The Last Scene's Secret

Chapter 7: Close Enough, Take 2

They leaned in closer, their faces only inches apart, the tension between them slowly dissolving as their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. Time seemed to stop, and the world outside faded away. The kiss was tender and gentle, filled with the longing and unspoken emotions that had been building between them for so long. It was as if every unspoken word, every hidden feeling, was being conveyed in that single, shared moment. The warmth of the morning sunlight filtering through the curtains bathed them in a soft glow, making everything feel right.

Orm's hand slid to the side of Ling's face, her fingers tracing the outline of her cheek. Ling responded, wrapping her arms around Orm's neck, pulling her closer as their kiss deepened. The room felt alive with an energy neither of them had felt in years, an intimacy that spoke of shared history and a bond that had been buried but never broken. As their kiss grew more passionate, both felt a sense of peace, as if they had finally found something that had been missing.

And then, just as suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door, shattering the fragile moment. Orm pulled back instantly, her eyes wide with panic. The memory of that last interruption, the one that had changed everything, came rushing back. She couldn't bear the thought of history repeating itself. Ling noticed Orm's tension and couldn't help but smirk, Ling couldn't help but be amused, noticing how the usually bold and self-assured Orm suddenly seemed so nervous.

Ling walked over to the door, her smirk still lingering. She opened it to find Prigkhing, her ex-girlfriend, standing there. Prigkhing's face lit up with joy, and without hesitation, she exclaimed, "Tee-rak!" and lunged forward to hug Ling. Reacting on instinct, Ling stopped her by placing a hand on Prigkhing's forehead, effectively keeping her at arm's length. With a calm but firm motion, she closed the door on Prigkhing, who let out a startled protest as it shut in her face.

Orm watched the exchange, her eyebrows raised in surprise. A flood of emotions surged through her—jealousy, confusion, and a slight sense of betrayal. "Who was that?" Orm demanded, her voice sharp. "And why did she just call you Tee-rak?"

Ling turned around, leaning casually against the door as if the interruption was no big deal. 

"No one important," Ling said dismissively.

Orm's eyes narrowed. "No one? She called you Tee-rak! That's not exactly something you just call to anyone. You've got a girlfriend, and you let me kiss you? Is this some kind of joke to you?" Orm's voice was rising with frustration.

Ling sighed, sensing Orm's agitation. "Khun, calm down," she said, trying to maintain her composure. "She's not my girlfriend. She's my ex. I don't know why she keeps coming back, but it's not what you think."

Orm was not convinced, crossing her arms over her chest. "Not what I think? So you just have ex-girlfriends showing up at your door, calling you pet names, and I'm supposed to believe there's nothing going on?"

Ling rolled her eyes, her patience thinning. "You don't know the whole story," she said, her voice defensive. "She's been showing up like this for a while. I've tried to get her to stop, but she doesn't get the hint. And as for the kiss, how could I stop you when you had me pinned? Orm, you practically had your hands on my wrists!"

Orm felt a flicker of guilt mixed with her irritation. She remembered the heat of the moment, how she had been the one to lean in, to initiate the kiss. Her own emotions had gotten the better of her, and she hadn't thought about anything else. But seeing Prigkhing, hearing her call Ling Tee-rak, brought a surge of doubt and jealousy she couldn't shake.

Ling took a step closer, her expression softening. "Look, I'm sorry if it looked bad," she said, her tone more gentle. "But there's nothing between me and Prigkhing anymore. Whatever we had, it's over. I've moved on."