CH-10

Before starting her day as a personal assistant, Orm made time to attend her morning class at university, knowing that Ling’s filming schedule wouldn’t begin until after lunch. Despite her busy routine, Orm felt it was important to stay connected with her friends on campus.

While waiting for class to start, she decided to have breakfast at the cafeteria. Sitting in a cozy corner, she eagerly enjoyed her toast. The calm morning atmosphere made her feel at ease, but her peace didn’t last long.

"Orm Kornnaphat!"

"Ack!" Orm choked at the sudden shout, startled enough that she almost spit out her food. Quickly, she grabbed her drink and turned around. "You scared me!" she grumbled, still recovering from the shock. "Good thing I didn’t choke to death."

"If you died, we’d all go down with you," Prikhing joked, earning laughter from their friends.

"I’m not ready to die yet," View added, shaking her head at the thought.

View, Prikhing, and Milk took their seats at Orm’s table. They placed their orders, and while waiting for their food, they started chatting.

"Why are you attending morning classes? Didn’t you say Khun Ling has a packed filming schedule?" Milk asked curiously.

"P’Ling’s shoot doesn’t start until after lunch, so I had time to take my morning exam," Orm replied, taking another bite of her meal.

"You could’ve just taken the makeup exam later," Prikhing pointed out, offering an alternative.

Orm lightly smacked the table with her palm. "Are you crazy? Mr. Mario is ruthless! There’s no way I’m risking a makeup exam with him," she said firmly, her expression serious.

"But if P’Ling had an early morning shoot, you’d have no choice but to take the makeup exam," Milk countered, pressing the argument.

"Luckily, fate is on my side," Orm said smugly, taking a sip of her watermelon juice with a proud smile.

After some playful banter, Orm felt a lingering question she had been meaning to ask. Hesitantly, she shifted the conversation. "By the way, I want to ask you guys something."

"What is it?" Milk, View, and Prikhing turned their attention to Orm, intrigued.

"If your heart races when you're near someone, does that mean you're in love?" Orm asked, her tone unusually serious.

Her three friends fell silent, contemplating the question. View was the first to answer. "It could be. Maybe it's a sign that you're attracted to them."

"Or maybe it’s just anxiety," Prikhing added, offering a different perspective.

Milk nodded in agreement. "Or a mix of both. Love can definitely make your heart race."

Orm mulled over their responses, gazing at them thoughtfully as she processed the information. "Then... what’s the difference between liking someone out of admiration and liking them because you love them?" she asked, her curiosity deepening.

Her friends exchanged glances, considering the question. After a brief pause, View spoke up. "Well, liking someone out of love is deeper. It involves more complex emotions. You're not just drawn to their appearance but also to their personality and way of thinking."

Prikhing nodded. "Exactly. Admiring someone is usually more superficial. You might admire their talent, looks, or achievements, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you're in love with them."

Milk chimed in, "Basically, love comes with a sense of commitment and a desire to support each other, whereas admiration is more about appreciating someone without necessarily wanting to get closer."

Orm nodded, taking in their explanations. "So... does that mean it’s possible to fall in love with someone you originally only admired?" she asked, still trying to piece everything together.

"Yes, absolutely," View replied casually. "Sometimes admiration evolves into love over time, especially when you spend a lot of time with that person and get to know them on a deeper level."

"Interesting," Orm murmured, as if she had just unlocked a hidden truth about herself.

"Why do you ask? Are you falling for P’Meen?" Milk teased, a playful grin on her face.

"Oi! I’ve told you already, P’Meen and I are like siblings. We’re only close because our parents arranged it," Orm quickly clarified, shutting down the assumption.

"Or..." Prikhing suddenly gave Orm a serious look, making the atmosphere tense. "Are you in love with P’Ling?"

"Huh?" Orm’s eyes widened in shock. "I’ve said it a hundred times—I just admire P’Ling because she’s an actress."

Prikhing wasn’t convinced. "Admire, huh? But earlier, you were asking about the difference between admiration and love. Are you sure it’s just admiration?" she pressed, narrowing her eyes.

"Exactly!" Milk jumped in, fueling the speculation. "Just admit it—you like P’Ling. You’re both single anyway, so there’s nothing wrong with it."

"That’s impossible!" Orm protested immediately. "P’Ling is a famous actress, and I’m just her personal assistant. Besides, I don’t think P’Ling is into girls." Though she tried to sound firm, there was a flicker of doubt in her expression.

"But you like her, don’t you? Hasn’t your admiration turned into love?" Prikhing pushed further, hitting right at Orm’s conflicted feelings.

