CH-05

The atmosphere inside the car was heavy with silence. Orm kept her eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel, while Ling sat quietly beside her, gazing out the window. Every now and then, Ling’s eyes flickered toward Orm, as if she wanted to say something, but the weight of unspoken words held her back.

After what felt like an eternity, the car finally rolled to a stop in front of Ling’s house. Orm switched off the engine and slowly unfastened her seatbelt, her movements deliberate and unhurried.

"We're here, P'Ling," Orm said, her voice devoid of warmth or inflection.

Ling turned her head toward her, frowning slightly.

"Orm..." she called softly, yet there was a quiet firmness in her tone.

Orm met her gaze. "What is it, P'Ling?" she asked, her voice remaining as composed and impassive as before.

Ling studied her for a moment before speaking. "Why are you talking to me like this? This isn't how you usually are."

Orm let out a small, almost imperceptible smile. "It's just your imagination, phi," she replied, brushing off the concern with a light remark.

She then reached for the door handle, intending to step out. However, before she could, Ling’s fingers wrapped around her wrist, stopping her in place. In an instant, Ling shifted, her other hand pressing against the seat, effectively cornering Orm where she sat. The sudden closeness between them made the air feel heavier, more charged. Only inches separated them now.

"I don’t want you to talk to me like this," Ling murmured, her voice steady yet laced with something gentler, something unspoken. Her gaze locked onto Orm’s, unwavering and intense.

Orm held her stare, equally unyielding. "Didn’t phi say I talk too much?" she countered, her lips curving just slightly. "So, I thought I should tone it down."

A beat of silence stretched between them. The world outside seemed to blur, leaving only the two of them in this suspended moment.

Ling's eyes lingered on Orm’s face as if searching for something she couldn't quite name. Then, as if snapping back to reality, she withdrew, retreating to her side of the car once more.

"Just talk to me like you always do," she insisted one last time before opening the door and stepping out.

Orm remained seated, watching as Ling walked away without looking back.

"Alright, P'Ling," she murmured, though the words felt more like they were spoken to the empty space left behind.

Ling made her way to the front door, her steps brisk but her thoughts in disarray. Just as she reached the entrance, she hesitated. Taking a deep breath, she pressed a hand against her chest, as if to steady the unfamiliar rhythm of her heartbeat. It was strange—this feeling. Unexpected.

"P'Ling..."

Ling turned at the sound of her name and was startled to find Orm standing there, having followed her. The woman’s expression was calm, her usual composed smile in place.

"Everything’s wrapped up for today," Orm said lightly. "I’ll be heading home now."

Ling nodded once. "Alright. Have a safe trip," she replied, her voice even, though she avoided meeting Orm’s gaze.

Orm offered a faint smile, nodding in return. "Okay. Good night, P'Ling."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Ling remained where she stood, her hands curled into loose fists at her sides. Though she looked away, her eyes couldn’t help but steal a glance at Orm’s retreating figure, watching until she disappeared into the night.

°°°°°

A morning routine that Linling Sirilak Kwong never missed was exercising, even if it was only for a short time. But since her schedule was free today, Ling decided to dedicate more time to her workout before meeting up with her friends.

After feeling she had exercised enough, Ling left the gym and started walking toward her room. However, her steps came to a halt when she saw her boyfriend sitting on the couch in the living room.

"Mean..." Without any small talk, Ling walked straight to Mean and hugged him tightly. It had been a week since Mean disappeared without a word, and Ling couldn't hold back her emotions. "I missed you. Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer my calls? I even tried reaching out to P'Junji, but he didn’t respond either." Ling poured out the questions that had been swirling in her mind.

Mean remained silent, not answering her questions, and instead, changed the subject. "I came here because there's something I need to discuss with you."

Sensing the tension in Mean's gaze, Ling carefully sat down across from him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I want us to end this relationship..."

"Huh?" Ling was shocked by Mean’s words. "What do you mean, end it?"

"I want to break up because I’ve been feeling bored for a while. We’re just not right for each other, and everything feels monotonous. I’ve only been sticking around because I felt sorry for you. You seemed so lonely," Mean said flatly.

