CH-21

A calm morning enveloped the city of Bangkok. The soft chirping of birds accompanied the sunlight as it began to slip through the window gaps. Ling woke up, blinking as the light touched her face. She moved slowly, her hand reaching out to the side of the bed, searching for the warmth she was used to feeling there—but it was empty. Her eyes widened, looking for Orm, who was no longer beside her.

“Huh? Maybe she's preparing breakfast,” Ling muttered, recalling Orm’s habit of always waking up before her.

Curious, Ling got out of bed, letting the blanket slide down. She stepped out of the bedroom and descended the stairs with enthusiasm. However, as she reached the bottom, her steps halted. Her eyes squinted as she tried to recognize the two figures sitting in the living room. They looked familiar.

"Mean?" she called hesitantly, trying to confirm if it was really Mean.

The man immediately turned and smiled warmly. "Ling, you're awake?" Mean asked as he stood from the sofa and walked toward her.

Ling didn't respond right away; her eyes shifted to the woman sitting beside Mean. That face looked familiar too.

"P'Best?" she uttered in surprise.

The woman called Best immediately stood up, approaching Ling and pulling her into a tight hug. "It's been a long time, Ling. How have you been?" she asked with a warm smile.

Ling returned the hug awkwardly. "I'm fine, Phi. But why are you here?" she asked, still confused about why her former assistant had suddenly appeared in her house with Mean.

Best smiled. "Mean offered me a job as your assistant. At first, I was hesitant, but in the end, I agreed, even though the offer came unexpectedly," she explained.

"Huh?" Ling was stunned by the explanation. Her gaze quickly shifted to Mean, seeking further clarification. "What do you mean, Mean? I already have Orm as my assistant. Besides, where is Orm now?" A sense of unease began to creep into her heart.

Mean took a deep breath, seeming hesitant to answer. "Well... Orm suddenly resigned this morning. I only just found out from P'Saint, who asked for my help in finding a replacement."

"That’s impossible." Ling refused to believe it. Her mind was in chaos as she rushed to the kitchen, hoping Orm was still there. But when she arrived, the kitchen was empty. Her heart pounded as she ran to Orm’s room. Her body suddenly weakened at the sight—it was empty. Orm’s belongings were gone.

Mean, who had followed her, quickly grabbed her before she collapsed onto the floor. "Now you believe it, don’t you?"

Ling bit her lip, her voice trembling. "Why did she leave without saying anything to me?" Tears began to well up in her eyes. Her heart rebelled, unable to accept this reality. Just last night, they had slept together, had even spoken to each other, yet now everything had disappeared in an instant.

Mean let out a long sigh, still trying to calm Ling. "I don’t know, Ling. You might get a clearer answer from P'Saint."

Ling nodded slowly, taking a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I have to meet P'Saint," she said firmly, walking toward the table to grab her car keys.

"Ling, calm down first," Mean tried to stop her. "You can meet P'Saint this afternoon. He still has matters to attend to this morning," he added gently.

Ling stopped in her tracks, inhaling deeply once more, trying to regain control of her emotions. Exhausted, she sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at her phone. Her fingers started scrolling through her contacts, searching for Orm’s number and attempting to call her.

But there was no answer.

••••

With quick steps, Ling entered the CH3 company building. Today, the atmosphere felt slightly different. Unlike usual, the building wasn’t crowded with fans waiting for her arrival. She considered herself lucky for not having to deal with the usual commotion. However, that wasn’t her main focus. Right now, her mind was consumed by only one thing—Orm.

Upon reaching the door to Saint’s office, Ling didn’t hesitate to grab the handle and knock softly before pushing it open.

“Sawadeekha, P'Saint,” she greeted politely.

Saint, who was sitting behind his desk, welcomed Ling with his usual warm smile. “Have a seat, Ling,” he said, gesturing for her to sit in the chair directly across from him.

Without wasting any time, Ling sat down and looked at Saint with a serious expression. “P'Saint, can you tell me the reason why Orm resigned?” she asked directly, unable to hide her concern.

