CH-07

That morning, the clock had just struck seven, yet Ling had already arrived at the set for a morning-themed sports commercial. The air around the field, which had been chosen as the filming location, was still crisp, the sun’s rays just beginning to filter through the trees, and the crew bustled about, making final preparations. With the same dedication and professionalism she brought to every job, Ling was fully prepared for a physically demanding day ahead.

Several scenes had to be reshot to perfect the finer details. The director continued to give instructions, and Ling followed each one without hesitation. After every take, she would walk over to the monitor, her sharp eyes scanning the footage, ensuring that every expression, movement, and lighting angle aligned with expectations.

As the shoot progressed, fatigue began to set in. Sensing this, Orm, who had been by her side since the morning, approached with a cold bottle of water. “P’Ling, have a drink,” she said, handing it to her.

Ling offered a faint smile, taking the bottle from Orm’s hands. “Thank you, N’Orm,” she replied, relieved to have a brief moment to rest in the midst of the demanding shoot.

Without wasting time, Ling unscrewed the cap and took a sip through the attached straw. But after just a few sips, she suddenly paused, startled by the gentle touch of Orm’s hand on her face. Instinctively, she lifted her gaze, her eyes locking onto Orm’s.

Orm looked slightly confused by Ling’s intense stare. “I was just fixing your makeup,” she explained, a sheepish smile forming on her lips. Carefully, she smoothed down a few strands of Ling’s hair that had been tousled by the wind and the physical movements of filming. Then, with practiced ease, she pulled a tissue from her pocket and gently dabbed at the beads of sweat forming on Ling’s forehead.

Her touch was natural and delicate, leaving Ling momentarily speechless. She remained still, her gaze fixed on Orm, watching the precise, effortless way her assistant tended to her. There was warmth in this simple gesture—though it seemed like a routine task for Orm, to Ling, it felt like something more. She felt at ease, protected, and, oddly enough, comforted by Orm’s presence.

Once satisfied that Ling’s hair and makeup were back in place, Orm stepped back slightly, giving her space. “Are you ready for the next scene, P’Ling?” she asked with a soft smile.

Ling blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She gave a small shake of her head, feeling strange for having been so absorbed in such a fleeting moment. “Yes, I’m ready,” she replied briefly, though a lingering feeling remained in her chest whenever she was near Orm.

After a grueling few hours of filming, Ling finally exhaled in relief as the clock neared eleven. The morning sports commercial had been particularly intense, requiring both physical endurance and focus. Despite the exhaustion, she felt a sense of satisfaction—each scene had gone smoothly, and both the director and crew seemed pleased with her performance.

Ling had intended to approach Orm, who had stayed by her side throughout the morning, but her steps halted at an unexpected sight.

In the corner of the waiting area, Orm had dozed off while sitting, her body slightly slumped forward, an iPad still clutched in her hands—the same one she used to manage Ling’s schedule.

A small smile tugged at Ling’s lips. Though Orm always appeared cheerful and energetic, Ling knew just how tiring it was for her to accompany her through long hours of filming. Without wanting to wake her, Ling quietly stepped closer and took a seat beside her. She observed Orm’s peaceful face, though traces of fatigue were evident.

Reaching for her jacket, which was draped over a nearby table, Ling carefully placed it over Orm’s shoulders, ensuring she wouldn’t get cold. It was a small gesture, but one that made Ling feel at ease, as if she were repaying the constant care Orm always showed her.

Ling remained there, allowing Orm to rest a little longer. The set was growing quieter, with crew members busy packing up, and Ling took the opportunity to steal a few moments of rest herself.

Time passed until Orm finally stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. A brief look of confusion crossed her face when she saw Ling sitting beside her, watching over her. “P’Ling, why didn’t you wake me up?” she asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Ling simply smiled. “You looked exhausted. I didn’t want to disturb you,” she said gently.

Orm flushed slightly, embarrassed that she had fallen asleep on the job. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s fine. You need rest too,” Ling reassured her, her voice carrying a warmth that made Orm relax.

Realizing she had dozed off while working, Orm quickly straightened up. She glanced down at the iPad still in her hands and swiftly checked Ling’s schedule. After scanning it, she looked back at Ling.

“There are no more appointments after this, P’Ling. Would you like to head straight home, or do you have other plans?” she asked, her voice as professional as ever.

Ling, appearing more composed after the long day, took a moment to think before responding. “Hm… I have plans to meet some friends,” she said casually, glancing at her watch. “You should go home and get some rest.”

Orm, slightly surprised by Ling’s response, hesitated before replying. “Ah, I see. In that case, I can drive you there and pick you up later.”

Ling quickly shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips. “No need, Orm. I’ll be going home with my friends later. You should go straight home and rest. You’ve worked hard today.”