Ling was stunned, struggling to believe what she had just heard. "Bored? Are you serious, Mean? Didn’t we always get along? Tell me, is there something about me that made you uncomfortable?"

"Yeah, things were fine, but behind all of that, I’ve been wanting to end it for a long time. I was just waiting for the right moment because I didn’t want people to think badly of me. I’m maintaining my image, that’s all. If it weren’t for that, I would’ve left a long time ago."

Ling’s face went pale, the pain clearly reflected in her eyes. "So, all this time, you were just pretending? Didn’t you tell me that you loved me and wanted to marry me?"

Mean shrugged indifferently. "Love? I did love you in the beginning, but now I don’t feel that anymore. That love is gone, and it’s time for me to end this."

Ling bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. "Why didn’t you tell me from the start? Why choose to hurt me like this?"

Mean looked at her coldly, without the slightest trace of regret. "I’ve told you, it’s just because I felt sorry for you, Ling," he said flatly.

Ling fell silent, her body trembling from the flood of emotions she was holding back. Yet, Mean remained calm, as though nothing was wrong with what he had just said.

"I hope you can understand," Mean continued, his voice still cold, offering no compassion. "You’re not the problem, Ling. I just don’t feel the same anymore. I don’t want to keep pretending to be happy in front of others and cause you more pain."

At that, Ling finally couldn’t hold back the tears any longer and began to sob uncontrollably. Every word Mean spoke felt like a sharp knife slicing through her heart, and she never imagined that her two-year relationship with him would end this way. Meanwhile, Mean simply stood there, giving her a brief, emotionless glance before turning toward the door.

"Thanks for everything, Ling. I’m sure you’ll be fine," he said in a cold tone before walking toward the door. "I’ll make a statement to the media about the rumors that we’ve broken up. Don’t forget to make your own clarification too," he added. Without another word, Mean left the house, leaving Ling alone, engulfed in deep sadness.

•••••

"Look at this..."

View’s voice broke the silence as she extended her phone toward Orm, who was happily indulging in a bowl of meatball soup. Orm, too absorbed in her meal, finally glanced up, her gaze settling on the screen View held up in front of her. She squinted slightly at the content displayed but showed no particular reaction. Without saying a word, she returned her attention to her food, unbothered.

"Lingling Kwong’s personal assistant—blessed with angelic beauty," View read aloud from a comment on one of the online platforms.

"Her name is Orm Kornnaphat... She looks more like a celebrity than a personal assistant," View continued, grinning as she scrolled through more posts. Meanwhile, Orm remained unfazed, her focus still on her meal.

"You’re going viral because you’re working for Khun Ling," View teased, amusement dancing in her voice as she observed her best friend’s indifference, despite her name being widely discussed on social media.

Orm finally responded, albeit casually. "I know. But I don’t really pay attention to it," she replied with a shrug, as if the whole situation wasn’t worth dwelling on.

It had been a month since Orm started working as Lingling Kwong’s personal assistant—a famous actress whose presence was constantly in the spotlight. In that short time, Orm had accompanied Ling to various events and public appearances. Fans often approached her for pictures or brief conversations, captivated by her poised demeanor and effortless elegance beside Ling.

Although Orm initially didn’t think much of it, she gradually noticed a sharp increase in her social media followers. She wondered how people even managed to find her private account. On top of that, every time she attended public events with Ling, she often caught glimpses of people secretly taking her photos and uploading them online. It was strange—despite not being a public figure herself, she was slowly becoming recognized.

The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by Prikhing’s loud outburst.

"Shit!" she exclaimed, making Orm, View, and Milk jolt in unison, turning their heads toward her.

"What’s wrong?" Milk asked quickly, noting the serious expression on Prikhing’s face.

"This... You guys need to see this now!" Prikhing replied anxiously, placing her phone on the table to display a video interview.

View, Orm, and Milk leaned in, their eyes fixed on the screen, where a broadcasted interview with a man named Mean was playing. In the footage, Mean was seen addressing the circulating rumors about his relationship with Ling. Officially, he confirmed that they had decided to part ways after being together for two years.

Orm’s expression shifted. Though she tried to mask her reaction, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. Milk, noticing the subtle change in her demeanor, asked, "Did you know about this?"