Saint let out a slow sigh before answering in a calm voice. “Orm said she wants to focus on her studies and her family’s business. That’s why she resigned from her position as your assistant.”

Ling’s eyes glistened slightly, but she tried to hold back her emotions. “Is that all she said, Phi? This is too sudden. Even yesterday, she didn’t say anything to me,” Ling replied, her voice heavy.

Saint looked at Ling with understanding. “Yes, Ling, that’s all she told me. I was also surprised when Orm came in this morning to submit her resignation. I thought you had already discussed it with her beforehand, so all I could do was respect her decision.”

Ling remained silent for a moment, holding her breath, even though her chest felt tight upon hearing that explanation. Every word that came from Saint’s mouth only made it harder for her to accept the reality that Orm had truly left without a single word to her.

After a brief pause, Saint continued, “As for Orm’s replacement, it has been decided that Best, your former assistant, will be working with you again. Mean suggested it, since you and Best wouldn’t need to go through an adjustment period.”

Ling nodded slowly, though her mind was still clouded with unanswered questions. “I understand, Phi. Thank you for the information,” she said as she stood from her chair. She gave a slight bow as a sign of respect before turning to leave the room.

However, Ling didn’t walk away immediately. She stopped outside Saint’s office, taking a seat on one of the chairs in the hallway, letting her thoughts wander. Saint’s words kept replaying in her head, but her heart still refused to accept the truth. The reason Orm gave—focusing on her education and family business—made sense, yet everything felt so off to Ling. Orm, who was always open and honest with her, had suddenly disappeared without a single word.

A deep sense of sadness and loss washed over Ling. She lowered her head, staring blankly at the floor, trying to understand why Orm had left so abruptly.

••••

A man named Meen stepped into a vintage-style restaurant that felt calm and not too crowded. He glanced around, his eyes searching for someone. When his gaze finally landed on the person he was looking for, a warm smile appeared on his lips. Slowly, Meen walked toward a woman sitting in the corner of the restaurant. Without hesitation, he covered her eyes from behind.

"Guess who?" Meen whispered softly in her ear.

"P'Meen..." the woman replied, her voice filled with certainty.

Meen smiled, lowering his hands before taking a seat next to her. "How did you know it was me, N'Orm?" he asked curiously.

Orm looked at Meen for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "I've known you for years, Phi. Of course, I recognize you," she replied confidently.

However, the cheerful expression on Orm’s face suddenly faded when she noticed something unusual on Meen’s face. "P'Meen, what happened to your face?" she asked, cupping his cheeks gently as she examined the visible wounds.

Meen smiled as if trying to reassure her. He placed his hand over hers, which was still holding his face. "It’s just a small injury, Nong. I fell while doing research," he said softly, trying to sound convincing.

But Orm looked at him with doubt. "Are you telling me the truth, Phi? These wounds don’t look like they came from a fall… they look more like someone hit you."

Meen chuckled lightly, attempting to ease the tension. "Who would hit me? You know I don’t like getting into fights."

"P'Meen!!" Orm pouted and lightly smacked his cheek, making Meen pretend to wince in pain.

"Ow! You hit my wound," he teased, feigning hurt.

"Well, P'Meen is annoying," Orm retorted, crossing her arms with a sulky face. "I’ll believe you this time, but if I see you like this again, I want to know who dared to hit you! I’ll hit them back!" she threatened, clenching her fists as if ready for a fight.

Meen laughed at her reaction and playfully pinched her cheek. "Oh wow, that sounds terrifying!"

After their laughter faded, Meen’s expression turned serious. "Okay, let’s focus on your problem now." He looked at Orm with concern. "So, you really quit being Khun Ling’s assistant?"

Orm nodded slowly, lowering her gaze. "Yes, I decided to resign."

"Why? Did Khun Ling do something that made you uncomfortable?" Meen asked with genuine concern.

