** continuation of Day One**
The night breeze was cool against their skin as they walked back to their condo. Their fingers intertwined naturally, their steps slow and unhurried. The city had been their playground todayâwalking through parks, riding the ferry aimlessly, watching the sun dip below the skyline.
Orm sighed contentedly, leaning her head against Lingling's shoulder. "Today was perfect," she murmured.
Lingling glanced at her, a small, secretive smile playing on her lips. "It's not over yet."
As they reached their condo, Lingling handed Orm the key. "You open it."
Orm gave her a suspicious look but didn't question it. She unlocked the door, flicked on the lightâ
And gasped.
The room was transformed.
Soft candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow over the dining table set for two. A trail of flower petalsâred, white, and soft blueâcovered the floor. At the center of the table sat a grand bouquet of hydrangeas, lily of the valley, and red roses, perfectly arranged, their fragrances blending into something sweet and familiar.
Orm turned back to Lingling, her mouth slightly open in shock. "You did all this?"
Lingling tilted her head playfully. "Well, the idea was mine, but I had Nene set it up while we were out." She smirked. "I had to make sure everything was perfect for you."
Orm reached for the bouquet, inhaling deeply. The scent was intoxicating, filled with memories. She closed her eyes for a second, savoring it. "I love it, Teerak," she whispered.
Lingling stepped behind her, wrapping her arms around Orm's waist, resting her chin on her shoulder. "I'm glad," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss against her neck.
The sound of music suddenly filled the airâ"Something Like This" by Gordi. Orm turned slightly to see Lingling holding out her hand.
"Dance with me."
Orm squinted at her, playfully skeptical. "This is... awkwardly cheesy, babe."
Lingling chuckled. "And?"
Orm rolled her eyes but slid her hand into Lingling's anyway. "Fine."
They swayed gently, the song wrapping around them, soft and warm. Lingling held Orm close, her hands resting at her waist, their bodies fitting together naturally, as if they had been made to do this a thousand times before.
The world outside didn't exist.
It was just themâtwo hearts moving in time with the music.
As the song neared its end, Lingling pulled back slightly, just enough to meet Orm's gaze. She cupped her face, her thumb brushing over Orm's cheek. "I love you so much," she whispered, voice thick with emotion. "I wish this night would never end."
Orm's eyes softened. She leaned in, their lips brushing in a slow, deep kiss, as if sealing the moment into eternity.
Tonight, there was no time limit.
Only love.
______
Soft glow of candlelight flickered across their faces as they sat at the dining table, sharing a late dinner. Their laughter filled the air between bites, their conversation lighthearted, teasing, full of warmth.
Orm reached across the table, holding a piece of sushi to Lingling's lips. "Say ahh," she grinned.
Lingling raised an eyebrow but complied, letting Orm feed her. "Mmm," she hummed in approval, chewing slowly. "You have good taste with all of your favorite dishes, love."
Orm smirked, popping a piece into her own mouth. "Of course. I have you, don't I?"
Lingling rolled her eyes but smiled, her heart swelling at the casual way Orm spoke of themâlike they were forever.
The night felt perfect. The way the candlelight flickered, the way Orm's eyes sparkled under its glow, the way their laughter filled the space like music.
And then Orm cleared her throat.
Lingling didn't notice at first, too focused on slicing a piece of her steak, until Orm's voice dropped slightly.
"Babe... there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
Lingling glanced up at her, noticing how Orm's fingers toyed with the hem of the tablecloth, an unusual hesitancy in her movements. "What is it, love?"
Orm took a deep breath, then spoke carefully.
"These past few days... I've been having nightmares."
Lingling froze.
Orm continued, not noticing the way Lingling's shoulders had tensed. "I don't remember much. Everything's a blur, but I wake up feeling... hollow. Like I lost something important." She gave a small, humorless laugh. "And every time I try to remember, all I can see is you crying."
The air suddenly felt too heavy, suffocating.
Lingling clenched her fists under the table, her heartbeat hammering against her ribs.
She knew why.
Orm looked at her, tilting her head. "It's weird, right? I mean, it's just a dream. But..." she hesitated before asking the question Lingling dreaded the most.
"Will you cry if I disappear?"
Lingling felt like she had been punched in the gut.
She didn't look at Orm.
She couldn't.
Because if she did, Orm would see everythingâthe fear, the desperation, the unbearable truth that she knew what was coming.
Her fingers curled tightly around her utensils, her knuckles turning white. She forced her voice into something neutral, something not broken.
"Without you, Orm..." she said slowly, staring down at her plate as if it held all the answers. "I would be lost."
Orm blinked, caught off guard by the rawness in Lingling's tone.
Lingling inhaled sharply, swallowing down the lump in her throat. "I would drown myself in alcohol. I would weep every day and night. I wouldn't know how to breathe, how to move, how to exist."
Orm's chest tightened. "Ling..."
Lingling finally looked at her.
Her eyes were glossy but strong. She gave a small, sad smile. "So, don't disappear. Ever."
Orm reached across the table, gripping Lingling's hand tightly. "I won't," she promised.
Lingling squeezed back, as if trying to anchor Orm to reality, to herself.
As if trying to defy fate.
As if trying to make this moment last forever.