Chapter 22: Chapter 20 : Sweet Home

After returning from their extended honeymoon, Orm and Lingling arrived back at Orm’s family home. The familiar warmth of the house welcomed them, along with Orm’s mom and dad, who were clearly eager to hear about their trip.

“Welcome back, you two!” Orm’s mom greeted with an excited smile, hugging both of them.

“How was Bali?” her dad asked, setting their bags down for them.

Orm winked at Lingling, who flushed at the attention. “It was... an adventure,” Orm said mischievously.

“I can imagine,” her mom said knowingly, giving a playful look that made Lingling even redder.

“Dinner will be ready in an hour,” Orm’s mom continued. “Why don’t you two rest for a while and settle back in?”

Orm and Lingling nodded, taking their bags upstairs. As soon as they reached their room, Orm leaned against the door and exhaled dramatically.

“Our room feels so much smaller after that giant suite in Bali,” Orm joked as she flopped onto the bed.

“It’s still cozy,” Lingling said with a smile, placing their bags in the corner.

“Cozy enough for another honeymoon?” Orm teased, pulling Lingling onto the bed beside her.

Lingling laughed softly. “We just got back, Orm.”

“And?” Orm leaned closer, her lips brushing Lingling’s ear. “Don’t you want to relive the best parts of the trip?”

Lingling smirked, wrapping an arm around Orm’s waist. “You mean the food, right?”

Orm laughed, pulling Lingling closer. “You’re impossible,” she said, tilting Lingling’s chin to meet her gaze. “But seriously, I think I love you even more after this trip.”

Lingling’s expression softened, her cheeks pink. “You’re getting sentimental on me now?”

Orm nodded. “Can’t help it. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Lingling leaned in and kissed Orm gently. “You’re pretty amazing yourself,” she whispered against her lips.

---

The kiss deepened as Orm shifted to pull Lingling on top of her. Just as things were getting heated, the door suddenly swung open.

“Dinner’s ready—” Orm’s mom froze,

Orm and Lingling jerked apart, Orm’s hair a mess and Lingling visibly flustered.

“Mom!” Orm shouted, pulling the nearest blanket over them.

Orm’s mom blinked rapidly, her face turning bright red. “I-I didn’t realize you were... busy.”

Orm’s dad appeared behind her, trying to peek inside. “What’s going—oh.”

“Oh no,” Lingling muttered, hiding her face in Orm’s shoulder.

“Sorry, sorry!” Orm’s mom said quickly, backing out of the room and nearly bumping into her husband. “We’ll just give u privacy” She set it down haphazardly before pulling the door shut.

For a moment, there was silence. Then Orm burst out laughing, much to Lingling’s dismay.

“How can you laugh?” Lingling groaned, still hiding her face.

“It’s hilarious!” Orm said, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “At least now they’ll knock before coming in.”

Lingling sighed, shaking her head. “I’m never going to live this down.”

Orm pulled her close, brushing a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure they forget about it... eventually.”

Lingling huffed, but her lips twitched into a small smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love me for it,” Orm teased, earning a light smack on the arm.

As the laughter died down, Orm hugged Lingling tightly. “Come on, let’s eat. I need to fuel up if we’re going to have more of those ‘honeymoon moments’ later.”

“Orm!” Lingling groaned, but the smile didn’t leave her face as they made their way downstairs.

---

The tension from the earlier embarrassment lingered as Orm and Lingling sat at the dining table. Orm’s mom placed plates of steaming food in front of them, her face a little too focused on the task, while Orm’s dad avoided direct eye contact altogether.

“Dinner looks great,” Orm said casually, breaking the awkward silence.

Her mom nodded quickly, clearly trying to act normal. “Thanks, sweetie. Thought you’d enjoy a home-cooked meal after your trip.”

Lingling focused intently on her plate, avoiding both their gazes. She could still feel her cheeks burning from the earlier incident.

Orm, ever the playful one, couldn’t resist breaking the tension. “So, Mom, Dad, do you always walk into your guests' rooms without knocking?”

Her mom nearly dropped her fork. “I—uh—Orm! Stop!” she stammered, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink.

Her dad coughed awkwardly, muttering, “It’s their house now. They can lock their door if they want.”

Lingling almost choked on her bite of food, trying not to laugh. She shot Orm a subtle glare, but Orm just smirked and leaned closer to her.

“Don’t worry, love,” Orm whispered loud enough for her parents to hear, “next time, I’ll hang a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign.”

“Orm!” Lingling hissed, kicking her under the table.

