Hearts Collide (Lingorm)

Chapter 32

The sun was shining brightly over the Malisorn mansion, casting a warm glow over the backyard, where a big BBQ party was in full swing. 

The sound of sizzling meat on the grill mixed with laughter, and the soft breeze carried the scent of roasted veggies and spices. It was a perfect day for a family gathering, and everyone was in high spirits.

"Seriously, Yoko, you've never tried grilling eggplant like this? You've been missing out," Becky said, handing over a perfectly sliced piece.

Yoko laughed, shaking her head. "I'll admit, I'm skeptical, but if it tastes half as good as you're making it sound, I'll give it a try."

On the other side of the yard, Freen and Faye were lounging around the outdoor workout area, but they weren't exactly working out. Instead, they had tricked Lingling into handling all the heavy lifting around the BBQ.

Faye stretched out on one of the patio chairs, a smug grin on her face as she sipped from her iced tea. "Kwong! You missed a spot on the grill!" she called out, not even looking up from her phone.

Lingling, dressed casually in shorts and a tank top, rolled her eyes and wiped her brow as she tended to the food on the grill. She looked like she was two seconds away from throwing the spatula at Faye's head, but somehow, she managed to keep it together.

"Are you serious, Now? I'm already doing everything here. What are you two even contributing?" Lingling snapped, flipping the skewers.

Freen, sitting nearby and laughing at her best friend's frustration, shrugged nonchalantly. "Moral support. You're doing great, Ling. Really."

"Yeah, totally killing it," Faye added with a wink. "This is part of your sister-in-law training, after all. Gotta see if you can handle the pressure."

Lingling shot them both a withering look, but she swallowed her retort, mostly because Orm was nearby, chatting with Becky and Yoko. She didn't want to make a scene in front of her girlfriend's family, but it was clear she was barely holding it together.

"I'm holding back for Orm's sake," Lingling muttered under her breath, flipping another skewer. "But if you two keep this up, I swear—"

"What was that?" Faye interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Did you say something, Kwong?"

Lingling shot her a tight-lipped smile, struggling to keep her voice level. "I said, 'I'm so happy to be here,' Faye. Thanks for the opportunity to slave away at your BBQ."

"Thought so," Faye smirked, crossing her arms behind her head as she leaned back. "Just remember, Kowng we're just making sure you're worthy."

Freen laughed, clearly enjoying the show. "And don't forget, if you marry Orm, you're stuck with both of us. This is just a taste a trial of what you're signing up for."

Lingling shot Freen a glare that could've melted steel, but Freen merely shrugged it off, unfazed. The two sisters seemed to be having the time of their lives at Lingling's expense, and it was only the thought of Orm's happiness that kept Lingling from snapping.

Orm, oblivious to the teasing, walked over and wrapped her arms around Lingling's waist from behind, resting her head on her shoulder. "You okay, babe? You've been working hard."