CH-25

Here's the English translation with proper sentence structure, punctuation, and natural flow:

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A bright morning greeted Ling as she began her day with her usual workout routine. However, today felt different—Ling was exhausted. The past few days had been so busy with her work as an artist that she barely had time to exercise, making her body feel slightly heavier now. Sitting down for a moment to rest, she took a sip of cool water to soothe her throat and wiped the sweat off her face with the towel beside her.

“Ling…” A voice came from behind the door. It was Best, her assistant, calling her. Ling turned and saw Best standing in the doorway with a warm smile.

“Breakfast is ready. Would you like to eat now?” Best asked politely.

“Okay, phi,” Ling replied as she slowly got up. She left the workout room and headed to her bedroom to take a shower, freshen up, and change into clean clothes. A few minutes later, after making sure she was ready, she grabbed her phone from the table.

As she walked down the stairs toward the dining room, Ling frowned. Her screen was filled with multiple missed calls from an unknown number. “Must be another prank caller,” she muttered, remembering past experiences of receiving calls from fans who had somehow gotten hold of her private number.

Just as she was about to sit down, her phone rang again, displaying the same number. This time, curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to answer.

Her relaxed expression slowly turned serious as she listened to the voice on the other end. A few minutes later, after ending the call, Ling abruptly stood up, looking anxious.

“Where are you going, Ling? Aren’t you going to have breakfast?” Best asked, surprised by Ling’s sudden urgency.

“We have to go to the police station. Now,” Ling replied shortly before hurrying to her room to grab her bag. She quickly returned to meet Best, who still looked confused.

“We’re leaving now,” Ling commanded in a firm tone.

“Yes, Khun Ling,” Best responded, following closely behind as Ling strode out of the house and got into the car.

On the way to the police station, Ling’s mind was filled with countless questions. When they arrived, she rushed inside and was stunned to see Mean—someone she knew—already in handcuffs. In the corner of the room, Meen was sitting with a police officer.

“What happened?” Ling asked, her face filled with confusion as she tried to understand the situation before her.

“Please have a seat first, Khun Ling,” Meen said quietly, motioning toward the chair beside her.

Ling nodded and sat down next to Meen, her heart filled with uncertainty. “So, what’s going on?” she asked again.

A police officer sitting across from them began explaining. “We called you here to provide further information regarding Khun Mean’s case…” he said formally. “Based on the evidence we gathered, over the past few days, Khun Mean has been found guilty of drug use and physical assault against Khun Meen.”

The officer then handed Mean’s phone to Ling. “In addition, Khun Mean has also been secretly storing private photos and videos of you, Khun Ling, which he obtained by installing hidden cameras in your bedroom and bathroom.”

Ling was speechless. With trembling hands, she took the phone. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw countless photos and videos of herself—completely unaware that she had been recorded. A surge of disbelief and overwhelming rage took over her. Setting the phone back down, Ling stood up and walked toward Mean, who sat with his head lowered in regret.

Consumed by emotion, Ling grabbed Mean’s collar and glared at him intensely. “How could you do this to me?” she demanded, her voice filled with fury.

Mean remained silent, his head still bowed as if avoiding Ling’s piercing gaze.

“I’m disgusted with you. Let’s put an end to this lie. I’m not your girlfriend in front of the cameras anymore!” Ling shouted, her anger boiling over.

"Ling..." Mean finally lifted his head, reaching for Ling’s hand. “This is all a setup by Meen. I didn’t do it…”

Meen, who was sitting nearby, immediately defended himself. “You can’t lie your way out of this, Mean. The evidence is clear, so stop blaming others,” he said firmly.

“You bastard!” Mean, overcome with anger, clenched his fists as if ready to attack Meen.

“Go ahead, hit me! Do what you always do!” Meen taunted fearlessly, moving his face closer to Mean.

“Calm down, everyone!” the officer shouted, attempting to de-escalate the tension.