Orm fell silent. She lowered her gaze, as if searching for answers within herself. The table grew quiet as her friends patiently waited. After what felt like forever, Orm let out a deep sigh and gave a small, reluctant nod.

Milk patted Orm’s back gently, sensing her internal struggle. "Don’t be sad, Orm. We don’t know for sure if P’Ling is into girls or not. Besides, just because someone has dated men before doesn’t mean they can’t be attracted to women too. Look at View, for example. She used to think P’June wasn’t into girls, but now they’re dating."

Hearing her name, View added, "That’s true. At first, I had doubts. But because I kept getting closer to P’June, she eventually realized her own feelings. The key is to spend time together first. Who knows? P’Ling might feel the same way."

Prikhing nodded in agreement, encouraging Orm. "Exactly. And besides, same-sex marriage is legal in Thailand now. It’s not a big deal anymore. P’Ling being a celebrity doesn’t change the fact that she’s still human—with feelings just like the rest of us."

"That’s right!" Milk chimed in enthusiastically. "Don’t give up, Orm! No matter what happens, we’ll always support you."

Orm looked at each of her friends in turn, a small smile forming on her lips. A warm feeling spread through her chest at their unwavering support. "Thank you, guys," she said sincerely, grateful to have them by her side, no matter how complicated her feelings might be.

•••••

"Cut!"

The sharp voice of P'Nay, the director, immediately made Ling stop acting. She let out a relieved sigh, slipping back into herself after immersing in her character. P'Nay walked toward the crew and said, "Let's take a short break, then move to the next location."

Ling smiled, grateful for the short break. She casually walked over to where Orm was waiting. As soon as she arrived, Orm swiftly handed her a cold bottle of water.

"Thanks, Nong," Ling said with a warm smile as she took the bottle. She took a small sip before shifting her gaze to Orm, who was busy staring at her iPad—probably organizing the schedule or checking messages.

"N'Orm kha~" Ling called sweetly, making Orm look up immediately, flashing a smile.

"Yes, P'Ling?" Orm responded gently.

Ling paused for a moment, then, with a curious expression, asked, "How was my performance? Did my acting look good?"

Orm, who had seen Ling act countless times, smiled in admiration. "P'Ling always looks stunning. And as for your acting? There's no doubt—you're amazing!" She answered confidently, raising both thumbs in approval.

Ling chuckled, pleased, but then suddenly asked playfully, "Do you like me?"

"Huh?" Orm was caught off guard by the question, her eyes widening slightly, unsure of Ling’s intent.

Taking a quick breath, Ling hurriedly clarified, realizing she might have been too forward. "I mean, do you like my look in this series? Since the theme is the '90s, after all," she quickly redirected the conversation.

Orm smiled, relieved by the clarification. "Of course, I like P'Ling's look. No matter the theme, P'Ling always fits any role perfectly. Your charisma always shines on screen," she replied sincerely, admiration evident in her eyes.

Hearing that, Ling's smile grew wider. But this time, the happiness she felt was different. It wasn’t just the usual joy of receiving compliments on her acting or appearance—something she was used to. It was the fact that the compliment came from Orm. Somehow, when Orm said it, the words carried a deeper meaning.

"Alright, let's move to the next location." One of the crew members called out instructions, and soon, Ling, Orm, and the entire production team prepared to relocate.

The next location wasn’t far from the previous one, but before they could get far, a sudden downpour drenched the entire set without warning.

"Umbrellas! Get the umbrellas!" P'Nay, the director, called out in a panic, prioritizing the actors and actresses to keep them from getting soaked.

Orm quickly grabbed an umbrella from one of the crew members and immediately opened it to shield Ling. However, since the umbrella was too small, only Ling remained dry while Orm was left standing in the rain.

Noticing Orm getting wet, Ling turned to one of the crew members and asked, "Are there no more umbrellas?"

The crew member looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Khun Ling. This is all we have. We didn't expect the rain to be this heavy."

Ling frowned slightly but held back her frustration. She turned back to Orm, who was still holding the umbrella over her, unfazed by the rain drenching her. Without a word, Ling reached out and pulled Orm closer, trying to shield her under the umbrella.

"It's okay, P'Ling," Orm tried to step away slightly. "This umbrella is too small. P'Ling should just use it."

Ling shot Orm a firm look before pulling her closer by the waist, ensuring they were both under the umbrella. "This is enough for the both of us. I don't want you to get sick from the rain," Ling said, looking straight into Orm's eyes while her other hand firmly held her waist.

Orm hesitated, still reluctant. "Really, I'm fine, P'Ling. Besides, it's just a few more steps to the next location."