Orm held Ling’s gaze for a moment, as if making sure she was certain. Then, she gave a small nod. “Alright,” she finally agreed. Orm never went against Ling’s decisions—if this was what Ling wanted, then she would follow.

•••••

There was little room for rest in Orm’s life these days. After finishing her work with Ling, she headed straight to campus for her afternoon class. This class was particularly important—she had to prepare for an upcoming exam under one of the toughest professors on campus. With full concentration, Orm absorbed every bit of material she had managed to study in between her duties as Ling’s assistant.

By the time class ended, she let out a deep breath, relieved that she had managed to get through the exam successfully.

As she gathered her books, a cheerful voice suddenly called out to her. "Let’s go eat!" View exclaimed, throwing an arm around Orm’s shoulders with enthusiasm.

Exhausted and longing to go home, Orm simply shook her head weakly. "I’m full..." she replied briefly, trying to decline. In truth, she preferred resting at home rather than joining her friends for a meal.

But this time, Prikhing was the one to speak up, unwilling to take no for an answer. "No excuses!" she declared firmly, grabbing Orm’s hand and pulling her up. "We haven’t hung out in ages because you’re always busy with night classes."

Orm stood reluctantly, sighing as she looked at Prikhing. "Alright, but just dinner—after that, I’m going home," she said in surrender.

"Deal!" her three friends cheered in unison, delighted to have convinced her. They left the classroom together and made their way to the campus cafeteria. After placing their orders, they settled into a cozy table, resuming the conversations they had put on hold.

Their lively chatter was suddenly interrupted by a soft cough. Orm looked up and saw a familiar figure standing beside her. "P’Meen..." she murmured.

"Am I interrupting?" Meen asked with a gentle smile.

"Not at all, phi," View, Milk, and Prikhing responded in sync, making it clear they didn’t mind his presence.

Meen then asked calmly, "May I sit here? I have something to talk about with Orm."

Milk, who had been sitting next to Orm, immediately stood up and gestured for Meen to take her seat. "Of course, phi," she said politely.

Sensing the situation, Prikhing quickly suggested, "Why don’t we move to another table?" She signaled to View and Milk, giving Orm and Meen some privacy.

View nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let’s sit over there," she said as she stood up.

Orm could only watch as her three friends left her alone with Meen. The atmosphere shifted slightly, turning more awkward, and Orm felt the need to break the silence. "So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked, getting straight to the point.

Meen smiled faintly. "It’s nothing too serious," he said. "My parents want to meet you for lunch next week."

Orm looked at him in slight surprise. "It’s still next week. Why are you telling me now?" she asked.

Meen chuckled softly, teasing her in return. "Have you forgotten how busy you are? I figured I should let you know early so you can clear your schedule."

Orm smiled, acknowledging the truth in his words. "Alright, I’ll try to make time," she replied.

Pleased with her response, Meen suddenly cupped her cheeks in both hands. "Thank you so much, N’Orm," he said sweetly.

However, Orm reacted quickly, catching his wrists before he could take things further. "Stop," she said, gently pushing him away. "Don’t overdo it with things like that."

Meen smiled sheepishly and whispered, "Sorry, I forgot."

Orm shifted slightly in her seat as her food arrived. To keep her company, Meen ordered something for himself as well, and the two continued their quiet conversation.

Meanwhile, at the next table, View, Milk, and Prikhing were already gossiping about how Meen and Orm always seemed effortlessly romantic. It wasn’t uncommon for the entire campus to see them as the most harmonious couple around.

•••••

In an upscale restaurant, Ling walked gracefully toward the table that had been reserved for their long-awaited gathering. Although there was no special occasion that day, she felt the need to make time to reunite with her old friends. Amid the relentless busyness of her life, the chance to unwind and refresh her mind was a luxury in itself.

As Ling arrived at the table, a familiar voice greeted her.

"Finally..."

She turned and saw the familiar faces she hadn’t met in a long time. With a warm smile, she took her seat. After a moment, she quickly ordered a drink to quench her thirst.

"After a hundred years, Lingling Sirilak Kwong has finally graced us with her presence!" Engfa teased with a playful laugh, poking fun at Ling, who was known as the busiest one among them.

Ling chuckled at the joke. "I've been caught up with preparations for my new series, so this is the first chance I've had to join you all," she explained to her longtime friends—Charlotte, Engfa, and Freen. They had all known each other since their university days at Mahidol.

"We understand," Charlotte nodded. "That's why we kept rescheduling this meetup just to make sure you could come."

Engfa, still brimming with excitement, quickly added, "What matters is that you're here now. That’s the most important thing!"

Freen, seated on the other side of the table, stirred her drink slowly and smiled. "Our schedules are completely different now compared to our college days. Back then, we could just hang out at a café after class anytime we wanted. But now... it takes months just to align our calendars."

