𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 ᵗᵐʳ ᵃᵘ

Chapter 13: Nausea

⚠️ED⚠️

"Why'd they even take your wallets?" Hana asked.

"Ask them," Minho said and we all looked at Newt and Aris.

"Because we wanted to see what they would do," Newt said.

"Wow, surprised Newt didn't use the money to buy Thomas a wedding ring," Teresa muttered and Hana and I snorted.

"Why would Newt buy Thomas a wedding ring?" Asked Sonya.

"No reason," Newt quickly said. "No reason at all... It was... uh- just a joke, right, Teresa?"

"Yeah... sure. 'Just a joke,'" Teresa said, smiling. Hana, Teresa and I looked at each other for a second, and Thomas and Newt's faces turned slightly pink.

"Anyways... We should probably go home to get ready or whatever," Hana said. 

"Yeah, before Thomas and Newt turn into tomatoes," Teresa muttered. 

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I'm in the bathroom. Putting on my makeup and doing my hair. I slipped on my dress and shoes but I couldn't do the zip at the back of my dress. And only one other person was in the room. Minho. I open the door, sighing in relief when I see Minho isn't standing right outside the bathroom. 

I knock on the closed bedroom door. 

"Minho?" I ask. I hear nothing. I try to open the door. It's locked. "Minho?" I ask again. "I need your help." Why did that sentence come out sounding like a plead? 

A few seconds later, he opened the door. 

Oh god. 

White shirt. Messy hair. Biceps. Black pants. I caught myself staring and I tore my eyes away from him. 

"Sorry... I was... uh- busy..." He said and it ended with an awkward silence. He cleared his throat. He looked me up and down. "Uhm, what do you need help with?" 

"I was just wondering if you could zip up the back of my dress, please," I said. 

"Uh, yeah, sure." He exited the room and stood behind me. I moved my hair out of the way and he started zipping up the back of my dress. My breath got trapped in my throat for a second when his fingertips lightly brushed my back. 

No. No. No. You. Don't. Like. Him. 

He finished zipping up the dress and he muttered something that I couldn't quite hear. 

"There you go," He said. 

"Thanks," I said before I walked back into the bathroom. I let out a breath when I reentered the bathroom. What the actual shit is happening to me. 

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We were walking to our table and for some reason, everyone but Minho and I walked quickly to the table. When Minho and I finally arrived the only two spots that were left were right next to each other.

Great.

We sat down and the others kinda just talked while I stayed quiet. I was way too busy thinking about what happened in the hotel room. Why did I react like that? I don't even wanna know to be honest.

For the rest of the night, Minho and I got strange looks from the others and at one point I just wanted to get away. I excused myself to the bathroom and hurriedly locked myself in one of the stalls.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breath in. Breathe out. Breathe in breathe out.

After about two minutes or so, I stepped out of the stall and went up to the sink. I wanted to splash my face with water but that would ruin the makeup I spent so long on.

I look at myself in the mirror but an unfamiliar face stares back at me.

Messed-up hair. Bags under her eyes. She looked tired. This person staring back at me was supposed to be me. But I didn't recognize her.

I take one more deep breath before exiting the bathroom.

I start walking towards the table when I accidentally run into someone.

"Sorry," The person muttered and they left before I could even respond or look at them. I ignored the nauseating feeling in my stomach and made my way to the table. I sit down on my chair and just kinda zone out.

Someone nudged me but I ignored it. They nudged me again.

"Psst, Anika," Someone whispered. I looked back up and saw that it was Minho.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"You alright? You look like you did on the plane. Like you're about to be sick," He said.

"Probably just got food poisoning or something," I said.

"Anika. The food hasn't even arrived yet," Minho said.

"I probably got it from something I ate earlier today. Nothing to be too worried about..." I said, brushing off the subject.

"Alright... If you say so..." Minho didn't sound too convinced. I wouldn't blame him. Even I'm not convinced.

After a few minutes, the food arrived at our table and while everyone else started to eat, I stared at the food like it wasn't edible. I felt like I was gonna puke if I ate one bite. I push away the thought and I practically force One of the fries down my throat. God, I might actually throw up.

It didn't take long for me to stop eating entirely. I forced a few fries down my throat but every bite tasted like I wasn't supposed to eat it. Just looking at food makes me wanna throw up. I have no idea why.

"Anika," Hana whispered. "You okay? You've barely touched your food and you looked like you were forcing yourself to eat it."

"I'm fine... I'm just feeling below the weather today," I said. I glanced at my food again. I'm about to puke. Don't get me wrong, the food looks and smells good but I just can't eat it. I feel like I'm forcing myself to eat. I rush to the bathroom, only this time I don't excuse myself. I just run.

I lock the bathroom stall and I puke in the toilet. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.