Chapter 6 - Just my Luck

Orm cleared her throat. "So, when are you free?"

Lingling raised a brow. "Why?"

Koy smirked behind her tea, watching closely.

Orm exhaled. "To catch up. Properly this time."

Lingling hesitated. "I have a flight to Japan tomorrow. But I'll be back in a few days."

Orm nodded. "Text me when you're back."

A pause. Then, Lingling said, "Alright."

Few minutes passed. As they stepped out of the café, Orm glanced at her watch. "We should go home now."

Koy nodded. "Yes,Traffic can be bad at this hour."

Lingling adjusting her bag. "Alright."

Orm gestured toward her car. "I'll drive you."

Lingling shook her head. "I have my own car."

Orm sighed. "Suit yourself. Drive safe."

Lingling gave a small smile. "You too."

Koy watched the exchange with a knowing look but said nothing.

Before they parted ways, Orm stole one last glance at Lingling before getting into her car.

As they settled into the car, Koy smirked. "You should thank me. At least now you know she's still within reach."

Orm sighed, gripping the steering wheel. "Mom, seriously. Don't do that again."

Koy chuckled. "No promises."

Orm shook her head, but deep down, she wasn't entirely mad.

____________

Lingling's POV

Lingling gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove back to her condo. The city lights blurred past her, but her mind was stuck on the unexpected coffee meetup. She didn't know why she agreed. Maybe it was Koy's warmth, or maybe it was the part of her that still wanted answers.

She sighed, shaking her head. Five years. Five years and she just shows up like nothing happened.

When she arrived at her condo, she found Charlotte cooking dinner. The smell of garlic and herbs filled the air.

"Hey, you," Charlotte greeted with a smile.

Lingling dropped her bag by the door and sighed. "I had coffee with Orm. And her mom."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "Wow. How did that go?"

Lingling hesitated. "Weird. I... I don't know. We're supposed to have lunch when I get back from Japan."

Charlotte leaned against the counter. "So, maybe you'll finally get some answers."

Lingling stayed silent.

Charlotte smirked. "Should I start packing and move out?"

Lingling groaned. "Don't be ridiculous."

Charlotte chuckled. "Look, no hard feelings. I know where I stand."

Lingling sat on the couch, lost in thought. She wasn't ready—but she needed to know.

___________

Orm's POV

Orm was already in bed, staring at the ceiling, willing herself to fall asleep. She had an early meeting tomorrow, and she knew she needed the rest. But sleep wasn't coming. Her mind was restless.

Just as she turned to her side, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She lazily reached for it, squinting at the screen.

Bam: Hey, I heard you're back in Bangkok. Want to catch up?

Orm groaned, locking her phone without replying. Not tonight, Bam. Last time I saw you, you got me in trouble. She tossed the phone aside and lay on her back, exhaling deeply.

Her thoughts drifted—back to the mall, to the café, to the way Lingling looked at her. It wasn't anger, not quite. But it wasn't warmth either. It was something in between. Unfinished.

She rubbed her temples, mumbling to herself. "Shit. We're having lunch together. What the fuck am I even gonna say? Sorry? 'Oh hey, I just disappeared for five years, my bad.'"

She groaned again, turning onto her stomach. But no matter how much she tried to push it out of her head, it wouldn't leave.

Frustrated, she grabbed her phone again, this time checking the time. 10:45 PM.

Before she could think twice, she sat up, ran a hand through her hair, and swung her legs over the bed.

Minutes later, she was in her car, backing out of the driveway.

Orm had no destination in mind. She just drove. The roads were mostly empty, streetlights casting long shadows as she passed by. She needed air, space—something to clear the mess in her head.

Eventually, she found herself pulling into a 7-Eleven parking lot. With a sigh, she stepped out, grabbed an ice cream from the freezer inside, paid, and got back into her car.

She parked near a quiet gas station and leaned back in her seat, unwrapping the ice cream absentmindedly. The cold sweetness barely registered as she stared at her phone screen.

Lingling's number was there. Right there.

She hadn't called it in years.

Her thumb hovered over the screen. She bit her lip, hesitating.

"Just a call," she whispered. "It's not like she'll even answer."

But before she could talk herself out of it, she pressed dial.

The line rang.

Orm held her breath.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

"Hello?"

It wasn't Lingling's voice.

Orm blinked, caught off guard. "Uh... is Lingling there?" Her voice came out quieter than she intended.

"She's in the shower. Who's this?" The voice was casual. Friendly.

But all Orm heard was She's in the shower.

Her stomach twisted. Her grip on the ice cream tightened, fingers numb from the cold.

Without thinking, she hung up.

She stared at her phone, heart pounding.

Lingling. Shower. Other person answering.

She didn't know what she expected. But it still stung.

"Nice timing, Orm," she muttered bitterly.

