CH-18

Orm stepped out of her car, the cool night breeze brushing against her face as she slowly made her way toward Ling’s front door. This house had become so familiar to her, almost like a second home. She felt comfortable coming and going as she pleased without any awkwardness.

As soon as she pushed the door open, a quiet stillness greeted her. The house was silent, and Orm assumed Ling was already asleep, given that it was already past eleven at night. Carefully, she climbed the stairs leading to Ling’s bedroom. Standing in front of the door, she reached for the handle and slowly turned it. The faint creak of the hinges echoed in the stillness.

Click.

However, Orm froze in surprise when she saw Ling already standing near the sofa, her gaze fixed directly on Orm, as if she had been waiting for her all along.

“P’Ling, why aren’t you asleep yet? I thought you had gone to bed,” Orm asked, slightly puzzled.

“How could I sleep when you haven’t come home yet?” Ling replied softly, though her tone carried a firm edge. Slowly, she stepped closer, her eyes never leaving Orm’s face, which showed a hint of unease.

Orm offered a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “P’Ling, you don’t have to wait up for me…”

Before Orm could finish her sentence, Ling suddenly leaned in, as if trying to catch a scent. Her eyes sharpened, turning serious. “Have you been drinking? Didn’t you say you only had classes today?”

Orm’s heartbeat quickened. “After class, I went out for a drink with View… She invited me, so I just kept her company,” she explained, trying to sound as calm as possible. She hoped the reason was enough to convince Ling.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going out for a drink?” Ling asked again, this time more intensely, as if searching for any hint of dishonesty in Orm’s words.

Orm reached for Ling’s hand, gently squeezing it in reassurance. “I’m sorry, Phi. My phone died, so I couldn’t let you know.”

Ling fell silent, simply staring at her. The heavy silence between them made Orm slightly nervous, but she decided to wrap up the conversation before the tension grew thicker.

“In that case, I’ll go freshen up first. Then we can sleep, okay?” Orm said softly, rubbing Ling’s arm before making her way to the bathroom.

Ling climbed onto the bed, lying down as her gaze drifted toward the ceiling, lost in thought. A few minutes passed before the sound of the bathroom door opening snapped her out of her daze.

Orm emerged, now dressed in comfortable pajamas. She walked over to the bed and lay down beside Ling. Without saying a word, Ling immediately scooted closer and rested her head on Orm’s chest.

“This feels nice…” Ling murmured with her eyes closed, embracing the warmth radiating from Orm’s body.

Orm instinctively ran her fingers through Ling’s hair. “Does it feel that good?” she asked softly.

“Of course… This is the most comforting place for me when I’m tired,” Ling replied firmly. “When I’m with you, all my exhaustion and worries seem to disappear.”

Hearing that, Orm smiled before carefully asking, “How was your dinner with P’Mean?”

Ling let out a quiet scoff. “It was nothing special. Honestly, if it weren’t for you asking me to go, I probably would’ve turned him down.”

“I just felt bad for P’Mean… He’s been inviting you so many times,” Orm said gently.

“I know,” Ling sighed. “But now I feel like it was the right decision. At least I’ve cleared my ‘debt’ of meeting with him, so he won’t keep asking until I get annoyed.”

Orm chuckled softly. “Well then, consider your debt paid.”

“Exactly. Just this once, and that’s it,” Ling said firmly, brushing her hand along Orm’s arm before lifting her head to place a gentle kiss on Orm’s cheek. “Now let’s sleep. I’m getting sleepy.”

“Alright, let’s get some rest. We have work tomorrow,” Orm replied, a small smile on her lips.

Before settling back against Orm’s chest, Ling leaned in for another kiss—this time on Orm’s lips. It lingered, as if she wanted to seal the night with warmth and certainty.

“Good night, N’Orm,” Ling whispered.

“Good night, P’Ling,” Orm replied, stroking Ling’s head gently. As silence filled the room once again, the two women drifted off to sleep, wrapped in the comfort of each other’s presence.

°°°°°

One Week Later...

Mean Phiravich's Birthday Fan Meeting was in full swing today. Fans had already begun entering the venue with excitement, eagerly anticipating a memorable moment with their beloved idol. Meanwhile, invited guests, consisting of Mean's close friends, started arriving one by one, gradually filling the event space.

Among the crowd was Ling, accompanied by Orm, her personal assistant. Although Orm was reluctant to attend, her responsibility as an assistant left her with no choice but to accompany Ling wherever she went.

"We'll sit here," Ling said softly, pointing to the seats reserved for them.

"Okay," Orm replied briefly, following along even as her thoughts wandered. Her eyes swept across the venue, briefly taking note of their seating location, which was relatively close to the stage.