“Alright, that’s enough,” Orm’s mom said, waving her hand dramatically. “We get it. We’ll knock next time, okay?”

Orm laughed, satisfied with her teasing victory.

The rest of the dinner went by in a mix of casual chatter and occasional glances between Orm and Lingling, who were slowly relaxing again. After the meal, Orm’s dad suggested they all sit in the living room for coffee.

---

Later that night, as Orm and Lingling lay in bed, the earlier embarrassment was long forgotten, replaced by a quiet, comfortable intimacy. Lingling rested her head on Orm’s shoulder, tracing lazy patterns on her arm.

“I think your parents are warming up to me,” Lingling said softly.

Orm chuckled. “Oh, they adore you. They just didn’t expect to see quite that much of you.”

Lingling groaned, burying her face in Orm’s neck. “Don’t remind me.”

Orm wrapped an arm around her, kissing the top of her head. “Hey, don’t worry about it. They’ll get over it. Besides...” She tilted Lingling’s face up to meet her gaze. “You’re worth every awkward moment.”

Lingling smiled shyly. “You always know how to make me feel better.”

“It’s my job now, isn’t it?” Orm said, pulling her closer. “But next time, let’s save the romantic moments for when we have the house to ourselves.”

Lingling laughed softly. “Deal.”

With that, they settled into a peaceful silence, letting the warmth of each other’s presence lull them to sleep, their connection stronger than ever.

---

The days following their return from Bali settled into a comfortable rhythm. Orm and Lingling had grown even closer, their bond now unshakable. The earlier mishap with Orm’s parents became a funny story they could all laugh about, easing any lingering tension.

One sunny morning, Orm’s mom called the two of them into the living room.

“We’ve been thinking,” her mom began, glancing at her husband for support, “about how lucky we are to have both of you in our lives. Lingling, you’re not just Orm’s partner—you’re part of this family now.”

Lingling’s eyes widened, and she instinctively reached for Orm’s hand. Orm squeezed it, offering a reassuring smile.

“You’ve brought so much light into our home,” Orm’s dad added. “And we wanted to do something to show how much we care.”

Orm raised an eyebrow, leaning forward in curiosity. “What’s this all about?”

Her mom beamed and pulled out a small box. “This is for both of you.”

Orm opened it, revealing a pair of matching bracelets with delicate engravings. One read Forever Together, and the other simply said Family.

Lingling’s eyes filled with tears as she held the bracelet. “This... this is so beautiful. Thank you so much.”

Orm’s mom reached over and placed a comforting hand on Lingling’s. “You’ve made our daughter so happy. And seeing the way you both support each other... it’s what every parent dreams of for their child.”

Orm, feeling a rare wave of emotion, smiled and hugged her mom tightly. “You’re the best, Mom.”

---

As the weeks went by, life became a joyful mix of work, family dinners, and sweet moments between Orm and Lingling. One weekend, they decided to host a barbecue in the backyard, inviting close friends and family.

The smell of grilled food filled the air, and laughter echoed as Orm’s dad attempted to teach Lingling how to flip burgers. Meanwhile, Orm’s mom fussed over the dessert table, making sure everything was perfect.

Orm watched Lingling from across the yard, her heart swelling with affection. Lingling was laughing with her whole heart, her smile brighter than the sun.

“She’s special, isn’t she?” her mom said, coming to stand beside her.

Orm nodded. “She’s everything.”

Her mom gave her a side hug. “I’m so proud of you, Orm. You’ve found someone who loves you for who you are, and that’s all we could ever want for you.”

---

Later that evening, after everyone had left and the house was quiet again, Orm and Lingling sat on the swing in the backyard, wrapped in a cozy blanket.

“This feels like a dream,” Lingling said softly, resting her head on Orm’s shoulder.

Orm kissed the top of her head. “That’s because we make a good team. Life’s easier when you have someone who’s always in your corner.”

Lingling smiled, turning to look at her. “I never imagined I’d have this—a family, a home, and... you.”

“Well, get used to it,” Orm teased, brushing a strand of hair from Lingling’s face. “Because you’re stuck with me forever.”

Lingling laughed, her cheeks pink. “Forever sounds pretty good.”

They sat there for a while, watching the stars, their hands intertwined. There was no rush, no need for words—just the quiet, unspoken promise of a lifetime together, surrounded by love and family.

---

The End

Out of all my stories, ‘Arranged in Chaos’ holds a special place in my heart. It’s my personal favorite, and I hope you love it as much as I do! :)