Meen urged Ling to sit back down with him as they continued their conversation with the police. Ling took a deep breath, trying to control the rage still burning inside her.

“So, Khun Ling, you had no knowledge of these photos and videos?” the officer asked.

“I had no idea.” Ling slowly shook her head, her voice hoarse. “I also don’t know when or how he managed to install cameras in my home.”

The officer nodded and took notes. “Understood. We have received your report, and Khun Mean will remain in custody for further investigation. We will contact you and Khun Meen if additional information is needed.”

Ling and Meen wrapped up their discussion with the police. However, just as Ling was about to stand, Mean suddenly fell to his knees before her, wrapping his arms around her legs.

“Ling, I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me. I can’t live without you…” Mean pleaded, his grip on her legs tightening.

“We were never really in a relationship. Remember that!” Ling stated with conviction.

“I’d rather die than be without you…” Mean murmured, his eyes filled with desperation as he looked up at her.

“Then go ahead. I’d like to see if someone like you can actually die,” Ling responded coldly before kicking Mean away from her in disgust.

Mean stumbled but didn’t retaliate. Ling, now completely unwilling to see his face any longer, walked away, leaving behind the man she had once trusted. Under the watchful eyes of the officers and Best, who followed her closely with concern, she stepped out of the station—without looking back.

•••••

Ling stepped out of the police station with heavy steps. She didn’t head straight to her car. Instead, she chose to sit on one of the benches outside the station. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her restless mind. Her hands rubbed her face, massaging her temples that throbbed from the overwhelming emotions and shocking information she had received today.

“Khun Ling.”

A familiar voice startled her, making her lift her head. In front of her stood Meen, not too far away.

Meen cautiously took a step closer before asking, “May I sit here?”

“Yes,” Ling replied briefly, nodding as she gestured for Meen to sit.

Meen took a seat beside her. Moments passed in awkward silence. Although Meen occasionally glanced at Ling, no words escaped his lips. They remained quiet, lost in their own thoughts, until Meen finally broke the silence.

“I’m sorry for everything, Khun Ling,” he said softly, his voice filled with regret.

Ling turned to him, her expression puzzled. “Why are you apologizing, Khun Meen?” she asked.

Meen took a deep breath before answering. “For dragging you and Orm into this mess. I should have told you from the start that Mean and I were in a relationship,” he admitted, looking at Ling with guilt.

Ling’s confusion deepened, clearly evident on her face. “You were dating Mean?” she asked, almost in disbelief.

“Yes, I was with him long before you got into a relationship with him,” Meen confessed, lowering his gaze as if ashamed.

“So, you’re gay? And you’ve been with Mean all this time?” Ling asked slowly, as if trying to process what she had just heard.

Meen shrugged, letting out a small, bitter smile. “How did you know I was gay?” he asked, his voice slightly trembling.

“Someone told me… But being gay isn’t a bad thing,” Ling replied with a faint smile, trying to reassure him.

Meen let out a weary sigh. “If I had never allowed Mean to date you in the first place, maybe none of this would’ve happened. I was a fool to trust him for so long,” he said, his voice filled with bitterness.

Ling gently patted Meen’s shoulder, offering comfort. “It’s okay, Khun Meen. What’s done is done. The important thing now is that Mean is in jail, facing the consequences of his actions,” she said in a soothing tone.

Meen nodded slowly, his fingers fidgeting anxiously. After a moment, he looked at Ling again. “And… Orm loves you deeply. Do you know that?” he asked hesitantly.

Ling gave a sad smile, lowering her head. “I’m not sure Orm still loves me. Isn’t she dating Khun Ying?” she responded quietly.

Meen shook his head slightly, smiling. “Orm isn’t in a relationship with Khun Ying. I asked her about it because they seemed close, but Orm told me there was nothing between them,” Meen explained.