Ling let out a small sigh before saying, "Alright," as if giving in. But suddenly, she took the umbrella from Orm's hand and attempted to close it. "If you won’t use the umbrella, then I won’t either."

Seeing Ling’s hands on the umbrella, Orm quickly grabbed her wrist. "Don't, P'Ling," he said, his voice slightly panicked. "I'll share the umbrella with you."

Ling smirked in satisfaction. Without saying another word, she wrapped her arm more securely around Orm’s waist while keeping her grip on her hand that was now holding the umbrella.

Under that small umbrella, the two of them stood so close that they could feel each other’s warmth, even as the rain continued to pour around them. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Ling's gaze slowly dropped from Orm’s eyes to her lips—then back to her eyes. Her heartbeat quickened, but she fought hard to stay composed, not wanting to let Orm see just how flustered she truly was.

•••••

The first day of filming My Cherie Amour finally wrapped up right at midnight. The crew and cast began preparing to leave, exchanging goodbyes—including Ling, who had just finished changing into her casual clothes. Her exhaustion was slightly masked by the faint smile she gave to the passing crew members.

Ling’s steps naturally led her toward Orm, who was sitting a bit farther away in a corner, focused on his college assignments. For Orm, waiting for Ling to finish filming was the perfect time to catch up on unfinished tasks, jotting down notes he might have missed while balancing his job as Ling’s personal assistant.

"Let's go home," Ling said, standing in front of Orm.

Orm looked up from her book and met Ling’s gaze. He quickly closed her notebook and gave a small smile. "Okay, Phi," She replied, tidying up her books and placing them in his bag. Then, she stood up, grabbed a few of Ling’s belongings, and got ready to leave.

The two of them walked toward the car, which was already waiting near the set. As the vehicle moved through the quiet streets, not much conversation passed between them. Both were lost in their own thoughts, while the sound of the engine and the light drizzle outside the window added to the silence between them.

After a thirty-minute drive, they finally arrived at Ling’s house. Orm helped carry Ling’s bags inside, setting everything down in its designated place before getting ready to leave.

"I'm heading home now, P'Ling," Orm said as she prepared to step out.

Ling looked at Orm for a moment before speaking. "It’s almost midnight, and it’s still drizzling outside. Are you sure you want to go home alone?"

Orm gave a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, if I don’t go home, where would I sleep? In the car?" She joked.

Ling chuckled faintly at Orm’s humor but remained concerned. "Just stay here for the night. You can go home in the morning. It’s not safe for a woman to be out alone this late," she said seriously.

Orm shook her head gently, politely declining. "No need, Phi. I’ll be fine. My apartment isn’t that far from here anyway. Besides, I don’t have any spare clothes with me," She explained with a reassuring smile.

Ling fell silent for a moment, as if an idea had just struck her. "Actually, I have a better solution, so you won’t have to go home so late every time you wait for me to finish filming."

Orm looked at her curiously. "What is it, P'Ling?"

"Stay here with me," Ling said, her tone calm yet firm.

"Huh?" Orm’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting that answer.

"Live here. That way, you won’t have to go back and forth to your apartment. Sometimes, I finish filming even later than tonight," Ling elaborated, her voice steady.

Orm took a moment to process her words before asking, "Did Kwang ever stay here too?"

"Yes, Kwang did, but only when I had late shoots. You can stay here until my filming schedule is over," Ling reassured him, making it clear that this wasn’t something unusual.

Orm mumbled to himself, almost absentmindedly, "Why did Kwang never mention this to me?"

Ling smirked slightly before adding, "It’s just temporary, to save you time and energy. But if you want to stay longer, I wouldn’t mind."

After thinking it over for a moment, Orm finally nodded. "Alright, but let me go home tonight. I’ll come back tomorrow with my things," he said with a soft smile.

Ling nodded back, though her tone was somewhat neutral. "Okay. Be careful on your way home."

"See you tomorrow, P'Ling." Orm bowed slightly before heading out.

Ling stood by the doorway, watching Orm’s figure gradually fade into the night. A warm, unfamiliar feeling settled in her chest as she thought about Orm agreeing to stay. Once she was completely out of sight, she closed the door, took a deep breath, and let out a quiet, excited cheer.

"Orm is going to live here," she murmured, a wide smile spreading across her face. Excitement bubbled inside her at the thought of sharing a home with Orm—not just as an assistant, but as someone who had slowly started to occupy a special place in her heart. Now, with Orm staying under the same roof, she could feel even closer to the person who had unknowingly made her heart race faster.