The sky was still dark when Lingling and Orm left Koh Samui, heading back to Bangkok. The hum of the plane was steady, but Lingling could only hear the racing of her own heartbeat. She held Orm's hand tightly, fingers intertwined as if letting go would mean losing her.
Orm, unlike in any other timeline, held her hand just as tightly. She didn't say anything, but there was something in her gazeâan unspoken promise.
When they landed, the familiar city lights of Bangkok greeted them. They took a taxi back to their condo, exhaustion settling into their bones.
The moment they stepped inside their condo, Lingling barely made it to the bed before sleep overtook her.
Orm stood by the doorway, watching her for a moment before reaching for Lingling's car keys. She had plans.
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Orm's POV
Orm stepped out of the grocery store, arms full of neatly packed bags filled with essentialsâand a few indulgences she didn't really need. She exhaled, adjusting the weight in her hands, when something across the street caught her eye.
A dog shelter.
She had passed by it before, never thinking much of it. But today, something pulled her feet forward before her mind even caught up.
Curiosity led her inside, and the moment she stepped through the door, the soft whimpers and excited yips of various dogs filled her ears. Some were jumping against their cages, tails wagging, while others observed her cautiously from a distance.
But one, in particular, caught her attention.
A small golden retriever puppy, sitting quietly at the far end of the room, staring right at her with round, expectant eyes. Unlike the others, it didn't bark or jump. It just... waited.
"There you are," Orm murmured, as if she had been looking for this pup all along.
Without hesitation, she set her grocery bags down and crouched in front of the little retriever. The puppy tilted its head, sniffing her outstretched hand before letting out the softest whimper.
Orm smiled, scooping the tiny fluffball into her arms.
"I'll take you home, okay?" she whispered, stroking its soft fur. The puppy nuzzled into her chest, its tiny body warm against hers.
She inhaled deeply, pressing her cheek against its head. "From now on, you're Mochi."
The name felt right. Warm. Comforting.
Her fingers gently ran through the pup's golden fur as her voice softened.
"Whatever happens... you'll look after your other mom, okay?" Orm's throat tightened, and she swallowed against the lump forming there. "I don't know what's going to happen between us. But if things don't go our way... at least she'll have you."
She didn't even realize she was tearing up until she felt the sting in her eyes.
Orm quickly blinked the emotion away, laughing at herself.
Mochi licked her cheek, as if reassuring her.
Orm let out a soft chuckle. "You're a smart one, huh?"
The shelter volunteer approached her, smiling warmly. "Looks like someone found their human."
Orm glanced down at the puppy in her arms and felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest.
"Yeah," she murmured, pressing a kiss to Mochi's head. "I guess we found each other."
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By the time Lingling stirred awake, the afternoon sun had already begun filtering through the curtains. She stretched lazily and turned her headâonly to be met with a pair of big, brown eyes staring right at her.
She blinked.
A golden retriever puppy lay beside her, tail wagging excitedly.
"What theâ?"
Before she could process what was happening, Orm walked in with a smirk on her lips.
"Surprise," she said casually.
Lingling sat up, still confused. "Whereâhowâ"
Orm chuckled, sitting on the bed. "I stopped by a shelter. Thought we could use some company."
Lingling stared at her, her heart swelling. "You got us a dog?"
Orm nodded. "You always said you wanted one."
Lingling swallowed hard. Orm had remembered.
Lingling reached out, stroking the puppy's soft fur. It was warm, aliveâsomething real that she could hold onto. "What's her name?"
Orm grinned. "Mochi."
Lingling laughed softly. "Of course you'd name her after food."
Orm nudged her playfully. "Don't act like you don't love it."
Lingling sighed, wrapping her arms around Orm. "I love you."
Orm smiled, kissing her cheek. "I know."
After settling Mochi in, Orm decided to cook.
Lingling sat on the counter, watching Orm move around the kitchen with ease.
"This reminds me of when we were in college," Lingling mused. "You used to bribe me with food just to get me to study with you."
Orm laughed. "Because it worked."
Lingling smirked. "Because I was poor."
Orm turned to her, rolling her eyes. "You weren't poor, you justâ"
"I was broke," Lingling corrected.
Orm sighed. "Okay, maybe a little. But I never cared about that."
Lingling tilted her head. "Why did you chase after me, then?"
Orm paused, stirring the soup in the pot.
"Because you were different," she said softly. "You never treated me like I was some rich girl who had everything handed to her. You made me work for your attention."
Lingling smiled. "That's because you were annoying."
Orm gasped, feigning offense. "Excuse me?"
Lingling chuckled, reaching out to pull her closer. "But I fell for you anyway."
Orm softened, wrapping her arms around Lingling's waist. "And I fell for you."
After lunch, they decided to take Mochi for a walk.
As they strolled through their old university campus, memories flooded back.
"Remember this spot?" Orm pointed to a bench under a large tree.
Lingling smirked. "Where you cried because you failed a test?"
Orm groaned. "I didn't cry. I was frustrated."
Lingling grinned. "You were pouting like a kid."
Orm rolled her eyes. "Whatever. But you sat with me for hours that day, even though you had somewhere to be."
Lingling shrugged. "You were sad. I couldn't leave you like that."
Orm squeezed her hand. "See? That's why I love you."
Lingling felt her heart tighten. That's why I can't lose you.
That night, they set up a small picnic on their condo near the balcony. The city lights stretched out before them, but Lingling only had eyes for Orm.
Orm laid her head on Lingling's lap, tracing small patterns on her knee.
"I wish we could stay like this forever," Orm murmured.
Lingling swallowed the lump in her throat. "Me too."
Orm tilted her head up. "Promise me something?"
Lingling felt herself tense. "Anything."
"Promise me that no matter what happens, you won't regret loving me."
Lingling's breath hitched.
She gripped Orm's hand tightly. "I will never regret loving you."
Orm smiled. "Then that's all I need."
Lingling leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
As the night stretched on, they held onto each other refusing to let go.
The night was quiet, save for the distant hum of Bangkok's heartbeat below.
They went to their room and Orm lay on the bed, her dark eyes locked onto Lingling's, a slow smile forming on her lips. "Come here," she whispered.
Lingling didn't hesitate. She leaned down, brushing her fingers along Orm's cheek, memorizing the warmth of her skin. Their foreheads touched, breaths mingling, as if time itself had slowed just for them.
Orm reached up, running her fingers through Lingling's hair, tugging her closer. "I love you," she murmured against Lingling's lips.
Lingling inhaled sharply. "I love you more."
Their lips met in a kissâslow, deep, filled with unspoken promises. Lingling's hands traced the curves of Orm's body, feeling the rise and fall of her breaths, the heat between them growing with each passing second.
Orm pulled Lingling down with her, their bodies molding together like they were meant to fit. Every kiss, every touch, spoke volumesâof love, of longing, of a desperation to hold onto this moment forever.
Lingling's lips trailed down Orm's neck, savoring every inch of her. Orm shivered beneath her touch, her fingers gripping Lingling's back, pulling her even closer.
"You're mine," Orm whispered.
Lingling smiled against her skin. "Always."
The night stretched on, filled with whispered names, soft gasps, and the steady rhythm of two hearts beating as one.
Wrapped in each other's arms, their breaths finally steadied, Lingling pressed a final kiss to Orm's forehead, tucking her against her chest.
As Orm drifted into sleep, Lingling held her tightly, silently praying that this night would never end.