Chapter 2: Rivalry and Revelation

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As the evening unfolded, the ballroom of the Kwong mansion pulsed with the energy of Bangkok's elite. The sounds of clinking glasses and polite laughter filled the air, creating an atmosphere that felt both intoxicating and suffocating. Ling glided through the crowd, her smile unwavering, but inside, her heart raced with the familiar mix of annoyance and intrigue that Orm always stirred in her.

Orm, for her part, played the role of the charming Kornnaphat effortlessly. She laughed and chatted, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she engaged with guests, but beneath her confident façade, she was acutely aware of Ling's presence. Each time their gazes met, an invisible thread seemed to pull taut between them, charged with unresolved tension.

"Ling, darling, stop frowning! You look like you've just bitten into a lemon!" Ying, Ling's cousin, teased as she adjusted her own dress, a vibrant red that contrasted with Ling's elegant navy blue gown.

"I'm not frowning," Ling replied, attempting to brush off the comment while stealing another glance at Orm. "I just don't like this charade."

Ying chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, come on! You love a good game, even if it's with the enemy. Admit it, Orm is like your favorite puzzle—so complicated and maddening."

Ling rolled her eyes, her irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "She's not a puzzle; she's an annoying distraction. Besides, I have bigger fish to fry than worrying about her," she replied, her voice laced with sarcasm.

Meanwhile, Orm stood at the edge of the ballroom, chatting animatedly with Prikhing, her best friend. Prik was keenly aware of the tension simmering just beneath the surface of the night. "You know Ling is staring at you, right?" she whispered, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

"Let her stare," Orm replied nonchalantly, though her heart raced at the thought. "I'd rather focus on enjoying myself than get tangled in her drama."

Prik let out a soft laugh. "You do realize that this is a game for both of you? You're like two cats circling each other, just waiting for the other to pounce."

"Cats, huh? More like sworn enemies," Orm shot back, her tone light but her eyes betraying a deeper conflict.

As the evening wore on, Ling found herself cornered by her parents, who were eager to discuss her future. "Ling, dear, have you given any thought to our proposal for you?" her father asked, his voice a mixture of hope and pressure.

Ling's stomach twisted at the mention of the proposal , the cousin she barely knew, let alone wanted to marry. The thought of being arranged into a business deal with a Kornnaphat only intensified her irritation. "I'm not interested in a marriage of convenience, Dad. This is the 21st century," she replied sharply, her frustration evident.

"Think of the benefits, Ling," her mother chimed in, her tone coaxing yet firm. "The merging of our families would strengthen our position in the market. It's not just about you; it's about the legacy."

Ling felt trapped between her family's expectations and her own desires. "I'll think about it," she said, knowing full well she was lying.

As the night progressed, the inevitable encounter between Ling and Orm loomed. The tension crackled in the air, each moment building like a finely tuned string ready to snap.

Finally, during a brief lull in the evening's festivities, the two women found themselves face-to-face near the grand staircase. Ling's heart raced, a mixture of anger and something else she couldn't quite place. "You shouldn't have come," Ling said, her voice steady but cold.

"Why? So you can pretend I don't exist?" Orm shot back, her tone sharp. "You're not the only one who can play this game, Ling."

Ling took a step closer, their faces inches apart, the tension almost tangible. "You're just a distraction," she hissed, the heat of their rivalry igniting the air around them.

Orm scoffed, her voice low and challenging. "And yet, here we are. You're more obsessed with me than I am with you. What's it like to hate someone so much that you can't stop thinking about them?"

"Don't flatter yourself," Ling retorted, but even as she spoke, she could feel the truth of Orm's words.

Before either of them could respond, Oom approached, oblivious to the charged atmosphere. "Orm! There you are. Come meet some potential business partners," she said with a wide grin, completely unaware of the storm brewing between the two women.

Ling felt a twist in her stomach at the sight of Oom, knowing what she represented—an unwanted engagement, a future she didn't want.

Orm forced a smile, her heart sinking as she looked at Ling, whose expression had hardened. "Sure, I'll be right there," she said, masking her own disappointment.

As Oom pulled Orm away, Ling felt a surge of jealousy rising within her. The night had become a battlefield, and she was losing control of the game.

Ling watched them disappear into the crowd, the sharp pang of jealousy morphing into something more confusing—was it anger, resentment, or something deeper? She had to find a way to gain the upper hand, but how could she focus on that when her thoughts were consumed with Orm?

The evening continued, but Ling could barely enjoy the festivities. She felt trapped in a web of her family's expectations and her own swirling emotions.

As the guests began to mingle and dance, the lights dimmed, casting a warm glow over the room. Ling sought solace in a glass of champagne, the bubbles rising as quickly as her frustration.

At that moment, she spotted Popor, a mutual acquaintance of both families, laughing brightly with Orm and Oom. A knot twisted in Ling's stomach at the sight of them. Orm's laughter rang out, carefree and genuine, while Popor leaned in closer, her hand brushing Orm's arm—a touch that lingered just a moment too long.

Ling's jaw clenched. The jealousy bubbled over, turning her irritation into something raw and uncomfortable. Why did it bother her so much to see Orm with someone else?

"Are you alright, Ling?" Ying asked, stepping up beside her, sensing the tension radiating off her cousin.

"Just peachy," Ling replied, forcing a smile, but her eyes remained locked on Orm, who was now playfully nudging Popor.

Ying followed Ling's gaze, her expression turning serious. "You know this feud is just tearing us apart, right? Maybe it's time to reconsider."

"Reconsider? With them?" Ling scoffed, her voice a mixture of disbelief and anger. "They're the enemy, Ying!"

"Maybe they don't have to be," Ying replied, her voice gentle but firm. "You can choose to break the cycle. But it has to start with you."

Ling sighed, torn between her family's legacy and her own burgeoning feelings—feelings she didn't want to acknowledge. "It's complicated," she murmured, taking another sip of champagne.

"Complicated is just another word for love in disguise," Ying said, a teasing smile creeping onto her face. "You'll figure it out."

Ling turned away, her heart heavy with unspoken emotions and the weight of family expectations. As she watched Orm and Popor from across the room, she felt the familiar rush of anger and something else—a yearning she could no longer ignore.

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