Instantly Smitten! -Lingorm

Chapter 6

Orm was greeted by her mom with warm smiles and open arms. Lavishing her with love and affection, fussing over her like she always did when she saw her.

"There you are, sweetie!" Mrs Kornnaphat exclaimed, embracing her in a tight hug. "We were starting to get worried. We've been waiting for you for a while now."

Orm couldn't help but smile as her mom smothered her with affection. She returned the hug, feeling a mix of gratitude and annoyance.

"Sorry, sorry, mom," she mumbled, her voice filled with sheepishness. "I got a little held up on my way here, and lost track of time. I didn't mean to worry you!"

Mrs Kornnaphat patted her daughter's head affectionately, the worry on her face now replaced with relief.

"It's alright, my dear," she reassured Orm. "Just try to be more mindful next time, okay?"

Then she looked Orm up and down, a slight frown appearing on her pretty face.

"You've gotten so thin, darling," she commented with a touch of concern. "You haven't been eating well, have you?"

Orm felt a pang of guilt at her mother's words. She had been so busy lately that she had indeed neglected eating well.

"I've been a little lax with my meals lately, Mom," she admitted sheepishly. "I've been preoccupied with my studies and haven't found the time to cook or eat properly."

Orm's mother gently scolded her, her tone filled with a mix of love and concern.

"You're still young and so stubborn, Orm," she said. "You insist on living alone in that small apartment when you have a perfectly good room right here... I know you want to be independent and prove yourself, but I can't help but worry about your safety."

"I know, Mom," Orm replied quietly. "But I need to learn to stand on my own two feet, you know? I can't depend on you and Dad forever."

Orm's mother sighed, her expression a mixture of understanding and sadness.

"I know, darling," she said softly. "But just remember, you can always come back to us, okay? No matter how old you get, you're still our little girl. We'll always be here for you, no matter what."

As Orm sat down on the couch next to her mother, a message notification from Prigkhing popped up on the screen. Unfortunately, so did the picture she had set as her wallpaper - the snap of her and Lingling taken during the concert.

Mrs Kornnaphat's eyes immediately darted to the phone, and a sly smile formed on her face. She leaned in closer, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.

"Oh ho ho," she teased with a smirk. "Who's that pretty girl on your phone, sweetheart? Is she your girlfriend?"

Orm's cheeks instantly reddened at her mother's words, and she hurriedly snatched her phone, trying to hide the background picture.

"Mom, it's not like that!" she protested, her voice betraying her embarrassment. "She's just a... a rockstar I met, that's all."

Her mother chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing her daughter. "Just a rockstar, huh?" she teased. "And you have her as your wallpaper because...?"

Orm's face grew even more flushed as her mother continued to tease her. She tried to come up with a believable explanation.

"Well, I...uh...she's just really cool and talented, alright?" she stuttered, avoiding eye contact with her mother. "Her performance was incredible, and...uh...I just really admire her as an artist!"

Mrs Kornnaphat raised an eyebrow, a knowing look on her face.

"Oh, I totally believe you," she replied with a smirk, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're not the type to be into rock music, darling."