Résonance: a LingOrm's Story

Chapter 31: You and Me

It had only been a few weeks since Orm's graduation, but life had already taken on a new rhythm. Orm had started her career as an Apprentice Finance Analyst at a large manufacturing company in Bangkok. The job was a significant step for her, offering financial stability and a real-world application of everything she had learned in university. On top of that, she still juggled her role as an influencer—posting content, collaborating with brands, and keeping up her social media presence. Life was busy, but Orm was thriving.

One of the biggest changes, though, wasn't career-related. After much deliberation—or so she had told herself—Orm had decided to move in with Ling. The official reason was to help with her financial stability. She could save on rent, after all, but in reality, it was something else entirely. Orm just wanted to be closer to Ling. She missed her when they weren't together, and this seemed like the perfect solution. Ling, of course, didn't hesitate to welcome Orm into her home.

As usual, Ling took on the role of Orm's chauffeur. Even though Orm could get around on her own, Ling insisted on driving her everywhere—partly out of habit, partly because she loved spending any extra time with Orm, even in mundane activities like commuting. Today was no different. Ling was driving Orm to a café, where she was set to meet Pring. It had been a while since the two friends had caught up, and Orm was excited to finally have some time to chat with her best friend.

The café was cozy and buzzing with the usual hum of activity, filled with students, professionals, and casual meetups. As soon as Orm spotted Pring sitting at a small table in the corner, she couldn't help but smile. Pring, who always had a mischievous grin on her face, waved excitedly as Orm approached.

"Look who's here!" Pring exclaimed, standing up to hug Orm. "The girl with the fancy new job and the fancy new life."

Orm rolled her eyes playfully as they hugged. "Oh please, you're the one working as a Junior Auditor in a national company. I still can't believe they let you in."

Pring laughed, her voice bubbling with amusement. "Neither can I! But hey, someone's gotta keep those books in check, and apparently, I'm good at it. Who would've thought?"

They both sat down, and Orm ordered a drink before diving into the conversation. The banter between them was as natural as ever, picking up where they had left off. Pring wasted no time teasing Orm about her current situation.

"So," Pring started, a sly grin on her face, "how's life with P'Ling? I can't imagine living with someone that serious. Do you have, like, assigned meal times or something?"

Orm laughed, shaking her head. "It's not like that at all! She's actually really sweet. And besides, I think she spoils me more than anything. She drives me everywhere, even when I tell her not to."

Pring raised an eyebrow. "Spoiled by P'Ling? That's not the Ling I know."

Orm shrugged, sipping her drink. "She's different with me."

"Clearly." Pring's eyes sparkled with amusement. "And how's the new job? Big shot Finance Analyst now, huh?"

Orm gave a modest shrug. "It's been good. Busy, but good. I'm learning a lot."

The conversation flowed easily as they caught up on each other's lives. Pring shared stories about her new job as a Junior Auditor, and Orm found herself laughing at the absurdity of Pring's daily adventures in a corporate environment. It was hard to imagine her carefree friend in such a structured role, but somehow, Pring was thriving in her own way.

After a while, Orm's thoughts drifted back to the old days, when they used to have sleepovers and talk late into the night. She missed that.

"You know," Orm said, her voice a little more serious, "you should sleep over sometime. I miss our late-night talks."

Pring smiled, her teasing demeanor softening. "I'd love that. Let me know when. It's been too long."

They continued chatting for a while longer before Orm noticed the time. Ling was due to pick her up soon, and she didn't want to keep her waiting. Sure enough, a few minutes later, Ling walked into the café, her eyes immediately finding Orm. She approached the table with a warm smile.

"P'Ling!" Pring greeted her with mock formality. "How's the chauffeur business?"

Ling chuckled, shaking her head. "It's a full-time job now."

Orm rolled her eyes, but smiled fondly as Ling bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "Ready to go?" Ling asked.

"Yeah," Orm nodded, standing up. She turned to Pring. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Absolutely," Pring said with a wink. "You two have fun tonight."

As they left the café, Orm and Ling made their way back to the car, exchanging casual conversation about the day. Ling and Pring had their usual light banter—Pring never failed to tease Ling, and Ling, always stoic, took it in stride.

That night, they planned to have a movie night at home, something they hadn't done in a while. Orm loved horror movies, but Ling could take or leave them—she mostly indulged Orm's obsession just to see her girlfriend happy.

When they arrived back at the apartment, Ling immediately set to work preparing the living room while Orm headed to the kitchen to gather snacks. The atmosphere was cozy, the lights dimmed, and the sofa piled high with blankets and pillows. It was the perfect setting for a relaxed night in.

Halfway through the movie, Orm was completely engrossed in the suspenseful scenes unfolding on the screen. Her eyes were glued to the action, her hands clutching a bowl of popcorn. Ling, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as interested in the movie. Instead, her focus was entirely on Orm.

As Orm's attention stayed glued to the screen, Ling shifted closer, her arm slowly wrapping around Orm's shoulders. She gently caressed Orm's hair, her fingers trailing down to the nape of her neck. Orm shivered slightly but kept her eyes forward, determined not to let Ling distract her from the movie.

But Ling wasn't in the mood to be ignored. She leaned in, her lips grazing the side of Orm's neck as she inhaled softly, taking in the familiar scent of her girlfriend's skin. Orm stiffened, her heart skipping a beat. She was trying so hard to stay focused, but Ling's touch was making it increasingly difficult.

"P'Ling..." Orm whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Ling smirked, knowing exactly what she was doing. "Hmm?"

Orm turned her head slightly, trying to keep her composure. "I'm... trying to watch the movie."

Ling chuckled softly, her lips brushing against Orm's ear. "I'm not stopping you."

The warmth of Ling's breath against her skin sent a shiver down Orm's spine, and she could feel her resolve starting to crumble. Ling's hand moved from her neck to her waist, pulling her closer, and Orm found herself leaning into the touch despite her best efforts to stay focused on the screen.

Before long, the tension between them was too much to resist. Ling's playful teasing turned into something more, and Orm, unable to hold back any longer, turned fully to face her girlfriend. Their lips met in a heated kiss, soft at first, but quickly deepening as they gave in to the moment. The air between them was charged, their bodies pressed close together as they explored each other's touch with growing intensity.

The movie long forgotten, they spent the rest of the night tangled in each other, letting the outside world fall away as they focused solely on each other.

The next morning, Orm woke up feeling a mixture of happiness and contentment. She glanced over at Ling, who was still sleeping peacefully beside her, and couldn't help but smile. Life had changed so much in the past few months, but it felt like everything was finally falling into place. They had built something beautiful together, and Orm couldn't wait to see what the future held.

For now, though, there was nothing more she needed than this moment—waking up next to the woman she loved, in the home they shared, knowing that they had all the time in the world.