Chapter 13 - Paris

Orm went to the airport, her excitement building as she prepared to surprise Lingling. She had found out that Lingling would be on the same flight to Paris and had decided to show up, even though Lingling hadn't expected her. Orm had spent the whole night checking flight schedules and making sure everything was aligned. She wanted to be there for Lingling, to make sure she knew how much she meant to her, even if it meant showing up unannounced.

As Orm made her way through the airport, she kept an eye out for Lingling. It wasn't long before she saw her—Lingling in her flight attendant uniform, busy assisting passengers. She looked as professional as ever, but Orm couldn't help but smile at how beautiful she looked.

Lingling hadn't noticed Orm yet, but as Orm walked closer, their eyes met. Lingling's expression changed from focused to surprised as she caught sight of Orm standing there. Orm raised a hand, giving her a small wave, and mouthed a silent "hi."

Lingling's mouth dropped open slightly as she processed the unexpected sight. She gave Orm a questioning look, clearly trying to keep her composure, but there was no hiding her confusion.

Orm just grinned, walking up to her. "I couldn't let you fly to Paris alone," she said softly.

Lingling glanced around, making sure no passengers were watching, and mouthed back, "What are you doing here?"

Orm shrugged, smiling even more. "Surprise."

Lingling shook her head, though she couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Unbelievable," she whispered, trying to maintain her professionalism. "You're crazy."

Orm winked. "Maybe. But I'm here with you."

Lingling sighed, though it was clear she was touched by the gesture. "I can't believe you're doing this."

Orm chuckled, stepping closer. "I'm not leaving your side. Not this time."

Lingling shook her head but said nothing more, giving in to the unexpected turn of events. The two exchanged one last smile before the final boarding call sounded.

Throughout the flight, Orm behaved, focusing on her work as she sat with her laptop open. Every now and then, she'd glance over at Lingling, catching her eye. Each time, Lingling would smile softly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. It was as if nothing else mattered in that moment.

Lingling, in turn, couldn't help but steal glances at Orm when she had a chance. Every time their eyes met, they exchanged small, quiet smiles, knowing full well the connection between them hadn't been broken, even after all that had happened. The unspoken understanding lingered in the air.

___________

The plane landed, and passengers began to disembark. Orm remained seated, her gaze following the movement of people as they filed out of the plane. She waited patiently, Orm is the last passenger to leave. The cabin door closed and the flight attendants began wrapping up their work.

Lingling stepped off the plane, scanning the arrival area, fully aware that Orm was somewhere nearby. She wasn't surprised when she spotted her waiting by the exit. Orm's eyes immediately locked with hers, and she smiled brightly, her excitement barely contained.

Lingling, despite herself, felt her heart skip a beat. Knowing Orm was on this flight, but seeing her here, waiting for her, made the whole situation more real. She walked toward Orm, trying to remain calm, though the excitement and nerves were evident in her movements.

Orm waved when she saw Lingling approaching, her grin widening. "Hey," she greeted, her voice light and playful. "Are you tired?"

Lingling smiled back but kept it neutral. "A little."

Orm nodded enthusiastically. "I booked us a hotel," she said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Lingling froze, her mind trying to process the suddenness of it. "A hotel? We have a hotel provided by the airlines."

Orm nodded again. "Sure. I don't care. Anyway, don't worry. There are two rooms in the suite. Just thought we could stay there for the rest of our days until we leave Paris."

Lingling rubbed her temple. "Orm..."

Orm seemed oblivious to Lingling's hesitation and quickly grabbed both of their suitcases, handling them with ease. "Come on. Let's go. I promise you, it'll be fine."

Lingling sighed but couldn't bring herself to argue. She is here, in Paris, and she is already dealing with a million other emotions. "Fine," she muttered, allowing Orm to lead the way. "Let's just get to the hotel."

Orm's grin grew as they walked together, and despite everything, Lingling couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfort being around her again.

Lingling stepped inside the suite and immediately stopped in her tracks. The room was breathtaking—floor-to-ceiling windows offering a perfect, unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower, bathed in golden lights against the night sky. The decor was elegant, the space far too luxurious for just a short stay.

Lingling sighed, shaking her head. "Orm, this must have cost a fortune."

Orm smirked, setting their luggage aside. "So?" She shrugged. "I wanted us to have the best view of the Eiffel."

Lingling exhaled slowly, trying to push away the strange warmth in her chest. "You always do things in excess."

Orm grinned. "And you always worry too much." She walked past Lingling and plopped onto the couch, stretching out lazily. "Ling, will you relax? Just enjoy this."

Before Lingling could respond, the bellboy arrived, giving them a polite nod before placing their luggage neatly by the wall. Orm thanked him with a tip, and once he left, an odd silence settled in the room.

Lingling glanced at Orm, who was now watching her with a lopsided smile. "What?" she asked.

Orm tilted her head. "You haven't said you're happy to be here."

Lingling crossed her arms. "I never said I wasn't."

Orm's smirk widened. "Then say it."

Lingling rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile forming on her lips. She turned toward the massive window, taking in the sight of Paris at night. "It's beautiful," she admitted softly.

Orm walked up beside her, standing just close enough for their arms to almost brush. "It is," she murmured. But she wasn't looking at the view—she was looking at Lingling.

