BEYOND THE HEADLINES || LINGORM

CHAPTER 3

"Oh my God, so many media people outside!" Amanda exclaimed the moment Orm came in through the door.

"I told you, you were too stubborn to listen," Orm shook her head with a tinge of frustration.

Amanda walked over to the couch and threw herself on it dramatically. "And I told you that I'm bored! I also want to know what's behind the story of those pictures with that CEO," she said, her expression changing to a sly grin.

Orm raised her eyebrows and rolled them back into their sockets. "You could have just called me."

"It is not the same if it's over the phone," said Amanda in a playful voice.

Orm sat there, speechless in amazement. "You're unbelievable." She slumped into the solitary armchair, crossed one leg over the other, and let defeatist air permeate.

"Well, come on, don't waste more of our time here; just spill the tea," Amanda coaxed, hunching forward with unbridled excitement.

Orm flashed her a half-smile with a quiver at the corner. "You're just going to tease me."

Amanda clucked, her laughter booming. "That depends upon what you say!"

With a deep sigh, Orm focused her gaze on her friend. "Fine." She cleared her throat. "I was wasted that night," she started, immediately capturing Amanda's full attention. "The last thing I remember before I passed out was calling someone, and to my surprise, it was... h-her."

As soon as Orm finished explaining, Amanda burst out laughing. For as long as they'd known each other since college, this was the last thing Amanda would have expected Orm to do.

Even though Orm is a hyper-energetic person, she still knows how to keep her composure in such situations, or at least, so one would expect.

"Did you really make a drunk call?!" Amanda exclaimed with uncontrolled laughter.

Orm pouted, and it was obvious that she was embarrassed. "I was wasted, Amanda!"

"That still counts!" Amanda replied, laughing. "Damn, I could not imagine her reaction!"

Their laughter in the living room died out and was filled by some playful banter. Amanda continued tormenting Orm as she sat on, staring at her friend, glaring at her.

Their conversation is suddenly jolted with the ringing of Amanda's phone. Amanda picked it up, and Orm got off the sofa and headed into the kitchen to prepare lunch for her and Amanda.

She opened the refrigerator and picked the ingredients to make son-in-law eggs, which she had been craving for weeks.

Orm was a celebrity who kept busy being both a model and an rising actress. There were interviews here and guest appearances there, photoshoots in one place and filming in another; it was never-ending. She barely got to rest her head, let alone have any kind of relaxation, and even missed her brother's birthday celebration.

Even though Orm is already a successful celebrity, she still expected to inherit her family business. Her brother was much too young to take this role, so Orm felt she could not possibly decline the responsibility. Well, she had dreamed since childhood of helping the family business.

Orm is one who really epitomizes the definition of a very hard-working person. Having set so many goals in her life, she didn't let anything get off track.

"What are you cooking?" Amanda's voice cut into her thoughts.

Orm flinched. She hadn't been paying attention, and Amanda sneaked up on her. "You scared me!" she said, turning around to face her friend.

Amanda laughed and sat on a stool.

"Son-in-law eggs. Like them?" Orm asked, casting a glance back over her shoulder.

Amanda nodded giddily. "Yup. One of my favorite dishes."

Orm merely hummed to herself and continued with the preparation as Amanda kept up a string of chatter and jokes for her. It was about college memories; it branched out to love life.

"You are already thirty-one. Don't you have plans on getting married or building a family?" teased Orm, with a glint in her eye.

"Stop pointing out my age," Amanda snapped back, and Orm laughed.

"Come on, seriously, what age do you think is appropriate for marriage?" she asked, pretending to be serious.

"I don't know. Marriage is quite a big commitment; time will come," Amanda replied, her voice full of reflection.

Orm nodded in her agreement.

"What about you? What are your plans?" Amanda retorted, curiosity sparked within her.

Orm hesitated, her hands still as she looked at Amanda. Both of them this time were stern-faced. Orm sighed, reclining against the sink, thoughts overwhelming her.

"I don't know either," she murmured, averting her eyes as a weight seemed to settle over them.

Silence filled the room. Then Orm turned off the stove and continued preparing lunch as Amanda looked at her with a worried expression.

"But seriously, Orm," Amanda said softly. Breaking the silence. This was a telltale sign that she had something important to say. "It's been five years. Do you still love her?"

Orm stopped, her lips curving into a bittersweet smile. "I never stopped loving her, you know that."