Ling looked at him, surprised. “Are you sure? Three days ago, Ying kissed Orm right in front of me, though Orm didn’t seem to reciprocate,” she said, her voice filled with resignation.

Meen offered a small, knowing smile. “I’ve known Orm for a long time, and she’s not the type to lie. She loves you so much that she was willing to sacrifice herself to protect you,” he said sincerely.

Ling’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, intrigued.

Meen took a deep breath, preparing to explain. “I mean, Orm resigned as your assistant to protect you. Mean threatened her with the photos and videos, saying he would release them if she didn’t stay away from you,” Meen revealed. “Even now, Orm doesn’t know that I reported Mean. I didn’t want her to get too involved in this mess.”

Ling froze, her face turning pale. “S-So the reason Orm suddenly resigned and distanced herself… was because of that threat?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Meen nodded, then gently patted Ling’s shoulder. “Yes, that was the real reason. I hope you can take care of Orm and fight for your love,” he said sincerely.

Ling nodded slowly, a small, grateful smile appearing on her lips. “Thank you for everything, Khun Meen,” she said genuinely.

“This is the least I can do to help you two find your way back to each other,” Meen replied softly. “Now, you should go see Orm. I’ll handle things if the reporters start covering this case.”

Ling nodded once again, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you again, Khun Meen.”

Ling then stood up and walked toward her assistant, Best, who had been waiting beside the car. “Khun Best, I’d like to borrow the car keys. You can head home after this,” Ling said.

Best looked at Ling with slight confusion. “Where are you going, Khun Ling? Do you want me to drive you there?” he asked.

“No need, I can go on my own. You can go home after this,” Ling replied, extending her hand toward Best. “Give me the keys.”

Best obeyed, placing the keys in Ling’s hand. “Thank you,” Ling said before getting into the car.

She started the engine and drove off, heading toward Orm’s apartment. Along the way, her mind was flooded with memories of Orm, and her heart was now set on making things right—on fighting for their love.

•••••

With slow steps, Orm walked down the corridor toward her apartment unit. Upon reaching the door, she reached into her bag for the key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside, welcoming the silence of the small space that had always been her refuge from exhaustion. She placed her bag on the sofa before sitting down with a deep sigh.

"Today was so exhausting..." she murmured while stretching her sore muscles after a long day of exams. She picked up the TV remote from the table, pressed the power button, and began searching for a channel that could entertain her. Her eyes followed each program flashing on the screen until they stopped on a news channel.

The TV screen showed Mean Phiravic being escorted by the police after his arrest for drug abuse, sexual assault, and a series of other offenses. Orm's gaze immediately turned serious, unable to look away from Mean’s figure on the screen. She watched as Mean, surrounded by reporters, struggled to explain himself. Meen was also present, giving a statement as a witness in the case.

"Why didn't P'Meen tell me that he reported P'Mean?" Orm murmured with a furrowed brow, feeling confused. "If P'Meen is there, does P'Ling know about this too?" The question escaped her lips naturally, while her eyes remained fixed on the TV screen.

Ding... Dong...

The sound of the doorbell suddenly broke the silence, snapping Orm out of her thoughts. She turned briefly toward the door, wondering who it could be, before getting up and walking toward it. When she opened it, a familiar figure stood before her.

"P'Ling," Orm said in surprise, not expecting to see Ling there.

"Orm..." Ling spoke softly, looking at Orm with tired eyes. "Can we talk for a moment?" she asked, her tone almost pleading.

Sensing that Ling already knew everything, Orm—who usually avoided meeting Ling—finally nodded slowly. "Come inside, Phi," she said, gesturing for Ling to enter.

A sense of relief washed over Ling as Orm allowed her in. She followed Orm inside, and they sat together on the sofa. Silence settled between them; Orm kept her head down, waiting for Ling to speak, while occasionally stealing glances at her from the corner of her eye.

Gently, Ling reached out and took Orm’s warm hand in hers. Her eyes held deep emotions as she looked at Orm. "I know everything now... I know the real reason you resigned," Ling said, her voice trembling.

