Back at One: Another LingOrm's Story

#3

The sun had already set, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets of Bangkok as Ling unlocked the door to their apartment. She pushed it open with a sigh, the weight of her long day evident in the way her shoulders slumped. Meetings had run late at the travel agency, and with the upcoming peak season, there was no room for rest. Stepping inside, she kicked off her shoes and immediately noticed how quiet the apartment felt—too quiet. There was no sound of Orm's voice humming in the kitchen, no clatter of dishes, or the comforting smell of dinner being cooked.

Ling checked the clock. It was past 8 PM, and Orm should have been home by now. They had planned to have dinner together, one of the rare opportunities they had in the middle of their busy lives. Ling's stomach tightened. She had a feeling something had come up again.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, the vibration rattling against the cool marble. Ling reached for it and saw a message from Orm.

Orm: Sorry, babe. Got caught up at work. Won't make it for dinner.

Ling stared at the message, feeling the familiar knot of disappointment tighten in her chest. It wasn't the first time this had happened. Lately, Orm's work commitments had been piling up, with last-minute brand deals, video shoots, and meetings that seemed to stretch endlessly into the night. Orm's social media presence had exploded in popularity after their wedding, and while it brought in a steady flow of endorsements and lucrative deals, it had also consumed more and more of her time.

Ling typed back a quick reply.

Ling: Okay. Be safe. See you when you get home.

But as she set her phone down, the unease lingered. Ling sighed and turned toward the fridge, deciding to throw together a simple meal for herself. She chopped vegetables, her mind wandering as she tried to keep herself occupied. It wasn't that she didn't understand Orm's work demands. After all, she too had been pouring herself into her travel agency, trying to keep up with the influx of clients. But there was something else gnawing at her—something deeper.

As Ling sliced through a bell pepper, her thoughts drifted to their recent conversations. They'd talked about starting a family, about their plans for the future, but every time they tried to have a serious discussion about it, life seemed to get in the way. Ling's fingers hesitated on the knife. How were they supposed to build a future when they could barely carve out time to be together? And what about the financial strain? Orm's brand deals brought in money, but they both knew social media wasn't forever. Ling worried about what would happen when the sponsorships dried up.

Orm didn't get home until after midnight. She slipped through the door quietly, careful not to make too much noise, but Ling was still awake, sitting on the couch with her laptop. She was reviewing documents for the agency, her eyes strained from staring at the screen for too long.

Orm immediately sensed the tension in the air as Ling looked up at her.

"You're late again," Ling said softly, her voice laced with exhaustion.

Orm winced, guilt tugging at her. "I know. I'm sorry, P'Ling. The brand launch ran over, and I didn't want to cancel at the last minute."

"But you did cancel." Ling closed her laptop and placed it gently on the coffee table, folding her hands in her lap. "That's the third time this week."

Orm sighed and walked over to the couch, dropping her bag on the floor as she sat down beside Ling. "I didn't mean for it to happen like this. I thought we'd have more time together once things settled down."

"They're not settling down," Ling pointed out, her voice calm but firm. "In fact, it feels like things are only getting busier. I hardly see you anymore, Orm."