The Unwritten Chapter - LingOrm

ECHOES

Orm was focused on setting the table, her movements precise and quiet.  She had already laid out plates, glasses, and utensils for two. Lingling, who had been watching her, couldn't bear it any longer. She'd wanted to help since they arrived, but she wasn't sure what to do. It was their first time sharing a room in a year, and being in her place added another layer of awkwardness.

Finally, she stood up and walked towards the girl, her voice was hesitant. "Let me help you with that."

Orm didn't say anything, simply moving aside to give her space.  Lingling, though grateful for the gesture, felt a wave of awkwardness. She stood there, unsure of what to do next, her eyes darting around the table, searching for a task.

The younger one watched her unease with raised eyebrows. Their eyes met, and Orm silently gestured for her to sit down, making the woman clear her throat and quickly obeyed.

The two ate in silence, the only sounds the clinking of their utensils. The awkwardness was almost suffocating for the older one. Earlier, she had been so bold, but now she felt paralyzed. She wanted to talk, but her words seemed to get stuck in her throat. Until she choked on her food, her face turning red.

Orm, sensing it, immediately reached for a glass of water and offered it to her and gently tapped her back. "Easy there, Why do you seem so tense?"

Lingling, regaining her composure looked up. "I'm fine." She mumbled almost inaudible. The younger woman then went back to her seat.

"So, how are you?"

Orm, her eyes focused on carefully cutting her meat, replied simply. "Doing great."

Lingling nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're finally a CEO."

She couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for the girl. She remembered the naughty girl who used to cause a stir in university, but now she is a grown woman, a CEO leading their company.

The words seemed to catch Orm off guard. She looked up, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. "Thank you." She said in a whisper.

"So... When are you going back to Bangkok?" She knew the question might be uncomfortable, but it slipped out before she could stop it.

However, The taller one didn't seem to mind and just replied casually. "I still have a lot of things to do in London."

Lingling, wanting to know more, pressed on. "They missed you. Your friends, your cousin. They are just waiting for you to contact them." She's scared to ask, but she's also curious and wanted Orm to know how much her absence was affecting those she left behind.

A painful smile touched the younger's lips. "I know." She said, her eyes reflecting a deep sadness. She missed her friends and cousin too, but her responsibilities in London were keeping her there. She would go back, but not now.

Lingling's eyes stayed fixed on her, reading the unspoken emotions in her. She could sense the longing in her eyes, a yearning for the people she had left behind in Bangkok. Even though the younger woman didn't say a word, her eyes spoke volumes, answering Lingling's questions with a silent, poignant truth.

"Your friend and my sister are already engaged."

Orm tilted her head. "Which one?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

The older one's face, a canvas of bewilderment, mirrored the question. "Huh?"

"Becky and Phi Freen? Or Yoko and Phi Faye?"

Lingling's lips formed a circle. She shook her head with a gentle laugh.
"It's Becky and Freen."

Orm's smile broadened, reflecting the joy of the news.

"Becky wished you were there that night at her engagement party. She wanted to share her happiness with you."

The smile on her face faltered, replaced by a flicker of sadness. She had missed her friend's engagement party.

"She wishes you'll be there on her wedding day."

Though Becky hadn't spoken those words directly to her, Lingling had overheard the sentiment shared amongst the circle of friends. While not usually one to spread gossip, she felt compelled to tell Orm about Becky's feelings, wanting her to know she was missed and welcomed back by their friends.

"I will."

A year had passed since Orm had left Bangkok, and every single day, Lingling had found herself consumed by the thoughts of her. Now that Orm is back, sitting right in front of her, she felt a surge of hope, a sense that this was the beginning of something new.

She couldn't help but steal glances at the taller woman, her gaze searching for any sign of uncomfortable. But the younger woman seemed perfectly composed, her usual self. So she cleared her throat. "Why did you leave me faced the dawn alone?" Her tone were sad and heavy, like the pain she still felt inside. She remembered the night the girl left, and it was like a fresh wound that hurt a lot. Her eyes showed how much she was missing her.

Orm looked at her, her eyes moving back and forth between her eyes, but she quickly looked away as she couldn't stand to see the pain in her eyes. "I had to leave for myself." She said, her voice sounding empty and without feeling.

Lingling felt like she was going to cry. The woman's words were cold, it felt like someone had hit her. "It haunts me that I slept that night."

Orm's voice, though soft, held a firm conviction as she spoke. "You're not at fault, Ling. My decision to leave wasn't because of you, or because of my… Stepbrother. I had to break free from the life I knew to find my own path. It was a lonely journey, but I did it anyway."

She rose from her chair, unable to bear the weight of a short woman's gaze any longer, and moved towards the sink, her hands seeking the solace of running water.

Lingling stood up and went behind her, putting her arms around her waist, her chin on her shoulder. "Not a single moment passed where you weren't on my mind, Orm." She whispered, her voice choked with an unshed tear.

Orm closed her eyes tightly. Lingling's words made her think about all the pain she had been feeling since she left. It was like the older woman was always in her mind, like a part of her that she couldn't get rid of. Her obsession with travel, with exploring the world, had been a temporary
escape, a way to silence the whispers of her heart, but the quiet of the nights always brought her back to the memory of her.

Lingling's hug tightened, her face now buried on the younger one's nape, seeking comfort on the warmth of her skin. "And now that I've found you, I'll hold you close, forever and a day, even if my grip weakens beyond the grave."

Orm slowly turned around and Lingling's grip on her waist loosened.

Lost in the beauty of those eyes, she gently cupped her cheeks, drawing her closer. Lingling didn't hesitate, her lips meeting Orm in a kiss that spoke volumes. Her arms, which had slipped from her waist, found their way back, holding her close. A sigh of contentment escaped the older woman's lips as their kiss deepened.

Orm pulled back for a moment to catch her breath, but the older woman, yearning for more, reconnected their lips, guiding the younger one towards the bed. Soon, her bare back rested against the cool, soft mattress. Lingling couldn't hold back any longer climbed on top of her, their kiss growing more intense with every passing moment.

Haha. Ihhhh!