Orm's life at work had spiraled into a nightmare she couldn't escape. Every day felt heavier than the last, and no matter how hard she tried to keep her head above water, the weight of her situation was pulling her down. She couldn't eat, she couldn't sleep, and it was starting to show. Her energy had dimmed, and even the simplest tasks felt overwhelming.
Ling had noticed, of course. She was always observant, especially when it came to Orm. But despite her concern, Orm tried her best to hide how bad things had really become. She didn't want Ling to worry, didn't want to burden her when she was already so busy with her own business. But as the days passed, it became harder and harder to pretend everything was okay.
The groupies had intensified their bullying. They started spreading rumors—first within the office, and then outside of it. It began with whispers about Orm's personal life, about her family's bankruptcy. She overheard coworkers murmuring about it in the break room, the pity in their voices making her stomach turn.
"She had to move to Bangkok because her family lost everything," one of them said, not even bothering to lower their voice.
"Isn't she dating that influencer too? What a mess," another added, the tone dripping with judgment.
Orm could feel their eyes on her whenever she walked through the office, the glances, the hushed laughter. But what hurt the most was when the rumors shifted to something even more personal—her relationship with Ling.
---
The Final Blow
It was P'Tun's groupies who started it. They were relentless, bitter that their idol had shown interest in Orm and now intent on tearing her down. They didn't care about the truth, only about hurting her.
"Did you hear? Orm isn't even interested in men. She's dating a woman," Dao had said one day, loud enough for the whole office to hear.
At first, Orm thought it wouldn't matter. She was open about her relationship with Ling among her friends, and their love was something she cherished deeply. But she hadn't expected it to become office gossip, hadn't expected people to treat her relationship like it was something scandalous. The judgment was palpable. Some colleagues stopped talking to her altogether, while others treated her with a kind of uncomfortable curiosity, as if her being with Ling made her a spectacle.
The worst part was the whispers she overheard in passing:
"No wonder she rejected P'Tun. She's into women."
"What a waste. He could have had anyone, and she turns out to be... like that."
Orm's heart clenched every time she heard those words, but she couldn't bring herself to confront anyone. She didn't know who to trust anymore.
---
The stress of it all was eating away at Orm. Her appetite had disappeared, and she barely got any sleep. Every night, she lay awake thinking about what was waiting for her at the office the next day—more rumors, more glances, more silent judgment. She couldn't focus on her work, and the quality of her performance started to slip. Even her brand endorsement jobs, which had always brought her joy, felt like a chore now. The bright, cheerful influencer she once was felt like a distant memory.
Ling noticed the change in her immediately. Orm had become more withdrawn, her usual spark dimmed. She was quick to tears, easily frustrated, and sometimes she just seemed so far away, even when they were sitting right next to each other. Ling had tried to talk to her about it, but Orm always brushed it off, insisting she was just tired or stressed about work.
One night, after a particularly hard day, Orm came home looking pale and exhausted. She barely said a word as she walked through the door, heading straight for the bedroom. Ling followed her, her heart heavy with worry.
"Orm," Ling said softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "What's going on? You've been so distant lately."
Orm shook her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "It's nothing, P'Ling. I'm just tired."
But Ling wasn't convinced. She could see the way Orm's shoulders trembled, the way her breath hitched as she tried to hold back her emotions. Ling moved closer, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend and pulling her into a tight embrace.
Orm stiffened at first, but the warmth and comfort of Ling's arms broke through the dam she had been holding up for so long. Without warning, the tears started to fall, silent and unstoppable. She buried her face in Ling's chest, her body shaking as she cried.
Ling's heart shattered at the sight of Orm's pain. She stroked her hair gently, her voice soft and soothing. "It's okay, Orm. I'm here. Whatever's wrong, we'll get through it together."
Orm didn't respond, only clung tighter to Ling as the sobs wracked her body. She didn't have the words to explain everything—the bullying, the rumors, the feeling of being completely alone at work. She didn't want to drag Ling into her mess, didn't want her to have to deal with the ugliness of it all.
But Ling wasn't going to let her carry this burden alone. As Orm's breathing started to slow, her tears finally drying up, Ling pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. She waited until Orm's eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion taking over and pulling her into sleep.
---
Ling held Orm for a long time, even after she had fallen asleep. She could feel the tension in Orm's body, the stress that had built up over weeks, maybe even months. Ling's heart ached knowing that Orm had been going through this without telling her. But more than that, a slow-burning anger began to rise within her.
Whoever had hurt Orm, whoever had made her feel like this, would pay.
Ling wasn't the kind of person who lashed out easily. She was composed, measured, and always in control of her emotions. But seeing Orm like this—broken down, vulnerable—ignited something fierce in her. She wanted to protect Orm, to shield her from the cruelty of the world. And more than that, she wanted to make sure the people who had caused this pain faced the consequences of their actions.
As she lay there, holding Orm's sleeping form in her arms, Ling's mind raced with thoughts of what she could do. She would start by talking to Orm, finding out exactly what had happened and who was responsible. Then, she would take action. Whether it meant confronting P'Tun or taking the matter up with the company, Ling wasn't going to let this slide.
No one, absolutely no one, would get away with hurting the person she loved.
---
The next morning, as Orm stirred in her sleep, Ling made a silent promise to herself: I will protect you, Orm. And I will make sure no one ever hurts you like this again.
YOU ARE READING
Résonance: a LingOrm's Story
Romansa"Résonance" is a delicate exploration of two souls navigating the spaces between silence and connection, set against the vibrant backdrop of Bangkok. Ling Ling Kwong, a meticulous and introverted entrepreneur of mixed Hong Kong-Thai heritage, finds...