The two of them settled into their seats, preparing to enjoy the event. Every now and then, Ling waved at the audience members who noticed her presence. Some even recorded her arrival and greeted her enthusiastically. Ling's popularity in the entertainment industry ensured that she always became the center of attention, even at an event like this.

A short while later, the event officially began. The atmosphere inside the venue became more vibrant as Mean appeared on stage, singing his hit songs. Each performance was met with cheers and thunderous applause from his fans. Then, as the event neared its end, Mean suddenly spoke before introducing his final song.

"This song is dedicated to someone special," he said in a gentle yet meaningful tone, causing the entire venue to fall silent with anticipation.

He then began singing a song titled Princess, but midway through the performance, Mean unexpectedly stepped down from the stage, carrying a bouquet of flowers. All eyes were on him, and Ling, noticing Mean walking toward her, immediately sensed that something was off. Her suspicions grew stronger when Mean finally stopped right in front of her.

"May I ask you to stand?" Mean's voice was soft yet firm.

Without a word, Ling complied, rising from her seat. Her heart pounded in her chest, sensing that this moment was unlike any other.

Her eyes widened as she watched Mean suddenly kneel before her, holding up the bouquet directly in front of her. The entire venue fell into a stunned silence, with only the sound of surprised gasps filling the air.

"Lingling, will you be my girlfriend again?" Mean asked, his voice filled with emotion, his gaze locked onto hers.

The audience erupted in cheers, some shouting for Ling to accept the heartfelt confession. Ling was taken aback, her eyes growing larger as she stood frozen in place. For a few seconds, she was completely speechless. The entire venue buzzed with excitement as fans eagerly waited for her response.

Ling instinctively turned to Orm, who also appeared stunned by what was happening. Their eyes met briefly before Ling returned her attention to Mean, who remained on one knee, patiently waiting for her answer. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Ling slowly reached out and took the bouquet from Mean’s hands.

"I will..." she replied simply, yet with certainty.

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers. A radiant smile spread across Mean's face, and the relief was evident in his expression. Without hesitation, he rose to his feet and pulled Ling into a tight embrace, releasing the emotions he had been holding back for so long. The audience roared in approval, thrilled to witness the rekindling of Ling and Mean’s love story.

Amidst the overwhelming excitement, Orm could only clap with a faint smile on her lips. Her emotions were a tangled mess—happy for Ling and Mean, yet something within her chest felt unbearably tight. Still, she suppressed those feelings, ensuring that nothing showed on her face in front of the crowd.

•••••

Ling’s schedule for the day had finally come to an end, and for the first time in a while, she was able to go home earlier than usual. As the car came to a stop in front of her house, Ling stepped out first. But instead of heading straight inside, she lingered by the door, waiting for Orm, who was still busy retrieving some items from the back seat.

"Let me help you," Ling offered, reaching for the things in Orm’s hands.

"It’s alright, Phi. I can carry them myself," Orm replied gently, a small smile on her lips as she politely declined.

Ling let out a quiet sigh, a bit heavy, before slowly making her way inside. She didn’t say anything else, simply walking ahead while Orm followed behind. Something felt different since Mean’s fan meeting earlier. Orm, who was usually warm and attentive, had been unusually quiet. Ling could sense the growing distance between them.

Once inside, Ling stopped in the living room, her gaze following Orm as she set the items down. A feeling of guilt weighed heavily on her chest, one she couldn't easily ignore. She knew that Orm hadn’t spoken much since they left the event. Even her expression lacked its usual brightness.

"Orm..." Ling called softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Orm paused and turned around. "Do you need something, P’Ling?" she asked, though her eyes deliberately avoided Ling’s. There was a certain carefulness in her tone.

Ling swallowed hard, steadying herself before stepping closer. She reached for Orm’s hands, clasping them firmly. They were warm, yet tense.

"I’m sorry," Ling murmured, her voice carrying a hint of trembling, laced with regret.

Orm remained silent before finally asking in a neutral tone, "Sorry for what?"

Ling searched Orm’s eyes, trying to summon the courage to be honest. "For accepting Mean’s request to get back together... The truth is, I did it because I didn’t want to reject him in front of so many people," she admitted sincerely.

Orm didn’t respond. She stayed still, though inside, her emotions churned relentlessly. Ling’s words only added to the weight she was already carrying.

"Mean has always been kind to me," Ling continued, her voice softer. "There’s a part of me that found it hard to turn him down, even though deep inside, I know I’m not completely sure. But Orm… I love you. Please understand my situation right now."

Hearing those words, Orm let out a faint smile. She finally lifted her gaze, meeting Ling’s eyes directly. "Do whatever you think is best, P’Ling… I’ll always support you," she replied calmly, though her heart trembled with emotions she struggled to suppress.

