beautiful mess

III

Dinner was ready, and the two of them stood over the stove, looking down at the steaming pot of spaghetti. It wasn't perfect—the sauce was a little runny, and some noodles were stuck to the bottom of the pot—but Ling smiled anyway, a genuine warmth spreading across her face. She grabbed two plates and began to serve, her movements careful as if she didn't want to ruin this fragile, hopeful moment between them.

Orm watched her, taking in the small details—the way Ling's brows furrowed as she tried to get the proportions just right, the slight curve of her lips as she plated the food. It made Orm's heart swell. She was used to grand gestures on-screen and scripted lines, but this—Ling's small, real effort, the nervousness she was trying to mask—felt more meaningful than any of that.

Ling gestured toward the small dining table, a simple but cozy setup with plates, glasses, and a loaf of garlic bread in the center. "All right, Chef Lingling's spaghetti is served," she said with a playful grin, putting a plate down in front of Orm.

Orm laughed, clapping her hands together dramatically. "I am honored, Chef. It smells amazing," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, even though her gaze kept drifting to Ling's eyes—those eyes that had looked at her so many times before but seemed to hold something more now, something unspoken.

Ling sat down across from Orm, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She reached over to pick up the wine she'd ordered, a bottle of red that she had been nervous about choosing. She gave Orm an almost sheepish smile as she uncorked it. "I wasn't sure if this was the right choice, but I figured red wine is supposed to go with pasta, right?"

Orm smiled, warmth evident in her eyes. "It's perfect, P'Ling. Besides, this is a special occasion—homemade spaghetti deserves wine." She lifted her glass once Ling poured, holding it out for a toast.

Ling touched her glass gently to Orm's. "To... trying new things," she said, her voice carrying a soft sincerity, her eyes meeting Orm's in a moment that seemed to stretch, fragile and full of meaning.

"To trying new things," Orm echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.

They took a sip, and Ling let out a small sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she set her glass back down. As they began eating, the initial quiet filled with soft clinks of silverware and the occasional shared glance. Orm broke the silence first, tilting her head slightly as she looked at Ling, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"You know," she said, taking a sip of her wine, "this feels like a scene straight out of dramas—wine, pasta, deep conversations. It's almost too perfect."

Ling laughed softly, shaking her head. "Except this pasta is definitely not drama-worthy. But hey, at least we tried," she said, her gaze softening as she looked across the table at Orm.

"So, P'Ling, tell me," Orm started, her tone light. "If you weren't an actress, what would you be doing right now?"

Ling blinked, her fork pausing halfway to her mouth. She set it down, her lips curving into a thoughtful smile. "Actually, I've thought about that a lot." She looked down at her plate, her fingers tracing the edge. "I think... I'd be a businesswoman. I already have Always Wonder—it's something I've worked hard for, you know? Something that feels like me.

Ling's smile widened, a touch of warmth coloring her cheeks. "It's been overwhelming, honestly. The support has been incredible—both here and abroad. I don't think there's anyone else who's done more to promote my brand than you," she said, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and affection.

Orm chuckled, her eyes gleaming. "Well, it's easy to promote when it's something I genuinely like." She paused, her gaze softening. "You've always had that spark, P'Ling—wanting to create things that matter to people. Honestly, I admire that about you."

Ling blushed, looking down, the words making her heart swell. "Thank you, N'Orm." She hesitated, then continued, her voice softer. "But my real dream, the one I keep coming back to, is to eventually open a small hotel—a bed-and-breakfast, surrounded by nature. I want it to be a place where people can just... rest. Escape from the rush of life for a while. It sounds silly, maybe, but I just want to create a space where tired souls can breathe again."

Orm shook her head, her eyes softening. "That doesn't sound silly at all. It sounds beautiful." She paused, her smile widening. "A B&B run by P'Ling—imagine how cozy that would be. You'd be the perfect host."

Ling laughed softly, her gaze dropping to her plate, the corners of her mouth turning up. "Maybe. It's just a dream for now."

"What about you, N'Orm?" Ling asked, her eyes lifting to meet Orm's, genuinely curious.

Orm let out a small chuckle, her fingers playing with the stem of her wine glass. "Well, I never had plan to become an actress and follow Mae's footsteps. I studied Economics for godsake," she said, her voice carrying a mix of pride and reluctance. "My family's business, I thought I could help run it someday, you know? Be the chaebol, continue the legacy." She paused, her gaze turning thoughtful. "But honestly? If I could do anything, I think I'd want to have an animal sanctuary. A place for animals to just be safe, be loved. I've always had a soft spot for animals, especially the ones that people overlook."

Ling's smile widened, a look of admiration in her eyes. "An animal sanctuary? That sounds like you, N'Orm. I think it's a wonderful dream."

Orm shrugged, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I mean, maybe one day. When I have enough time and resources. But hey, maybe we could join forces, P'Ling." She grinned, a playful glint in her eyes. "You could run your bed-and-breakfast, and I could bring the animals. We could help tired souls and tired animals take a break from the world together."

Ling laughed, the sound bright and genuine, filling the small space between them. "I can see it now—guests waking up to goats wandering around the garden, chickens pecking near the breakfast tables. It'd be a complete mess."

"A beautiful mess," Orm corrected, her grin widening. "Our mess."

Ling's laughter softened, her eyes meeting Orm's. Something unspoken lingered there, a warmth that neither of them tried to hide. "Yeah," Ling said, her voice quiet, her smile still there but gentler now. "Our mess."

For a moment, silence settled over them—comfortable, full, the kind of silence that felt like something more than just an absence of words. They both took another sip of wine, and Ling could feel her heart steadying, her anxiety ebbing away with each passing second. It was in moments like these—the simple, quiet ones—that Ling realized how much she wanted Orm to be a part of her world. It wasn't about grand gestures or perfectly planned dates; it was about sharing laughter over mediocre pasta and feeling the warmth of Orm's presence next to her.

Orm set her glass down, her eyes never leaving Ling's face. "Thanks for inviting me, P'Ling. Also for remembering that I always wanted to try daydrinking. Even if it was a late-night, spur-of-the-moment idea, I'm really glad you did."

Ling's gaze softened, her heart swelling. "Me too, N'Orm. I'm glad you said yes."

Orm smiled, her fingers tapping lightly against her wine glass, her eyes shining with something tender and unguarded. She didn't need to say anything more. They both knew that this was more than just lunch, more than just spaghetti and wine—it was a step forward, a gentle crossing of that invisible line that had kept them apart for too long.

And as they sat there, sharing a meal that was far from perfect, Ling realized that this was exactly what she'd hoped for—this soft, unspoken something between them, this beautiful mess that she wanted to lean into, no matter where it led.