Chapter 17: Five Years Later

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Five years had passed, and life had moved on for everyone. The days of university were now distant memories, overshadowed by new responsibilities, careers, and achievements. It was a time of growth, healing, and, for some, heartbreak that never fully healed.

Orm sat in her sleek office at one of Thailand's top law firms, the view from her window revealing the bustling city below. She had worked hard to get here—late nights, countless cases, and a determination fueled by the pain she had buried deep in her heart. Working alongside Prikhing, her best friend, Orm had become a respected lawyer, known for her brilliance and composure in the courtroom.

Despite her success, there was always a quiet ache in her heart. No matter how many years passed, the wound left by Ling, or Sirilak Kwong as she now called herself, never fully healed. The letter Ling left behind still haunted her, though she had forced herself not to dwell on the past. Life had moved forward, and she had convinced herself that so had she.

Ying and Mew were thriving as well, now both esteemed surgeons at one of Bangkok's leading hospitals. They were a dynamic duo, known for their talent and dedication in the operating room. Ying had even married Prikhing, their relationship blossoming into something beautiful after their time at university. Prikhing and Ying were the epitome of love and success, their marriage serving as a constant reminder to their friends of the strength of love when built on trust and mutual respect.

Meanwhile, Gap and Fluke had pursued engineering, finding themselves in high demand across Asia for their innovative ideas and work ethic. Yeena and Mint had both become successful in the entertainment world, actresses and models gracing red carpets and magazine covers. Their faces were recognizable to millions, but to their friends, they were still the same fun-loving, ambitious women they had always been.

The reunion had been planned months in advance—a chance for everyone to come back together, to relive old memories, and to celebrate how far they had come. The once-tight group of friends was scattered across different industries now, their paths having diverged, but the bond between them remained.

As everyone gathered at the university campus, laughter and excitement filled the air. Old friends embraced each other, reminiscing about late-night study sessions, parties, and shared struggles. It was a time to reconnect, to see how much they had all changed—and to remember who they had once been.

But as the evening unfolded, there was one person who everyone had been waiting to see.

Ling had returned from Hong Kong, but she was no longer the same woman they had once known. Sirilak Kwong—now a powerful and wealthy CEO, with hotel chains across Asia—arrived at the reunion, her demeanor different, more distant, more focused. She carried herself with the poise and confidence of someone who had seen the world and conquered it.

Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, Sirilak walked into the reunion venue with an air of authority. Heads turned, whispers spreading like wildfire as her former classmates recognized her, though they found it hard to reconcile the woman before them with the Ling Ling Kwong they had once known.

Her presence was commanding, yet there was a coldness to her now, a wall that none of them had expected. Gone was the playful smile, the cocky charm. Ling—or Sirilak—was all business now. She had built an empire, but in doing so, she had buried the warmth that once made her who she was.

The reunion was bittersweet. Friends came together, shared stories, and marveled at each other's successes, but when Orm's eyes met Sirilak's across the room, it felt as if time had stopped.

Orm hadn't seen her in five years—not since the night Ling disappeared from her life without a trace. And though Orm had done her best to move on, seeing Ling again—no, Sirilak—brought all the old memories rushing back. She wasn't the only one who noticed the change in Ling. Everyone could see it.

When Ling—Sirilak—finally approached the group, there was an awkward silence. Ying and Mew exchanged glances, unsure of what to say. Prikhing's usual confident smile faltered slightly, and even Yeena and Mint seemed uncertain of how to greet the woman who had once been their close friend.

"Hey," Ying finally broke the silence, offering a tentative smile. "Long time no see."

Sirilak smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's good to see all of you again. It's been too long."

Her voice was calm, measured, but Orm could feel the distance in her words. This wasn't the same Ling she had once known, the one who used to make her laugh with sarcastic remarks and bold, unapologetic charm. Sirilak was someone else entirely now—someone untouchable.

Orm's heart clenched as she struggled to find her voice. "Ling..." she began, but then quickly corrected herself. "Sirilak. How...how have you been?"

Sirilak's eyes softened, just for a moment, as she looked at Orm. "Busy," she replied simply. "Work keeps me traveling a lot."

It was the kind of answer a stranger would give, and it stung. Orm could feel the gap between them, a chasm created by time, silence, and unspoken feelings. She had tried to move on, but seeing Ling—Sirilak—again was harder than she had imagined.

The night went on, full of laughter and stories shared among old friends, but there was a lingering tension in the air that neither Orm nor Sirilak could ignore. Both of them had changed, grown in ways they hadn't expected, but the unresolved emotions between them were still there, buried beneath the surface.

As the evening drew to a close, Sirilak found herself standing alone on the balcony, looking out over the city skyline. The reunion had been harder than she had anticipated. She hadn't been prepared for the flood of memories—or the feelings she thought she had buried along with her old self.

Orm approached her, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "You've changed," she said softly, standing beside Sirilak, her eyes also fixed on the horizon. "But I guess we all have."

Sirilak didn't respond right away. She knew Orm was right. They had all changed, but the change within herself felt more like a loss than growth. Finally, she turned to Orm, her voice low and sincere. "I had to," she said. "It was the only way I could move forward."

Orm swallowed hard, the ache in her chest growing. "Did you?"

Sirilak didn't answer. She couldn't. Because the truth was, despite all the success, despite all the distance she had created between herself and her past, there was still one thing she had never been able to move on from.

Orm.

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