Ling nodded, feeling the weight of Freen’s words. "Yeah, time flies so fast. Before we knew it, we ended up here—each of us busy with our own paths. But I’m glad we can still make time for moments like this," she said with a soft smile.

Laughter bubbled up around the table as they savored their rare reunion. Though life had taken them in different directions, their friendship remained strong.

"Oh, by the way, I’m sorry for missing your wedding," Ling said, gently patting Freen’s shoulder. "A lot of unexpected things came up, so I could only send a gift."

Freen gave her a small, understanding smile. "It’s okay, I know you’ve had a lot on your plate—especially with sorting out your heart, right?" she replied with a knowing tone.

Ling nodded slowly. "Yeah, I needed to put my life back together, especially after breaking up with Mean," she admitted, her voice carrying a faint trace of sorrow.

Charlotte, who had been listening intently, immediately looked outraged. "How could that man let go of someone as amazing as our Ling?" she burst out, visibly upset.

Sensing Charlotte’s rising emotions, Engfa placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, signaling her to calm down. "Let’s not dwell on that," Engfa said gently. "What’s clear is that he never deserved Lingling Kwong in the first place."

Charlotte exhaled sharply but still looked annoyed. "You're right. Men are like that," she muttered before turning to Engfa and linking her arm around her. "That’s why I don’t like men. I only like one person—Engfa Waraha."

Ling chuckled at the dramatic display. "Oh oui, enough! I can’t handle this level of cheesiness," she teased, laughing as she tried to lighten the mood.

As their laughter subsided, Freen changed the subject. "Speaking of which, your new assistant... it's Orm, right?" she asked curiously.

Ling nodded. "Yes, she’s still in her probationary period for three months. If she does well, I’ll make her my personal assistant," she replied calmly.

Hearing this, Engfa let out a small laugh and shook her head. "You talk as if you don’t know Orm at all," she said with a meaningful smile.

"Huh?" Ling frowned, confused by Engfa’s remark.

"Orm Kornnaphat, right?" Charlotte chimed in. "Wasn’t she that nerdy junior who used to live in the same dorm as you? I still remember how shocked I was when Lingling Kwong agreed to share a dorm room with someone—especially when you flat-out refused to share with me back then."

Ling froze for a moment. Her expression shifted as old memories she had long forgotten began to resurface.

"So you just realized that Orm was that nerdy girl?" Freen asked, studying Ling’s slightly dazed reaction.

"It makes sense that she forgot," Engfa added. "That girl has completely transformed into a stunning woman."

Ling glanced at her three friends, still processing this unexpected revelation. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner?" she asked, mildly exasperated but still lighthearted.

"We did. We talked about it in our group chat a week ago, remember?" Charlotte explained. "Freen was the first to bring it up. But I guess you were too busy to read through all our messages."

Ling let out a quiet sigh. "You guys talk about too many things in that group chat. Honestly, I barely check my phone unless it’s urgent," she admitted with a small smile.

"Orm is gorgeous now. If I weren’t married to Becky, I might have made a move on her," Freen joked, her tone playful yet provocative.

"Oui, Freen!" Charlotte exclaimed, giving her a light smack on the back. "I swear, if you start eyeing other women, I’m telling Becky!"

Freen’s eyes widened in mock panic. Without hesitation, she threw an arm around Charlotte’s shoulder, trying to charm her way out. "I was just kidding! Please don’t tell Becky," she pleaded sweetly.

"Such a classic case of a husband fearing his wife," Engfa teased, watching Freen squirm. A mischievous grin played on her lips as she chuckled at the scene.

Feeling cornered, Freen shot back, "As if you’re not afraid of your own wife?" She smirked at Engfa, challenging her.

Engfa remained unbothered, her expression cool and relaxed. "Not really. Besides, we’re not married yet," she replied casually, as if it was of no real consequence.

"Engfa!!" Charlotte suddenly huffed in mock outrage, crossing her arms as she shot Engfa a pointed glare. "Don’t talk to me anymore," she declared, though the hint of playfulness in her voice was unmistakable.

Sensing the shift in the mood, Engfa quickly backtracked. "I was only joking, my love. Even though we’re not married yet, we will be soon. And of course, I’m always afraid of you," she said with exaggerated humility, hoping to appease Charlotte’s playful sulk.

As the table erupted into laughter and banter once more, Ling remained silent, lost in her own thoughts.

She was starting to remember everything. Orm, now her assistant, was the same girl who had once shared a dorm with her back in college. No wonder her face had always seemed familiar.

Now it made sense—why, from the very first day they worked together, Ling had felt an inexplicable ease around Orm. It was as if there had always been an unspoken connection between them, something that required no effort to rekindle.