She turned on the radio.

I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you...

"Oh, for fuck's sake." She let out a dry laugh, licking her ice cream aggressively.

Then, frustration took over. She banged her fist against the steering wheel, exhaling sharply.

And finally, in the solitude of her car, she let herself whisper what she really felt.

"Fuck you, Charlotte."

_____________

Lingling's POV

Lingling had just finished taking a shower when Charlotte called out to her from the living room.

"Someone called you while you were in there," Charlotte said, lounging on the couch with her phone in hand.

Lingling grabbed a towel and ran it through her damp hair. "Who was it?"

Charlotte shrugged. "Didn't recognize the number. Not saved in your contacts."

Lingling stilled. Her heart skipped a beat.

She had deleted Orm's number a long time ago, but she still knew it by heart.

"Did they say anything?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Charlotte glanced at her. "Just asked for you. Then hung up when I said you were in the shower."

She picked up her phone, staring at the screen.

No message. No missed calls.

She tossed her phone onto the bed and sat at her vanity, brushing out her wet hair.

Lingling stayed quiet, staring at her reflection.

She thought she had moved on, built a life without Orm. But one call—one late-night, unexpected call—and suddenly, it felt like the past wasn't as far away as she had convinced herself it was.

____________

Orm's POV

Orm gripped the steering wheel, her mind a tangled mess. She shouldn't have called. Hearing Charlotte's voice answer Lingling's phone made her stomach twist.

Without thinking, she drove to a nearby bar. She needed a drink.

Sliding onto a barstool, she ordered vodka. The first shot burned, but not enough. She signaled for another.

She's in the shower. The words replayed in her head, taunting her.

Orm scoffed, downing another shot.

She laughed bitterly and ordered another round.

______

Orm tried her best to walk in a straight line, but the ground beneath her felt unsteady. The bartender called after her, telling her not to drive, but she waved him off. "Don't tell me what to do," she slurred, fumbling with her keys.

She clicked the button, hearing her car alarm beep somewhere in the distance. "Oops, there you are," she muttered, stumbling toward it.

Rubbing her eyes, she slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. The streetlights blurred as she pulled out of the parking lot, her head heavy, her body sluggish.

She gripped the wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white. "I just need to get home," she mumbled to herself. But the alcohol was hitting her harder now, making the road ahead twist and shift like a bad dream.

As she made a turn, a truck's headlights suddenly flooded her vision. Orm's heart nearly leaped out of her chest. She swerved sharply, the tires screeching against the pavement. The car spun, coming to a jerking stop just inches from a street pole.

Breathing hard, she stared at her shaking hands. "Shit," she whispered. She wasn't okay. Not at all.

The flashing red and blue lights reflected off Orm's windshield as a police car pulled up beside her. She groaned, resting her forehead on the steering wheel. "Great. Just great. This is definitely going to be in the news tomorrow."

A uniformed officer tapped on her window. She hesitated before rolling it down, forcing a tight smile.

"License, please," the officer said, his expression unreadable.

Orm sighed and fumbled through her wallet, handing it over. The officer glanced at her ID before asking, "Have you been drinking tonight, ma'am?"

Orm let out a dry laugh. "Just a little."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Step out of the vehicle."

She groaned but obeyed, nearly tripping as she got out. The officer caught her arm, steadying her.

"Alright," he said, leading her to a flat stretch of pavement. "Walk in a straight line for me."

Orm tried—really, she did—but her legs wobbled like jelly. She took a few unsteady steps before completely losing her balance.

The officer sighed. "Yep. You're definitely drunk."

Orm gave him a sheepish grin. "So... what now? Jail? Headlines? My mother disowning me?"

The officer crossed his arms. "Let's start with calling someone to pick you up."

The officer sighed, looking down at Orm as she leaned against her car, barely able to stand straight. "Alright, who do we need to call?"

Orm squinted at him, trying to focus. "It's... on my recent calls." She waved vaguely at her phone.

The officer took it from her, scrolling through her call log. Orm blinked, realizing—too late—that her last dialed number wasn't her mother.

"Wait—" she tried to protest, but the officer had already pressed the call button.

The ringing tone echoed in the night. Orm groaned, rubbing her temples. "Fuck me," she whispered.

After a few rings, a familiar voice answered. "Hello?"

The officer cleared his throat. "Ma'am, do you know an Orm Sethratanapong?"

Silence. Then, cautiously, "Yes... why?"

"She's intoxicated and unable to drive. We need someone to pick her up."

Orm exhaled sharply, already regretting every decision that led to this moment.

After what felt like forever, Lingling finally responded, "Where is she?"

The officer gave her the location and ended the call. "She's on her way."

Orm let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Fantastic."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "You're lucky someone's coming."

Orm wasn't sure if "lucky" was the right word.