Orm looked at her in confusion. "How did P'Ling find out?" she asked quietly.

"From Meen… He told me everything when we met before I came here," Ling answered, her tone soft but firm.

"Ah..." Orm murmured softly, unsure of what to say.

"I had no idea that you left to protect me from Mean… If I had known, maybe I wouldn’t have let it happen," Ling continued, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I’m sorry for thinking that you left me because you no longer loved me..."

Orm shook her head slowly, looking at Ling with gentle eyes. "It’s not your fault, Phi… I should be the one apologizing for leaving without a clear explanation—and also for what happened with P'Ying three days ago," she said in a whisper.

"Do you and Ying have a relationship beyond friendship?" Ling asked, her voice low but filled with deep curiosity. Her gaze locked onto Orm’s, searching for an answer.

Orm gave a small smile and shook her head lightly. "I only see P'Ying as an older sister," she replied softly, trying to ease Ling's doubts. "She helps me sometimes, though her last ‘help’ was a bit too much..." She paused, hesitating for a moment. But for the sake of honesty, she continued, "She already apologized for that."

Orm’s mind drifted back to the unexpected moment when Ying kissed her. She understood that Ying hadn’t meant anything by it, and she herself held no feelings for Ying beyond sisterly affection.

Ling lowered her head for a moment, guilt evident on her face. "I’m sorry..." she said, her voice filled with regret. "I’m sorry for the harsh words I said to you back then. I was overwhelmed with jealousy when I saw you together and jumped to the wrong conclusions too quickly..."

Orm offered a faint smile, gazing at Ling with warmth. "It’s okay, Phi. What’s done is done," she said gently, her voice full of understanding.

Ling tightened her grip on Orm’s hand, while her other hand slowly reached up to cup Orm’s cheek, caressing it tenderly. "I love you so much, Orm. Do you still love me like before?" she asked, her eyes welling with emotion.

Orm grasped Ling's hand and nodded with a small smile. "I love P'Ling... There’s no one else I could ever love except you," she confessed sincerely, her voice soft but full of honesty.

Ling looked at Orm with deep emotion, her heart overflowing with indescribable joy. "I promise to protect you from anything, and I won’t let anyone come between us again," Ling declared with unwavering determination.

Orm slowly nodded at Ling’s words. Her heart swelled with a mix of emotions—relief, joy, and an overwhelming sense of warmth. Tears welled up in her eyes, reflecting all the feelings she had been holding inside. She gazed at Ling with glistening eyes, as if expressing her gratitude without uttering a single word.

Ling gave her a gentle smile upon seeing Orm finally let her emotions flow. With deep affection, she reached out and wiped away Orm’s tears, her touch soft and comforting. Slowly but surely, Ling leaned closer, feeling Orm’s warm breath against her skin. Their hearts pounded in unison in the silent, meaningful moment between them.

And then, the distance between them disappeared. Ling’s lips met Orm’s in a tender kiss—a kiss filled with warmth and love that had long been held back. It was not just a mere act, but a silent expression of all the longing and affection they had kept hidden. Orm responded to the kiss, pouring out every emotion she had locked away in her heart for Ling. In the silence that enveloped them, time seemed to pause, giving them the space to express their deep love without words.

After a while, Orm slowly pulled away. She gazed at Ling with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with happiness. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Ling tightly, allowing all the relief and joy in her heart to flow freely. In that embrace, she found the peace she had been yearning for.

Ling returned the embrace with just as much love, feeling the same happiness knowing they had finally resolved the issues that had once driven them apart. Now, all the uncertainties and worries slowly faded away, replaced by a love that had only grown stronger and the confidence that they could face anything together.

In that embrace, they realized that all the obstacles that had tested their love had only made it stronger. They slowly pulled away but kept holding onto each other, as if unwilling to let the precious moment slip away.