The Story of Us | LingOrm

Chapter 3: A Family Affair

The next thing Ling knew, she was stepping into the dining room, a wave of warmth and curiosity washed over her. Ten pairs of eyes, ranging from twinkling elderly ones to wide-eyed children's, turned to greet the newcomer. The chatter died down for a brief moment before erupting into a chorus of welcoming exclamations.

Feeling slightly overwhelmed but touched by the reception, Ling offered her most radiant smile. It was as if she had flipped a switch; the entire Sethratanapong family lit up in response.

"Sawadee ka, Ling!" several voices chimed in unison.

"Come, come! Join us!" an enthusiastic aunt called out, already reaching for an empty plate.

"There's plenty of food to go around," another added, gesturing to the spread on the table.

Before Ling could process what was happening, a jovial uncle had sprung to his feet, getting an extra chair from seemingly nowhere. With a wink at Orm, he placed it right beside her. "Here you go, perfect spot for our special guest," he said with a grin that mirrored Orm's own.

As Ling settled into her seat, a small figure approached her side. It was one of Orm's nephews, no older than seven, with a serious expression that seemed comical on his young face. He thrust out his hand formally, "Welcome to our home, Khun Ling."

The table erupted in laughter and coos of "How cute!" and "Look at our little gentleman!" The boy's ears turned pink, but he maintained his composure, earning him an affectionate ruffle of his hair from Ling.

"Careful now," teased an older cousin, "or you'll have all the pretty girls falling for you!"

Laughter rippled through the gathering, and Ling found herself joining in, the initial awkwardness melting away in the face of such genuine warmth.

No sooner had she sat down than plates began appearing before her, piled high with an assortment of aromatic dishes. "You must try the tom yum," insisted one aunt.

"And these spring rolls are Orm's favorite," added another, with a knowing glance between the two actresses.

A glass of amber liquid was passed her way, but Ling politely declined. "I'm sorry, Auntie, but I don't drink alcohol, thank you," she politely explained with a smile.

The aunt who had offered nodded approvingly, her eyes darting between Ling and Orm. "I like her," she declared, loud enough for the whole table to hear. "Good influence, this one," she added with a pointed look at Orm.

Both Ling and Orm felt heat rising to their cheeks, the unspoken implication hanging in the air. Under the table, hidden from the family's view, Orm's hand found Ling's. She gave it a soft, reassuring squeeze, a silent question in the gesture. Ling responded in kind, her fingers intertwining with Orm's for a brief moment. The message was clear: "I'm okay."

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2 Hours Ago

As the last camera flashes faded from her Milan Bridal Couture photoshoot, Ling had discovered Orm's script mixed in with her belongings. She'd debated having her assistant deliver it, but something - a pull she wasn't quite ready to name - had her deciding to make the trip herself.

Ling's fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel as she navigated her sleek Mercedes GTR through Bangkok's busy streets. She was headed to Orm's place, ostensibly to return a script that had accidentally found its way into her bag. At least, that's what she told herself.

"It's just being considerate," she murmured, trying to convince herself. "I wouldn't want Orm stressing about memorizing her lines." But even as the words left her lips, she knew there was more to it.