Lingling felt it, that intense gaze, and her heart skipped a beat. She kept her eyes on the city, pretending not to notice.

Orm then left her side as if finding something in their room.

Lingling asked, "Orm, remind me again why you're here in Paris?"

Orm, rummaging through the snack basket, barely glanced up. "Because you're here, obviously."

Lingling sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yes, because I'm working."

Orm popped a grape into her mouth. "Uh-huh. Me too."

Lingling shot her a look. "Working how?"

Orm shrugged, casually leaning against the counter. "Working on us. Earning your trust back. Making sure you know I'm serious." She grabbed another grape. "And, of course, making sure no one tries to steal you away." She smirked.

Lingling crossed her arms. "So, what, you're my personal watchdog now?"

Orm grinned. "If that's what it takes."

Lingling groaned. "You can't just book flights and follow me around like some lovesick puppy."

Orm sat on the couch, patting the seat beside her. "Why not? Got something to hide?"

Lingling rolled her eyes but sat—keeping a safe distance. "You're impossible."

Orm leaned closer, her voice softer. "And yet, you haven't told me to leave."

Lingling hesitated, then looked away. "...Not yet."

Orm stretched her arms and stood up. "Alright, go change."

Lingling, who was comfortably lounging on the couch, frowned. "Change? Why?"

Orm grinned. "We're going out. Let's grab dinner. I know a great place."

Lingling glanced at the time on her phone. "It's past nine. Can we just order room service?"

Orm sighed dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "Fine. You're no fun."

Lingling rolled her eyes as Orm picked up the hotel phone and ordered their meal. A few minutes later, hotel staff arrived and elegantly set up a small dining area on their balcony. The soft glow of Paris at night made the atmosphere feel almost surreal.

They ate leisurely, sipping wine and chatting about random things. Lingling found herself laughing more than she expected.

Orm tilted her head, watching Lingling with a soft smile. "I missed this."

Lingling paused mid-sip. "Missed what?"

Orm smirked. "You. Us. Just... talking like this."

Lingling looked away, pretending to focus on her plate, but the warmth in her chest betrayed her.

Orm leaned in slightly. "I'm serious, Ling. I'm not going anywhere this time."

Lingling let out a small sigh, still avoiding Orm's gaze. "...We'll see."

Orm stretched her hands with a satisfied sigh. "Alright, I'm heading to my room now. Get some rest—we have a long day tomorrow."

Lingling raised an eyebrow. "A long day? Orm, I have free days until we leave, but that doesn't mean you can just drag me around."

Orm smirked. "That's exactly what it means. I didn't fly all the way here just to stay cooped up in a hotel room."

Lingling sighed, crossing her arms. "And what exactly do you have planned?"

Orm leaned against the doorway of her room, her smirk widening. "You'll see."

Lingling shook her head. "You're unbelievable."

Orm winked. "And yet, here we are. Now, go get some beauty sleep, Ling. You'll need it."

Lingling rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile on her lips. She watched as Orm disappeared into her room before finally heading to her own.

As she lay in bed, she found herself wondering what Orm had planned—and why, despite her protests, she was actually looking forward to it.

__________

Orm woke up early, eager to start the day. She carefully dressed in a sexy outfit, but covered it with a trench coat, keeping things mysterious. She was sure Lingling was still fast asleep, taking her time to rest.

Orm tried calling Lingling, but there was no answer. Curious and a bit impatient, she opened the door to Lingling's room, only to freeze as she saw Lingling stepping out of the shower, droplets of water still glistening on her skin.

Lingling barely noticed Orm's presence, still drying her hair when Orm's eyes widened in shock.

"I'm sorry," Orm stammered, immediately shutting the door behind her, cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Lingling, now fully aware of Orm's sudden intrusion, muttered under her breath, "Crazy," shaking her head with a laugh. She couldn't help but find it funny—Orm, acting like she hadn't already seen her like that.

Sighing with a smile, Lingling walked over to her bag, while Orm, still blushing and flustered, sat on the couch, waiting awkwardly for Lingling to be ready.

Lingling couldn't suppress a playful grin as she finished getting dressed, knowing Orm was probably already imagining everything.

Orm tried to shake the images from her mind, telling herself over and over, Behave, Orm. She took a deep breath, trying to focus on the day ahead, but her mind kept wandering back to the image of Lingling stepping out of the shower. Nope, focus!

About half an hour later, Lingling walked out of her room, looking effortlessly chic. Her style was casual but still elegant, and Orm couldn't help but be captivated by her. She stopped in her tracks, her gaze locking on Lingling as she smiled softly.

Lingling noticed Orm's intense stare and raised an eyebrow. "Shall we?" she asked, her voice smooth and curious. "Where are you taking me?"

Orm blinked and cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "We'll go to Versailles. I rented us a car and a driver."

Lingling smiled at her, clearly pleased with the idea. Orm stood up, extending her arm toward Lingling in a gesture of both invitation and affection. Without hesitation, Lingling took Orm's hand, and without thinking, Orm intertwined their fingers.

The warmth of Lingling's hand in hers sent a wave of calm through Orm's body, but also a flurry of emotions she wasn't prepared to deal with. Lingling, too, couldn't help but stare at their intertwined hands, a soft smile playing on her lips. She had missed this—missed Orm's touch. There was something so simple yet profound about the moment, and she felt completely at ease in Orm's presence.