"It’s not that..." Orm’s voice was barely above a whisper, her head still lowered. "I just… I just want to forget my feelings for P'Ling. Working with her now, after she got back together with P'Mean, is too painful for me."

Tears began streaming down Orm’s cheeks, making Meen immediately move closer and wrap his arms around her. He gently rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. "It’s okay, Nong. I know this must be painful," he said softly, full of empathy.

Orm rested her head against Meen’s chest, letting herself cry. "I can’t take it anymore, Phi… Maybe I hoped too much, even though I knew from the start that I could never be with P'Ling," she sobbed.

Meen remained silent, holding Orm tightly, his own heart aching at seeing her so fragile.

After a while, Orm pulled away from the embrace and looked at Meen, her tears still falling. "I can’t see P'Ling anymore… If I do, it will only put her in danger."

Hearing that, Meen raised an eyebrow. "Danger? What do you mean?"

Orm looked nervous, as if she had said too much. She quickly tried to change the topic. "I mean… P'Ling is being targeted by obsessive fans who want to know more about her life. The hate comments on social media keep coming—for me, for P'Ling, and for P'Mean."

Meen frowned, not entirely convinced. "Is that really the reason you left? To protect Ling?"

Orm shook her head slightly. "Not entirely… My main reason is to forget my feelings for her," she said, her voice growing softer.

"But if Ling is truly in danger, shouldn’t you stay by her side?" Meen tried to reason with her.

Orm looked down again. "P'Ling has P'Mean. He can take care of her."

Meen let out a small sigh. "Tsk… Mean will only ruin Ling," he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

"Huh?" Orm looked at Meen, confused. "What did you just say, Phi?"

Meen smiled, hiding the doubt lingering in his mind. "I just meant… I’m not sure if Mean can really protect Ling the way he should. Didn’t you once tell me that he left her before?"

Orm gave a small, tired smile. "I believe P'Mean can protect P'Ling."

Meen could only sigh. "Alright, I respect your decision." His hand gently ran through Orm’s hair, though deep inside, he still held unspoken worries.

•••••

"Thank you for taking me home, Phi," Orm said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. She smiled warmly as she looked at Meen, who was standing beside her.

Meen returned the smile calmly and shook his head gently. "It's no problem. This is my duty," Meen said in a soft voice, full of care and sincerity.

Orm stopped right in front of her house's door, glancing at Meen for a moment before stepping forward. However, suddenly, she turned back and, without hesitation, hugged Meen again. It was a firm yet warm embrace, one that words could hardly describe. "Thank you, P'Meen, for today and for all the time you've spent with me."

Meen gave a small smile and returned the hug gently. His large hand softly ruffled the top of Orm's head—a gesture full of affection and warmth. "If you ever need anything, just tell Phi. Phi will always be here to help you."

Orm pulled away from the hug and looked at Meen with sparkling eyes, her lips forming a wide smile. "Thank you so much, P'Meen," she said sincerely.

However, the warm atmosphere quickly shifted when the sound of the front door opening came from behind them. Both Orm and Meen turned to see Orm's parents standing in the doorway. Tanakorn, Orm's father, smiled warmly at them, while Mae Koy stood beside him with eyes full of affection.

"Sawadee Khun Phoo, Sawadee Khun Mae," Meen greeted respectfully, bowing slightly as a sign of courtesy.

"Meen! It's been so long since we last met," Tanakorn said cheerfully. "How have you been, son?"

Meen smiled politely and replied warmly, "I've been well, Khun Phoo. Just very busy with my studies so I can graduate quickly."

Tanakorn nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. You and Orm are still on good terms, right?"

"Our relationship is fine, Khun Phoo," Meen replied calmly, without a hint of doubt. However, at that moment, his phone suddenly rang, catching his attention. Meen reached into his pocket and glanced at the notification on the screen. He then looked at Orm and her parents with an apologetic expression. "It seems I have to go now. There's something urgent I need to take care of."

Tanakorn nodded in understanding. "Alright then, come visit again when you have time."

