Orm stirred awake to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through their bedroom curtains. The bed beside her was empty, slightly cold, a sign that Lingling had been up for a while. She turned to glance at the clockâ8:12 AM, October 12.
Their wedding was tomorrow.
That thought still felt surreal, a whirlwind of rushed preparations and overwhelming emotions. But despite the unexpected speed of it all, Orm felt nothing but happiness.
Stretching her arms, she slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The faint murmur of Lingling's voice carried through the slightly ajar bedroom door. Curious, Orm slid out of bed and padded out to the living room.
Lingling stood near the large window, her back turned as she finished a conversation on the phone. Dressed in an oversized white button-downâOrm's shirtâher hair was slightly messy, as if she had been running her fingers through it absentmindedly.
Orm smiled.
Lingling noticed her presence immediately and turned, her face lighting up. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
Before Orm could even respond, Lingling walked toward her and pressed a series of soft kisses on her lips, one after another. Orm let out a small laugh between them, holding Lingling's waist as she leaned into her warmth.
"You're in a good mood," Orm mumbled against her lips.
Lingling grinned. "I woke up next to the love of my life. What's not to be happy about?"
Orm rolled her eyes fondly. "Corny."
Lingling ignored the teasing and laced their fingers together. "We need to leave soon," she said, resting her forehead against Orm's. "We have to try on dresses for tomorrow."
Orm's eyes widened slightly in realization. "Oh. Right."
Lingling pulled back, crossing her arms. "Did you forget?"
Orm hesitated, then gave her an awkward smile. "...Maybe?"
Lingling gasped dramatically, her expression shifting into a perfect display of mock-offense. "How could you forget our wedding dress fitting, Orm?"
Orm pouted, stepping closer to her fiancée and wrapping her arms around her waist. "Forgive me, teerak?" she asked in a playful, dramatic tone.
Lingling narrowed her eyes, pretending to consider it. "Hmm... nope."
Orm blinked. "What? No forgiveness?"
Lingling shook her head firmly. "Not unless..." she trailed off, tilting her chin up slightly.
Orm raised an eyebrow. "Unless what?"
A mischievous smile curled on Lingling's lips. "Unless we shower together."
Orm laughed, pinching Lingling's nose gently. "You're being naughty. It's still early in the morning."
Lingling huffed. "And so?"
Before Orm could protest further, Lingling hugged her tightly and began pulling her toward the bathroom.
Orm sighed in defeat, laughing as she let herself be dragged along. "I guess I have no choice, huh?"
Lingling grinned victoriously. "Nope."
_____
The warm water filled the bathtub, steam rising around them as Lingling settled behind Orm, gently scrubbing her back with slow, soothing movements. The scent of lavender filled the air, mixing with the natural warmth of their bodies pressed close together.
Orm let out a soft sigh, leaning against Lingling's chest. The feeling of being cared for in such an intimate, domestic way made her heart swell with love.
Lingling broke the silence, her voice low and relaxed. "So, after the wedding... where do you wanna go, babe?"
Orm hummed, thinking. "Honestly? I don't really have anywhere in mind."
Lingling tilted her head, feigning disappointment. "Not Paris? Or Japan? Maybe Hong Kong?" She teased, trailing her fingers up Orm's arm. "For our honeymoon?"
Orm smiled at the thought but simply shook her head. "Just being with you is enough."
Lingling scoffed playfully. "That's sweet and all, but you're missing the point of a honeymoon. Traveling, exploring new places, romantic hotel stays..."
Orm let out a soft chuckle, turning slightly to face Lingling. "Why do we need to go somewhere else when we can start the honeymoon now?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she shifted, straddling Lingling's thighs in the water.
Lingling blinked in surprise, eyes narrowing. "So aggressive, Mrs. Kwong."
Orm smirked, wrapping her arms around Lingling's neck. "Well, we are getting married tomorrow. It's only fair that we start practicing, don't you think?"
Before Lingling could reply, Orm leaned in, her lips brushing against Lingling's ear before she gently nibbled on her earlobe.
Lingling shivered, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Baby, that tickles."
Orm grinned. "I know."
Her lips trailed slowly down Lingling's neck, pressing soft, lingering kisses against the warm skin. Lingling tilted her head back slightly, her hands resting on Orm's bare waist, feeling the damp heat of her skin against her palms.
A quiet moan slipped from Lingling's lips as Orm's kisses deepened, her breath warm against her throat.
Just as the tension thickened, Orm suddenly stopped.
Lingling froze, blinking in confusion as Orm pulled back slightly, a knowing smile on her lips. She cupped Lingling's face, brushing her thumbs over her cheekbones.