Ling looked at Orm with deep gratitude. She knew how much Orm’s support meant to her. Without hesitation, she pulled Orm into a tight embrace, holding her close. "I don’t want you to misunderstand. That’s why I needed to explain everything..." Ling whispered. "Even if, in the public’s eyes, I’m Mean’s girlfriend now… the only person I love is you, Orm."

A silence settled between them, the embrace becoming a moment of solace. But within it, Orm’s heart ached even more. Without meaning to, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away before Ling could notice, then gently pulled back from the hug.

"I trust you… P’Ling didn’t need to explain this much," Orm said with a small smile, though she felt fragile inside. "I have to go now. My class is about to start."

Ling nodded slowly, though an unease lingered in her chest. "What time will you be home? Do you want me to pick you up?" she asked softly, pressing a light kiss to the back of Orm’s hand.

Orm shook her head, keeping her smile intact. "No need. You should rest. I’ll be home as usual."

Ling gave Orm’s hand one last squeeze before reluctantly letting go. "See you later, Phi," Orm said as she took a step back.

"See you..." Ling responded. She reached out, gently tucking a strand of Orm’s hair behind her ear before waving as Orm turned to leave.

Orm returned the wave before walking toward her car. Once inside, she took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm raging within her.

•••••

The music reverberating throughout the bar, accompanied by the flashing lights, had no effect on Orm, who sat frozen in a corner of the room. Despite the lively crowd around her, she remained lost in thought, staring blankly at the table in front of her, now cluttered with several empty bottles of alcohol. Every few minutes, she poured another drink into her glass and downed it without a second thought, emptying bottle after bottle without realizing how heavy her head had started to feel.

"N'Orm?"

A faint voice called her name amidst the pounding music. Feeling her body losing its balance, Orm slowly turned her head, trying to recognize the voice that had just spoken to her.

"Oh? P'Ying?" she responded with a faint smile, though her eyes were already half-lidded. "What are you doing here, Phi?" she asked, her voice slightly slurred.

"I just finished meeting some friends and was about to head home. But you? What are you doing here?" Ying asked back, concern evident in her gaze as she looked at the empty bottles in front of Orm.

"I'm waiting for my friends," Orm answered briefly before taking another sip of the whiskey she had just poured.

Ying frowned. Three bottles of whiskey were already empty, yet Orm was still trying to pour herself another drink. "Are you okay?" she asked gently, though her voice was laced with worry.

Orm simply nodded weakly. "I'm fine," she murmured.

"Can I sit with you until your friends arrive?" Ying offered. When Orm gave her a small nod, Ying quickly took a seat beside her, unwilling to leave her alone in this state.

Not long after, Prikhing, View, and Milk arrived. The three of them looked surprised to see Ying sitting next to Orm.

"Sawadeekha," Ying greeted them with a warm smile.

"Sawadeekha, Phi," they replied in unison, though confusion was still apparent on their faces.

"Orm seems really drunk. I saw three bottles of whiskey already emptied," Ying explained, her voice tinged with concern.

"Oh, this must be because of the news about P'Ling and P'Mean getting back together," Prikhing said, her tone laced with irritation as she brought up the sensitive topic.

Hearing Lingling Kwong's name, Ying immediately perked up. "What do you mean? Does this have something to do with Lingling Kwong?" she asked, curiosity evident in her expression.

The three friends exchanged glances, unsure whether they should answer. Eventually, Prikhing decided to speak up. "Actually, Orm and P'Ling were more than just colleagues. They had feelings for each other, but P'Ling asked for time to figure out her emotions. But earlier today, we saw an article stating that during P'Mean's fan meeting, P'Ling accepted P'Mean’s love again, and now they're officially back together."

Hearing that, Orm slowly lifted her head, her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at Prikhing. "Why did you say that?" she asked weakly.

Prikhing sighed. "I had no choice—it was bound to come up sooner or later," she replied. But instead of anger, tears welled up in Orm’s eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel worse," Prikhing said softly, trying to console her.

"Why does it have to be like this?" Orm's voice broke as she sobbed. "P'Ling told me she only loves me, but then she said she felt bad rejecting P'Mean. How am I supposed to believe her words?"

Ying was startled by the confession. "Ling actually said that?" she asked, her expression turning serious.

View, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "If she still feels sorry for her ex, it means her feelings for P'Mean aren't completely gone. Maybe her feelings for you will fade too."

"Don't say that, View!" Prikhing protested. "Maybe she just didn’t want to embarrass P'Mean in front of so many people."

"But if she truly had no feelings left, she could’ve rejected her. Why pity someone who left you? Pity is just an excuse for someone who isn't firm with their own emotions," View argued.

"Enough, don't fight over this!" Ying tried to defuse the rising tension.

