Faded Echoes || LINGORM ✓

CHAPTER 20

Ling's Point of View

The hum of the engine gradually became a fading noise as I parked outside the hospital; early morning darkness clung still to the sky. It had been a long night, and it would be even longer. Today I promised a more exhausting schedule that was scheduled for the board meeting and lunch with my parents. Days like this have always filled me with utter annoyance, yet over time, such days have been habit-forming.

I walked into the hospital with confidence, the familiar scent of antiseptic and sterile air enveloping me as I passed through the sliding doors. Nurse Jaja was the first to greet me. Her bright smile lit up the otherwise dimly lit hallway, and I couldn't help but smile back, offering a quick nod of acknowledgment. I was about to head straight to my office when a thought stopped me in my tracks.

I turned to her, taking a quiet breath before speaking.

"Good morning, Doc," she said, cheerfulness radiating from her. She seemed to be in a good mood today, which was a relief since the atmosphere at the hospital was usually tense.

"Morning," I replied, my tone casual, though a flicker of something lingered in my chest. "Uh... Can I ask a favor?"

She nodded right away, and I let out a small sigh before going on, speaking gently.

"My secretary has been coming in and bringing me a paper bag with lunch inside. She said it was sent by somebody else, but you were the one bringing it."

Jaja's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, Doc, it's from Ms. Orm Kornnaphat, the actress."

I turned away, slightly distracted by the teasing inflection. What lay hidden was beneath my radar. I knew who lunch came from; the scribbled notes within the bag, written in that unmistakable, gut-wrenching penmanship, wouldn't let me miss it. The baobao codename she wrote in the sticky notes, the little signs that only Orm and I shared.

"Yes," I said, voice soft but firm. "I know. It's in the notes."

Jaja grinned knowingly, but I quickly steeled myself. "If she sends another one, tell her that I want to speak to her in private. It's important."

Orm had been sending me lunch for nearly two weeks now. Initially, I could not make sense of her intentions, but now the pattern was clear. She was trying to reach out, trying to mend something long broken. A piece of me had been avoiding her, scared of the emotions it would stir. But today, something had shifted. It was time for us to talk.

"Okay, Doc," Nurse Jaja replied, with a curious but respectful voice. "I will tell her.

I nodded in appreciation of her cooperation and walked toward my office, the heavy weight of the day settling on me. I dived headfirst into work, helping wherever needed, trying to distract myself from the inevitable meeting that loomed ahead. Hours passed in a blur, but when the clock struck eleven, I was preparing to leave my office when a soft knock interrupted the quiet.

The door creaked open to my secretary. "Doc, Ms. Kornnaphat is here. She says she has an appointment with you."

The words hit me like a cold rush, but I quickly masked my nerves with a smile. I motioned for her to let Orm inside, settling back into my swivel chair. I adjusted my coat, trying to maintain my composure, but I couldn't deny the wave of nervous energy that surged through me as I waited for her to step into my office.

She was a magnetic presence, a persona. She was still the same yet different. Then my heart pounded as she came in, made eye contact, and sat down in front of me, setting the brown paper bag on my desk. Everything felt much more awkward than I expected, looking at the subtle scent of perfume that surrounded us from her.

"I... brought you lunch," she stammered, her voice hesitant. She scratched her eyebrow nervously as she placed the bag carefully on the table.

The silence between us was suffocating, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I found myself caught in her eyes, feeling the weight of the years that had passed since we last spoke. It was both familiar and foreign.

I swallowed to dislodge a sudden lump. Words tumbled on my tongue, but hesitated at the lip. "Are you f-free tonight?" I stammered, reproaching myself for my clumsiness escaping my mouth. "I... wanted to talk to you."

She bent her head on one side and eyed me attentively. "I'm free all day," she said, low and steady.

I let out a sigh of relief at her availability. "Well, that's... good," I said, the words coming out so much easier now. "I've been trying to decide whether I should wait for you to explain or just ask you now, but. I have spent five years wondering about this. I need the answers, Orm."

Her gaze didn't waver. The intensity in her eyes made the air feel heavy, almost suffocating. I couldn't bring myself to look away, even though everything in me screamed to break the silence.

"And I need to hear your explanation," I added, my voice barely above a whisper.

Orm's lips curled into a small, knowing smile, but she said nothing. The silence hung there, heavy and charged, neither of us wanting to bridge the gap between us.

I had so many questions, but at the moment, I knew I had to focus on one thing at a time.

"Uh... Ling?" she whispered, shattering the quiet. My heart skipped a beat when she spoke my name. "Can we meet at the beach tonight? You know... the place-our place."

It hit me like a wave crashing against the shore with the weight of her words. The beach-our place, where everything began and where it ended. It was as if she was asking to revisit a piece of our shared history, to give us both the closure we had denied ourselves for so long.

I nodded, my throat tight.

Maybe, just maybe, tonight was the night I'd finally get the answers I'd been searching for. The questions, the heartache, the years of wondering-they would all come to an end tonight.