Meen smiled gently. "I will, Khun Phoo. I'll make sure to drop by more often."

"Take care on your way home, P'Meen," Orm said, waving her hand softly at Meen.

"See you again," Meen replied, waving back before bowing slightly to Orm’s parents. Then, he walked towards his car, which was parked nearby.

Orm stood in front of her house, waving until Meen's car disappeared from sight. After that, she turned to face her parents, who were still standing in the doorway. Mae Koy reached out and gently took Orm's hand. "Come inside, dear."

"Yes, Khun Mae," Orm replied as she followed her mother inside, carrying the large suitcase she had brought with her.

Tanakorn raised an eyebrow as he looked at his daughter. "Why did you come home with a suitcase? That’s unusual."

Orm let out a deep sigh before answering, "I've resigned from my job as a personal assistant. I want to stay here for a few days."

Mae Koy gave her a gentle smile and placed a comforting hand on Orm's shoulder. "You can stay here as long as you want, dear. This is your home too."

Tanakorn, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke in a serious tone. "Resigned? Is it because of what happened between you two?" His voice was firm, making Orm lower her head.

She didn't answer right away. She could only bow her head, feeling the weight of explaining. Tanakorn spoke again, his voice just as stern. "I've seen everything about you and that actress. You two—two women—kissing in public. That was inappropriate."

"I'm sorry, Khun Phoo. But that incident was not intentional," Orm said quietly, trying to explain.

Tanakorn looked at Orm sharply. "Don't tell me you have feelings for that actress? But she chose to go back to her ex."

Orm remained silent, her heart growing heavier. She knew her father would never understand her feelings for Ling.

"How could you fall in love with that woman? Same-sex love will not bring you happiness," Tanakorn said firmly, his eyes staring straight at Orm, waiting for a response.

Before Orm could say anything, Mae Koy, who had been silently listening, finally spoke. "There's nothing wrong with same-sex love, Tanakorn. They can find happiness too."

Tanakorn scoffed, unwilling to accept his wife's argument. "Happiness? That actress clearly hurt Orm. I already told you, that woman is unstable. Look at her—she went back to her ex."

Orm still said nothing. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she held them back as best as she could.

Tanakorn continued, "Meen is the best choice for you, Orm. He accepts you for who you are. Your relationship is still good, even though he must have seen the news."

Orm felt increasingly pressured under her father’s gaze. She remained silent, unable to argue with him.

"Khun, don’t be too harsh on Orm. She’s an adult now. She can choose what’s best for her," Mae Koy said gently, trying to calm her husband, who still looked tense. Her eyes were full of warmth, hoping her words would ease Tanakorn’s frustration.

Tanakorn took a deep breath, his voice softening slightly, though still firm. "I just want the best for Orm. I raised her with love, so I want someone who can love her sincerely, just as we do."

Mae Koy nodded slowly, understanding. "I know, Khun. You only want what's best for Orm. But remember, she has the right to choose her own path." Mae Koy looked gently at Orm, who stood silently beside them, visibly exhausted from the long conversation.

Mae Koy touched Orm’s arm softly. "It’s late. You should rest now, dear."

Orm nodded slightly. "Yes, Khun Mae." Her voice was weak, but she tried to smile. She lifted her head slightly to look at her parents before turning around and walking towards her room.

As soon as she entered her bedroom, Orm threw herself onto the bed. The soft mattress did little to ease the exhaustion weighing on her—both physically and emotionally. She stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind clouded with the endless problems that kept piling up in her life.

"Why does happiness feel so hard to reach now?" Orm murmured softly, her voice barely audible in the stillness of the night. Her chest felt tight, as if the burden she had been holding back had finally crashed down on her.

Tears threatened to spill, but she tried to hold them back. She didn’t want to cry again tonight. However, the overwhelming exhaustion—both physical and emotional—slowly pulled her into slumber. Moments later, her body surrendered to the silence of the night, carrying her into dreams that would hopefully offer a temporary escape from the crushing reality around her.