i've got my eyes on you

III

N'Orm glanced back at the bathroom, still wary despite the snake being long gone. "Can you wait here, P'Ling? I'm scared the snake might come back."

Ling smiled softly, crossing her arms. "Yes, I'll wait here."

A few moments passed before she heard N'Orm's voice calling from inside again, her tone laced with embarrassment. "P'Ling!"

Ling sighed, her patience never wavering. "What is it, N'Orm?"

N'Orm's voice was quieter this time, almost too shy. "Can you play a song? I'm too nervous... I can't, you know, do my business."

Ling chuckled under her breath, pulling out her phone to scroll through her playlists. She settled on something upbeat—Sofia by Clario—hoping the lively tempo would drown out the quiet that N'Orm was so self-conscious about. The music filled the air, and Ling leaned back against the wall, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

A few minutes later, N'Orm emerged, looking a little sheepish but no worse for wear. "Thanks," she mumbled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Ling simply nodded, still amused. "Anytime."

They continued exploring, laughter and conversation flowing easily between them. The villa felt like a world of their own, separate from everything else.

By the time noon rolled around, the gardener's family had prepared a meal for them—simple but rich in flavor. A spread of som tum, Tom yum kung, and a beautifully fried river fish, all fresh from the nearby farm, was laid out on the outdoor table. The scent of herbs and citrus filled the air, mixing with the natural perfume of the surrounding greenery.

They sat side by side, the sound of the stream providing a soothing backdrop as they ate. Ling watched N'Orm dig into her food, her usual guarded energy replaced with something softer, more relaxed. It was a rare sight, one that Ling found herself savoring. There was no hurry here, no need to perform for anyone.

N'Orm was chewing thoughtfully, her eyes darting to Ling's plate. Without a word, Ling scooped another bowl of soup and slid it toward N'Orm, careful to remove the tomatoes, knowing she didn't like them.

"You remembered," N'Orm said quietly, looking down at her bowl, a small, grateful smile forming on her lips.

"Of course," Ling replied, her voice gentle. She reached for her own rice, finishing her second plate as she began to feel the weight of the morning's drive settling in.

The sun hung high in the sky now, casting a warm glow over the villa. The combination of the meal and the rhythmic sounds of the stream made Ling feel drowsy, and she could tell from the way N'Orm's eyes were half-lidded that she wasn't the only one.

"N'Orm, shall we rest a bit?" Ling suggested, pushing her plate aside.

N'Orm nodded in agreement, stifling a yawn. They both made their way out to the deck, where wide, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a perfect view of the jungle and the flowing stream. They settled into a large, comfortable couch, the afternoon air breezing gently through the open space.

Ling leaned back, her mind wandering as she gazed at the greenery outside. They began talking lazily—about nothing in particular. N'Orm mused about house designs she liked, dreaming aloud of one day having a home built near nature, where she could hear the sound of water as she slept. Ling listened quietly, imagining it with her, the way N'Orm's voice softened as she described it, her usual exuberance toned down by the tranquility of their surroundings.

The conversation drifted, becoming more sporadic as the peacefulness of the villa settled over them. After a while, Ling felt the gentle pressure of N'Orm's head on her shoulder. She glanced down to find N'Orm asleep, her breathing steady and calm, her features relaxed.

For a moment, Ling didn't move. She was afraid to, in case it would disturb the quiet of the moment or wake N'Orm from her peaceful sleep. The soft rise and fall of N'Orm's chest against her side made Ling's heart feel strangely full, in a way she hadn't quite expected.

Ling smiled to herself, trying not to move, her eyes once again drifting out to the view before them. But her attention kept coming back to N'Orm—the way her hair brushed lightly against Ling's arm, the soft rhythm of her breathing.

She felt a warmth spread through her, a sense of something almost fragile in its quiet intensity. This was a side of N'Orm no one else got to see, and somehow, in this quiet space, it felt like a secret they shared. Ling didn't know when the lines had begun to blur between them, but here, with N'Orm resting on her shoulder, everything felt simpler. The words didn't need to be spoken; the closeness spoke for itself.

Ling glanced at the clock, noting the slow passage of time, but she didn't mind. This moment was enough. She could feel the gentle thrum of contentment, knowing N'Orm trusted her enough to fall asleep beside her like this.

Ling 2: Orm 1, she thought with a small grin, though this felt like a victory of a different kind. It wasn't about keeping score anymore—it was about being present, about finding something unspoken in the quiet moments between them.

And so, Ling stayed still, letting the minutes stretch on as N'Orm slept, the jungle and stream offering their own soft, natural lullaby.