All This Time (Previously Pick and Choose Me)
Niti found herself facing an impossible choice between her long-term relationship and a newly found connection with her favorite K-idol, Jimmie.
Samarth's surprise backfired, thrusting Niti into an unexp...
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October 18, 2022
NITI jolted awake, startled by an unfamiliar sound ringing in her ears. Her head throbbed mercilessly, a cruel reminder of the vodka she had drowned herself in the previous day. A dry, scratchy sensation parched her throat, escalating the discomfort. It took her a few disoriented minutes to register her surroundings, her bleary eyes slowly adjusting to the sunlit room. The afternoon sun was blinding to her eyes.
The unfamiliarity of her surroundings sent a wave of uncertainty crashing over her. Doubt seeped into her thoughts, making her question the choices she had made in life. Just what had she gotten herself into?
A groan escaped her lips as she reached out, fumbling for the unknown phone that persistently pierced the silence. Clearly, the phone did not belong to her, a stark reminder of what had transpired with Sam the previous day and how she ran leaving her phone with Tara.
"Ugh," she groaned, clutching her throbbing head as she silenced the intrusive device. With a frustrated toss, she flung it back onto the bedside stool and shifted her focus to the pressing need for water.
What's up with that dream? Why was I dreaming about those days ?
She outstretched her hands towards the bedside table but in vain. No water awaited her within arm's reach. Scanning the room, her gaze fell upon a bottle of water placed on a table just beyond the bedroom's threshold.
Right, I came to a hotel. Fuck.
"What is this? A fancy suite room?" she muttered to herself, her words tinged with a mix of confusion and frustration. Gathering her strength, she stumbled towards the table, her unsteady steps revealing the remnants of a long night.
It was then, as she passed a mirror, that she froze in her tracks. The reflection staring back at her sent a shiver down her spine. Mascara smudged across her face, lipstick haphazardly applied, and eyes swollen from exhaustion and perhaps something more. Yet, it wasn't the disheveled state of her appearance that caused her to recoil-it was what she was wearing.
A surge of dread coursed through her veins as she registered the night robe enveloping her body. Its unfamiliar fabric, the delicate lace and intricate patterns, confirmed her worst fears. It wasn't hers; she had never seen it before. In fact, she hadn't consented to being in this room at all. Weren't they merely indulging in drinks at the restaurant?
Chaos descended upon her mind, swirling with unanswered questions. Why was she dressed in a nightgown? What had transpired during the night that had led her to this unfamiliar room? Her anxiety intensified, and she shuffled on her feet, unable to find solid ground amidst the disarray of her thoughts.
Finally, overcome with overwhelming unease, she collapsed to her knees, her breaths ragged and irregular.
"What have I done?" she murmured, her voice laced with fear and uncertainty. Images of potential scenarios danced before her eyes, each one more unsettling than the last.
What if her vulnerability had been exploited in the darkness of the night?
The weight of her unknown predicament pressed heavily upon her shoulders, leaving her grasping at fragments of memory that remained stubbornly out of reach. With every passing second, the void of the night loomed larger, intensifying her fears and igniting a desperate yearning for answers.
Niti remained there, on her knees, her mind and heart consumed by a gnawing sense of apprehension. The events of the night before had left her bewildered and vulnerable, and now, the unknown loomed before her.
As she fought to regain her equilibrium, her gaze fell upon a glimmering object concealed beneath her robe. Relief washed over her in a massive sigh. It appeared that she was still clad in the dress she had worn the previous day, with the robe serving as an additional layer. She was so engrossed with the outermost garment that she hadn't noticed the constriction caused by the dress underneath.
Aware of her habit of overthinking, she recognized how detrimental it could be to her mental well-being. However, this particular situation took her inner turmoil to a whole new level. Her mind persistently prodded her.
But the dress proves nothing. What if something that shouldn't have actually happened?
"Aaaargh!" she exclaimed, pushing herself back up. "I'll think about it later. What time is it?" she muttered to herself.
Grasping the bottle from the table, she retreated to her room, casting a swift glance around her surroundings. Everything seemed normal. The bed was neatly made, save for a few creases on the side she had slept on. Nothing out of the ordinary that might hint on a wild night.