View sighed and turned to Orm with sympathy. "I'm sorry if I made things harder for you, Orm. I just want you to see the reality. I can't stand watching you get hurt like this."

"What should I do now?" Orm asked, her voice hoarse from crying. She reached for the whiskey bottle again, but Milk quickly took her glass away.

"That's enough, Orm. You've had way too much," Milk said, pushing the bottles out of her reach.

View offered some advice. "For now, just act normal. Don't let her see how much this affects you. Stay professional—just like your original intention when you became her assistant."

"Yeah, and if P'Ling tries to get close to you again, politely turn her down. Don’t let your emotions interfere with your work," Milk added, trying to be pragmatic.

Orm stared blankly at them. "Can I really do that?" she whispered before resting her head on the table, too dizzy to continue speaking.

Milk looked at Ying. "She’s completely wasted. We should continue this conversation another time."

Ying nodded. "I'll take Orm home. Where does she live?"

"She's staying at P'Ling’s house for now," Prikhing answered.

Without hesitation, Ying helped Orm up and guided her out of the bar. Once she made sure Orm was safely inside the car, Ying got in and started the engine. Before driving off, she glanced at Orm’s exhausted face and gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.

"I've always had feelings for you, but you’ve always chosen Ling. I stepped aside once, but this time... I won’t let Ling hurt you again."

•••••

Ling paced back and forth, anxiety swelling inside her. Every now and then, her eyes flicked to the wall clock—it was almost midnight. Worry gnawed at her; Orm still hadn’t come home. Usually, after class, she was back no later than 9 PM. But tonight, there was no sign of her. Worse, none of Ling’s calls were being answered. Something felt off, and the thought tormented her.

After weighing her options, Ling finally grabbed her car keys from the table and headed outside. She had made up her mind—she would find Orm, no matter what it took. But just as her hand reached for the car door, an unfamiliar vehicle pulled up in front of her house. Ling frowned, curiosity prickling at her.

“Ying?” she murmured in disbelief when she saw who stepped out of the car. Her face immediately hardened with discomfort. “What are you doing here? How do you even know my address?”

Ying barely spared her a glance, her expression unreadable. “No time for questions. Help me with Orm,” she said curtly, moving quickly to open the passenger door.

Ling’s heartbeat quickened at the mention of Orm’s name. Without hesitation, she rushed over, only to find Orm looking pale and weak, her eyes shut, her breathing uneven. With Ying’s help, she carefully lifted Orm’s limp body and carried her inside, settling her into bed. After making sure Orm was comfortable, both of them stepped out of the room, leaving her to rest.

In the living room, tension filled the air. Ying stood rigidly, while Ling fixed her with a sharp glare, waiting for an explanation.

“I found Orm at a club. She was drinking... alone,” Ying stated flatly, her gaze piercing.

“By coincidence? Or did Orm invite you?” Ling asked, her voice laced with suspicion. Something about this didn’t sit right with her.

“You don’t need to know that,” Ying shot back. “What matters is that she was drinking herself sick. And it’s all because of you.” Her voice rose with accusation, her eyes flashing with fury. “You just love ruining people’s lives, don’t you?”

“Watch your mouth,” Ling hissed, her own temper flaring.

Ying didn’t back down. She crossed her arms and stood firm, completely unfazed. “You claim to love Orm, yet you went back to Mean. Do you really think that wouldn’t break her?” Her words cut deep, hitting Ling where it hurt most. “If you can’t love Orm properly, let her go. I’ll love her in ways you never could.”

Ling scoffed, her eyes narrowing with pure disdain. “Tsk… I won’t let that happen.”

Ying stepped closer, her gaze filled with challenge. “You may refuse to let her go, but just wait—Orm will fall for me and ask you to step aside.”

That was the final straw. Fury exploded within Ling as she grabbed Ying’s collar, yanking her forward with a tight grip. Her eyes burned with an unspoken threat. “I will never let Orm fall for you. Keep dreaming,” she growled, every word laced with warning.

But Ying remained composed. A smirk played on her lips, mocking, unbothered. Slowly, she pried Ling’s fingers off her collar. “We’ll see about that,” she murmured. “Right now, Orm belongs to no one—not even you. Which means I still have a chance.”

Ling clenched her fists tightly, struggling to contain the anger surging inside her. Her glare never wavered, brimming with resentment and danger. “Orm loves me. And I am the only one who has the right to have her.”

Ying let out a quiet chuckle, arrogance lacing her tone. “We’ll see, Ling. We’ll see who she chooses in the end,” she said before turning on her heel and walking away with effortless confidence, as if she had already won the battle.

Ling remained frozen in place, her fists trembling with suppressed rage. Ying’s words echoed in her mind, relentless and unshakable. Ying might have taken many things from her before, but Ling would never allow her to take Orm away, too.