Orm exhaled quietly before responding, "I knew about the rumors, but I never asked for details about their relationship." As Ling’s personal assistant, Orm had always respected her employer’s privacy and refrained from meddling in personal matters—even though, in the past few days, she had noticed Ling seemed more withdrawn than usual.

"Two years of dating… If I were P'Ling, I’d be devastated," Milk murmured sympathetically.

Something about those words seemed to stir something within Orm. Without another word, she suddenly rose from her seat, determination evident in her eyes.

"I need to go," she announced abruptly.

"Huh? Where are you going?" View asked, startled by Orm’s sudden urgency.

Orm didn’t answer. She made her way to the cashier, paid for her meal, and then hurried toward the campus parking lot. Her steps were quick, purposeful—like there was something pressing she needed to take care of.

There was only one thing on her mind:Ling.

•••••

The moment Orm stepped out of the car, she wasted no time heading straight for Ling’s front door. With swift movements, she pressed the buttons on the keypad, entering the passcode she had memorized. As soon as the lock clicked open, she pushed the door and stepped inside without hesitation.

The house was eerily quiet. Not a single sound could be heard, and the lights hadn’t been turned on, leaving the space dim and unwelcoming. Orm reached out, running her fingers along the wall until she found the light switch. A quick flick, and the room was instantly bathed in a soft glow.

"P'Ling..." Orm called out, her voice carrying a slight tremor. No response.

"P'Ling!" she called again, louder this time, her heart pounding with unease.

Silence.

The unsettling stillness sent a shiver down her spine. Without another thought, Orm rushed deeper into the house, heading straight for Ling’s bedroom. Her hand gripped the doorknob, and she pushed it open—only to freeze at the sight before her.

A pool of water spread across the floor.

Orm’s gaze followed the trail, dread creeping up her spine as it led her toward the bathroom. A suffocating sense of urgency overtook her as she rushed forward, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. With a forceful push, she flung the bathroom door open—only for her breath to catch in her throat.

"P'Ling!!"

Ling was submerged in the bathtub, her body completely beneath the water.

Panic surged through Orm’s veins like wildfire. She didn’t think—she simply moved. In an instant, she leaped into the tub, plunging her hands into the water and grasping Ling’s arms with all her strength. With sheer determination, she pulled Ling up, lifting her above the surface.

Ling gasped, choking on the water she had inhaled, her body trembling violently as she coughed and struggled to breathe. But as soon as air filled her lungs, a sharp, anguished cry escaped her lips.

"Let me go! Let me die!" Ling screamed, her voice cracking with raw, unfiltered pain. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, mixing with the droplets of water still clinging to her skin. She thrashed desperately, trying to break free from Orm’s grasp, trying to throw herself back into the suffocating depths of the water.

Orm’s grip only tightened. "No! P'Ling, stop!" Her voice was firm, yet it quivered with emotion. She refused to let Ling go, refused to let her drown in this despair.

Ling sobbed uncontrollably, her strength slowly draining away. "It’s my fault... It’s all my fault that he left me..." she choked out between gasps. "I’m worthless... I don’t deserve love. That’s why Mean left me."

Orm’s expression darkened with concern, seeing the once-strong, unwavering Ling now shattered beyond recognition. Without hesitation, she cupped Ling’s tear-streaked face in her hands, forcing their eyes to meet.

"P'Ling, listen to me." Her voice was steady, resolute. "You are not worthless. So many people love you. Your family, your friends... even your fans. They all care about you. I care about you."

But Ling weakly shook her head, still unable to believe those words. "No... I don’t deserve happiness..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet the weight of her grief was deafening.

And then—she broke.

She collapsed against Orm, her body trembling, her sobs wrecking through her entire being. She buried her face into Orm’s shoulder, as if it was the only thing keeping her from completely falling apart.

Orm remained silent, holding Ling close, letting her cry, letting her pour out every ounce of agony trapped within her heart. Slowly, hesitantly, Orm wrapped her arms around Ling, embracing her with a warmth that words could never convey.

She didn’t know if this was enough. She didn’t know if anything could ever be enough to mend the wounds Ling bore.

But at that moment, all she could do was hold her.