Entwined Destinies

Chapter 13: Revelation

Orm stirred as the soft chime of Lingling's alarm echoed through the quiet room. A gentle smile curled on her lips as she instinctively reached out, pulling her wife into a tender embrace. The warmth of Lingling's body against hers felt like home, a comfort Orm had deeply missed. Two long months of waking up without Lingling by her side had made Orm realize just how much she cherished these small moments — the simple intimacy of waking up next to her love.

She closed her eyes, listening to the soft, rhythmic sound of Lingling's breathing. It wasn't often that Orm got to hear her wife snore softly, but the sound brought an unexpected smile to her face. She chuckled quietly, feeling her chest swell with affection. Lingling, always composed and put-together during the day, seemed so vulnerable and peaceful in these early morning hours. Orm cherished it, knowing how hard Lingling worked, how much weight she carried for their family.

Yesterday had been a perfect day — more than Orm could have hoped for. After lunch, when Lingling decided to stay, it felt like a rare gift. The afternoon slipped away as they laid in each other's arms, wrapped up in the comfort of their love. They didn't need anything but each other. As the sunlight filtered softly through their windows, they spent hours tangled in the sheets, whispering secrets and confessions they hadn't shared before.

Orm could still feel the warmth of Lingling's touch as her fingers traced delicate patterns on her skin, the way her wife's eyes sparkled with a mixture of shyness and trust when she revealed little parts of herself Orm hadn't known. Lingling had always been a bit guarded, but in that quiet moment, Orm could feel the walls coming down, one secret at a time. It was intimate, sweet, and breathtakingly romantic.

Lingling had confessed that despite her composed exterior, she often felt nervous around Orm — a revelation that left Orm both surprised and touched. Orm, in return, had shared memories of her late sister P'Earn and how her support shaped Orm into the person she was today. It was a bittersweet confession, but one Orm felt safe sharing with Lingling, knowing that her wife would understand the depth of her emotions.

Lying there, in the stillness of their morning, Orm felt a profound sense of gratitude for this woman she called her wife. The love between them had grown, not just through grand gestures, but in these small, intimate moments. Orm squeezed Lingling just a little tighter, whispering into her hair, "I missed waking up with you."

Lingling stirred slightly in her arms, but didn't fully wake. Orm smiled again, pressing a soft kiss to her wife's forehead. These were the moments she had missed the most, and now that she had them again, she vowed never to take them for granted.

Lingling's phone rang, the soft buzzing pulling her out of sleep. She blinked her eyes open, feeling the familiar weight of Orm's arm draped lazily over her. A warm smile touched her lips as she turned her head to see Orm already awake, watching her with a gaze so full of love it made her heart skip a beat.

"Morning," Lingling whispered, her voice still laced with sleep.

"Morning, my honey," Orm responded, her tone sweet and affectionate. Lingling couldn't help but smile wider at the nickname, feeling the gentle brush of love in the simple words. Leaning forward, she pressed a soft kiss to Orm's forehead, savoring the closeness before her phone buzzed again.

Lingling frowned, her eyes flickering to the screen. Engfa. Her cousin had been calling her since yesterday. Something must be wrong.

"Baby, can you let me go? I need to answer this call," she said, gently nudging Orm's arm.

Orm pouted, her lower lip jutting out in a way that was both adorable and persuasive. "But... can't you answer it here?" she whined, her tone playful yet reluctant.