Her heels lay beneath the bedside table, a reminder of her injured foot. She peered down, cautiously moving her left foot, more attentive this time.
"No pain!" she exclaimed joyfully, unable to contain her relief. Yet her joy was abruptly extinguished as a sharp pang shot up her leg.
Oops.
The injury had healed, but not completely. Her heels would remain unwearable. She pondered the possibility of donning the hotel's flimsy slippers, but they wouldn't be suitable for venturing outside.
The phone that had startled her awake began ringing once more. She made her way toward it, only to discover that it was a reminder. The phone had been set to ring at one o'clock in the afternoon. Alongside the reminder, a note materialized as soon as she dismissed the alert.
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It had her name on it. Confused, she expanded the notification.
Neeti / Niti / Neetee
I thought I should wake you up for lunch, at the very least. You fainted while drinking, and I didn't know what to do, so I brought you to my room. You appeared uncomfortable in that dress, so one of the female staff members covered you with a robe. I hope you didn't mind.
I've left you a new pair of sandals, considering your inability to wear those heels, along with some clothes. I was uncertain about your size, so please pardon any misfitting items.
You can use this phone until you retrieve yours. It'll come in handy for booking cabs and other necessities. Don't worry about me; I possess another phone.
Feel free to avail yourself of anything you require from the room. I'll handle the expenses.
- Orange guy
P.S. Last night was fun. Thank you for the nickname.
Whispering softly, she struggled to comprehend the words displayed before her. Her bewilderment grew as she questioned the meaning behind the statement, "last night was fun." Her perplexity transformed into an exclamation as she vocalized her thoughts aloud.
Filled with concern, she anxiously wondered if she had divulged more than intended during their conversation. The room became her arena as she paced back and forth, fueled by anticipation.
Oh god, help me. First time I ever decide to drink on my own and this happens! I am fucked. She screamed internally,lamenting her decision to drink alone for the first time, which now seemed to have dire consequences. A sinking feeling of despair enveloped her.
Suddenly, a new realization dawned upon her.
Did the message say one o'clock?
Once more, she directed her eyes towards the phone screen and released a sigh of hopelessness. Her team was unaware that she had abruptly departed from the office the previous day and was absent today, all with no prior notification.
The consequences of her actions loomed large, particularly as an important meeting with a client was scheduled for four o'clock, and she was conspicuously absent. Niti felt a wave of anxiety wash over her as she contemplated how to arrive at the office without appearing disheveled.
Thoughts raced through her mind, and she entertained the notion of taking the day off, fabricating a story about a severe headache and oversleeping because of medication. With a nod of determination, she decided that was her best course of action. She reached for the phone given to her by the orange person, accessing her email swiftly. She composed a request for a sick day and was about to close the phone when she noticed a response from her teammate, prompting her to call immediately.
Niti's heart skipped a beat as a surge of panic coursed through her. Fortunately, Aditi's email signature contained her phone number, offering a lifeline in the face of potential trouble. She dialed the number displayed on the screen, and an irritated voice answered on the other end, demanding to know her identity. "Hello, who is this?"
"Um, hey Aditi, it's Niti speaking," she responded.
"Why haven't I saved this number? Anyway, where on earth are you?"
"I apologize, I was unwell." Niti expressed her regret, trying to clarify her recent illness.
"Well, it appears you're not sick anymore," Aditi commented. "Get yourself over here. We've got a crucial meeting approaching. Or did that slip your mind?"
"No, I haven't forgotten. I'm sorry," Niti struggled to find her words. "I'll make it there before the meeting."
"Good," her colleague replied. "And while you're at it, grab some delicious iced coffee. We'll have a total of seven people—three from our side and four from theirs."
"But—" Niti began to protest, yet Aditi abruptly ended the call.
Her distress mounting, she screamed into the phone, "But I don't have my wallet!"
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A/N
Hello kawaiis!
So, Niti is a confused woman. What do you think?
Let me know in the comments!
Do leave a vote if you enjoyed this chapter.
Cheers~ Aeon
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