The night had been nothing short of magical, their love sealed in the most intimate way. Orm slept soundly, her body still wrapped in the warmth of their shared passion.
But just a few hours later, Lingling was already awake, quietly watching her wife's peaceful face in the dim glow of their bedroom. She memorized every delicate featureâOrm's long lashes, the soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed.
Lingling's heart ached. She wanted to hold onto this moment forever. But she had no time to waste.
She gently shook Orm awake, her voice soft but urgent. "Baby, wake up."
Orm stirred, letting out a sleepy groan as she blinked her eyes open. "Mmm... why are you awake?" she mumbled, her voice laced with exhaustion.
Lingling was already dressed, looking effortlessly beautiful in a casual yet elegant outfit. Orm squinted in confusion.
"What's wrong?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. Then, noticing Lingling fully clothed, she frowned. "Wait... why are you dressed up? Where are you going?"
Lingling chuckled, leaning down to kiss Orm's forehead. "We need to go, or we'll be late," she said, amusement in her voice.
Orm groaned, burying herself under the covers. "Go where? The only place I want to go is back to sleep." She reached out lazily, tugging on Lingling's shirt. "Get naked and come back to bed," she mumbled, still half-asleep.
Lingling laughed, shaking her head. "Baby, no. We're going on our honeymoon."
That got Orm's attention. She peeked out from under the blanket, eyes wide with curiosity. "What? But... I thought we hadn't planned anything yet?"
Lingling smirked. "Correctionâyou hadn't planned anything. I, on the other hand, have everything prepared. Now, get up before we miss our flight."
Orm blinked. "Flight?"
Lingling pulled her up, wrapping her in a blanket. "Yes, my love. We're going to Koh Samui."
Orm's jaw dropped. "Koh Samui?!"
Lingling grinned, nodding. "Surprise."
Orm groaned, still groggy but now too excited to argue. "You really planned all this without telling me?"
Lingling kissed her nose. "Of course. Now, go shower before I carry you there myself."
Orm sighed dramatically but obeyed, dragging herself to the bathroom.
The Journey Begins
After freshening up and getting dressed, Orm followed Lingling to the car, still processing the sudden surprise.
"I can't believe you planned this without me knowing," Orm muttered, still pouting a little.
Lingling smiled, glancing at her as she drove. "I wanted it to be special. I know you would've been fine with just staying at home, but you deserve something more than that."
Orm softened, reaching for Lingling's hand. "You always do the sweetest things for me."
Lingling squeezed her hand. "And I always will."
After arriving at the airport, they quickly checked in and boarded their flight. Orm's excitement grew as she realized they were actually doing thisâjust the two of them, away from everything, in a place as beautiful as Koh Samui.
When they landed, a private car was waiting to take them to their resort.
Orm's eyes widened as they pulled up to the luxurious beachfront villa. The place was breathtakingâwhite sand beaches, an infinity pool overlooking the ocean, and a beautifully decorated suite with a king-sized bed draped in white curtains.
Lingling wrapped her arms around Orm's waist from behind. "Do you like it?" she whispered.
Orm turned in her embrace, cupping her face. "I love it. But mostly, I love you."
Lingling smiled. "Good. Because we have two days here, and I plan on making every second count."
Orm giggled. "Now, that sounds like a honeymoon."
With that, she pulled Lingling inside, ready to make even more unforgettable memories together.
____
The morning air was crisp and salty, the sound of gentle waves rolling onto the shore setting a peaceful rhythm. The golden sun bathed everything in a warm glow, and the sky stretched endlessly above them, a perfect shade of blue.
Orm and Lingling sat at a small wooden table set up by the beach, their breakfast elegantly arranged on white porcelain plates. The breeze played with Orm's loose strands of hair as she reached for a piece of mango, biting into it with satisfaction.
Orm sighed as she gazed at the endless ocean before them. "My love," she started, her voice soft yet filled with emotion, "everything happened so fast, don't you think?"
Lingling, who had just taken a bite of toast, paused mid-chew. She set her fork down, looking at Orm with a thoughtful expression. It was true. Everything had moved at a pace she never expected.
"I just woke up one day and realized that for all those years, I was drowning myself in work," Lingling admitted, her voice carrying a trace of guilt. "I was so caught up in responsibilities, in making a name for myself, that I forgot to focus on the one thing that truly matteredâyou. You were always there, taking care of me, loving me, even when I didn't deserve it."
Orm frowned, reaching out to cup Lingling's face with both hands. "Don't you dare say that again," she whispered firmly. "You always deserve it. Loving you, taking care of youâit's never been a burden for me, Ling. It's what I want to do."
Lingling exhaled shakily, pressing a kiss to Orm's forehead, her heart aching with love and something heavierâgrief she had yet to express.
Orm, unaware of the turmoil brewing inside Lingling, suddenly cleared her throat and clung to Lingling's arm like a child seeking attention.
Lingling chuckled, still chewing on her food. "What is it?"
Orm tilted her head and grinned mischievously. "Soooo... how many?"
Lingling frowned, utterly lost. "How many what?"
Orm groaned in frustration, leaning against Lingling. "How many kids do you have in mind?"
Lingling's eyes widened, completely caught off guard. She wasn't expecting this topicânot now. Before she could even process it, Orm added with a pout, "I want two."
Lingling blinked, utterly flustered. "B-baby, I almost died from your question!" she coughed, reaching for her water.
Orm giggled, waiting expectantly. "I just think two would be perfect. That way, they'd always have each other, you know? They wouldn't be lonely."
Lingling felt her breath hitch in her throat. Orm was planning a futureâa future where they would raise children together, grow old side by side. A future that, in Lingling's reality, may never come to pass.
The weight of it all suddenly felt unbearable.
Her chest tightened, and before she could stop herself, tears spilled down her cheeks. She broke down, shoulders trembling, her silent cries turning into uncontrollable sobs.
Orm's smile faded instantly. She panicked, reaching for Lingling's hands. "Hey, hey, baby, what's wrong?" she asked, searching her wife's face for an answer.
Lingling shook her head, unable to form the words. She wanted to scream, to tell Orm everythingâthat they only had a few more days together, that an accident was waiting for them like an unavoidable storm, that no matter how much she tried, she couldn't change the fate she had seen.
But she couldn't. She wouldn't.
Instead, she buried her face in Orm's hands, holding onto her like she was the only thing anchoring her to this world.
"Ling, talk to me," Orm pleaded, worry etched in her voice. "Did I say something wrong?"
Lingling shook her head. "No, never," she managed to whisper, her voice cracking. "It's just... I love you so much."
Orm softened, wiping Lingling's tears away with her thumbs. "I love you too," she murmured. "More than anything."
Lingling forced a smile, swallowing the pain deep inside.
She had to be strongâfor Orm.
She had to make the most of the time they had left.
She had to make sure Orm remained the happiest woman in the world, no matter how much it hurt inside.
So she kissed herâlong, deep, and full of all the emotions she couldn't put into words.
Orm smiled into the kiss, pulling Lingling closer. "I love you," she repeated, her eyes twinkling. "And I can't wait for our future together."
Lingling closed her eyes, holding onto her as if she could stop time.
If only that were true.