"Okay, let's rinse off and finish our shower," Orm said, her voice light and playful.
Lingling's jaw dropped. "Wait, babyâthat's it?"
Orm bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh at the frustration on Lingling's face. "What do you mean, 'that's it?'"
Lingling pouted, crossing her arms. "Nothing... let's just finish showering." She let out an exaggerated sigh, making Orm laugh as she kissed her fiancée on the forehead.
Orm knew she was in for revenge laterâbut for now, teasing Lingling was just too much fun.
_____
As soon as they stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in fluffy white towels, steam still clinging to their skin, Lingling was the first to walk toward the closet. She ran her fingers over the neatly arranged clothes, searching for something casual to wear.
Orm, on the other hand, wasn't in a rush at all. She leaned against the doorframe, watching Lingling with amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Baby, what are you wearing today?" Lingling asked, distracted as she pulled out a pair of jeans.
Orm smirked and dropped her towel dramatically, standing there completely bare. "Hmm... nothing seems comfortable today."
Lingling turned, caught off guard, and immediately looked away. "Orm!" She covered her eyes with her hand, but her flushed cheeks gave away everything.
Orm laughed, unashamed, stepping closer. "What? It's not like you haven't seen all of this before, like earlier, babe." She grabbed a loose white shirt and slowly slid it over her head, making sure Lingling was peeking through her fingers.
Lingling rolled her eyes, turning back to her side of the closet. "Just hurry up and get dressed. We have a long day ahead."
But Orm wasn't done teasing. She walked up behind Lingling, wrapping her arms around her waist, resting her chin on her shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want to stay in bed for a little longer?" she murmured, her warm breath tickling Lingling's skin.
Lingling tensed, but she refused to give in. "We have a breakfast date. Pancakes. Remember?"
Orm pouted but didn't let go. "Pancakes can wait. My fiancée, however, cannot."
Lingling bit her lip, trying to fight off a smile. "Orm."
"Hmm?" Orm pressed a soft kiss to Lingling's bare shoulder, knowing exactly what she was doing.
Lingling took a deep breath, gently turning in Orm's arms. She placed her hands on Orm's cheeks, forcing her to focus. "Behave," she said in her sternest voice.
Orm blinked innocently. "I always behave."
Lingling narrowed her eyes. "Lies."
Orm chuckled, finally stepping back. "Fine, fine. I'll behave. For now."
She grabbed her denim shorts, finally getting dressed while Lingling sighed in relief.
"You're impossible," Lingling muttered under her breath, slipping into her own clothes.
"And yet, you love me," Orm grinned, walking over to plant a quick kiss on Lingling's cheek.
Lingling shook her head, unable to stop the smile that tugged at her lips. "Yes, unfortunately for me, I do."
Orm beamed. "Then let's go get those pancakes, my love."
______
The café was warm and inviting, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and buttered pancakes filling the air. Lingling and Orm sat by the window, sunlight streaming in as they waited for their order. The place wasn't too crowded, just a few groups of people chatting over breakfast.
Lingling rested her chin on her hand, staring at Orm with a soft smile. "I can't wait to marry you," she said out of nowhere.
Orm, in the middle of stirring her coffee, froze for a second before looking up at her fiancée. A warm smile formed on her lips. "You're being extra sweet these days. Should I be worried?"
Lingling chuckled. "No, silly. I'm just... happy. Nene is handling everything, making sure it's exactly as we planned. It'll just be an intimate ceremony, your family and a few of our closest friends."
Orm nodded, her eyes glowing with happiness. "That's more than enough for me. As long as you're there, nothing else matters."
Lingling sighed, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. A flicker of sadness crossed her eyes. "I just wish my parents were still alive... so they could see why I'm truly happy."
Orm's heart ached at the sadness in Lingling's voice. Without saying a word, she reached across the table, intertwining their fingers. Her thumb brushed over Lingling's hand, a silent reassurance.
Lingling looked up at her, trying to blink away the tears threatening to form.
Orm smiled, a soft and loving smile, before saying, "I love you so much, Teerak."
Lingling squeezed her hand, the warmth of Orm's touch grounding her. She took a deep breath and smiled. "I love you more."
At that moment, their pancakes arrived, stacked high with syrup drizzling down the sides, topped with fresh fruits and whipped cream. The sight alone was enough to lighten the mood.
Orm grinned and picked up her fork. "Alright, enough sad talk. Let's eat before I steal your pancakes."
Lingling laughed, the weight on her chest easing. "You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, I would."
And just like that, the moment shifted back to laughter and playful banter, the love between them filling the space more than any words ever could.
But deep inside Lingling's heart, a storm raged.