feeling a bit disoriented.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MJvm4osa2
"Yeah, we should go back. Time moves differently here, so it'll probably be morning when we return," he explained.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBvsQ6Asmo
"What?!" I exclaimed in confusion.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ejf9f9ohY
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv1lo3EfDo
"Yeah, you mentioned time moves slower here compared to Earth."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE7IyktdM6
"Let's drop you off at home now that your new session is starting..." he began.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXZQXYcHkS
"I've already caused enough harm to myself, and now I won't listen to anyone," I asserted firmly, cutting him off.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXJ27aav52
"No, listen to everyone, but do what I say," he responded with a smile.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8b4KKpl6C
"Hehe... okay," I replied, smiling back, realizing he was a bit crazy.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbShCLNc4x3
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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLaygisIaC
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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLDSLXnJ4s
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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvITJYzPiI
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