Chapter 13

While the trio stood there in Prigkhing's shop, a familiar figure showed up.

Prigkhing's smile widened as she turned to address the newcomer.

"Ying, darling, you've arrived!" Prigkhing exclaimed warmly.

Orm instinctively turned her gaze towards the woman, instantly recognizing her.

"Ying?"

"Orm? Is that really you?"

Orm, keeping up her somewhat subdued demeanor, responded as she locked her gaze with Ying's.

"In the flesh and blood."

Ying stepped closer, her voice filled with a hint of reproach.

"I didn't think I'd see you again, especially since you never called. I have to admit, I was disappointed."

"You know, I've been kept quite busy these days. Time just seems to slip away from me. But trust me, I've thought about you too, Ying."

Lingling's eyes narrowed as she observed the interaction between the two.

She couldn’t believe how different Orm was acting - all cheerful and animated with Ying, unlike her cold and hostile demeanor towards her.

“What’s with this act? She’s supposed to be all over me, not Ying.”

Lingling couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer.

"Hold up. Do you two know each other?" she asked, her eyes flickering between Orm and Ying.

Ying flashed a radiant smile at Lingling, her eyes lighting up at the mention.

"Yes, she's the girl I told you about." she explained, glancing at Orm with a fond expression.

Prigkhing, blissfully ignorant of the underlying tension and dynamic between the three women, chimed in with a cheerful remark.

"Oh, that’s wonderful! Isn’t it amazing how small the world is?"

She continued turning her gaze to Ying, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Lingling and Orm are girlfriends,

it seems it's just the two of us left single. Perhaps it's time to change that, hmm?"

Ying was taken aback, her face reflecting a mix of surprise and disbelief as she processed the information.

"Girlfriends?"

Lingling was visibly uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was headed.

She was lying through her teeth and knew it could potentially lead to trouble.

She shot Orm a panicked, pleading look, silently hoping for some kind of rescue from the tangled situation.

Orm, sensing the mounting tension and the need to swiftly change the subject, finally cleared her throat and spoke up.

"Maybe we should head to the restaurant? We can comfortably talk there."

********

After a comfortable car ride, the group arrived at the restaurant, finding a quiet, intimate table in a secluded corner.

Orm sat stiffly, silently praying for this chaotic outing to end soon.

On the other hand, Lingling seemed slightly more relaxed, albeit a bit on edge.

Ying, who couldn't hide her curiosity any longer, directed her question at the 'couple'.

"So, how did you two meet?"

Lingling, caught off guard by the question, suddenly found herself in a tight situation.

She hadn’t really considered how to answer this, and Orm’s silence didn’t give any hint that she’d thought about it either.

With a feigned air of nonchalance, Lingling launched into a story, drawing upon her acting skills to create a romantic narrative that seemed believable.

"Oh, it's a pretty cliché story, really," she began.

"We met at a party. I noticed her from across the room, standing by the food table, looking bored out of her mind. She looked as beautiful as ever in that red dress she wore -"

Prigkhing suddenly cut in, bringing a halt to Lingling's story.

"Okay, enough! Enough!" she exclaimed, a hint of laughter in her tone.

"We get it. You were in love at first sight and all that lovey-dovey stuff. No need for the sappy details!"

Orm was secretly grateful for Prigkhing's interruption. The girl spared her from rolling her eyes at the overly cheesy tale.

Ying, who had been listening intently, broke her silence, directing her question at Orm.

Her eyes held a dreamy, almost longing gaze as she spoke.

"So, how was your trip, Orm?"

Orm responded to Ying's question, her voice holding a hint of genuine warmth mixed with a touch of irony.

"The only day I enjoyed on that trip was the day I spent with you... The rest of the time was a mess. I was scammed, and I had to come back to Thailand earlier than planned."

Upon hearing Orm's response, Lingling, determined to keep up the pretense of their supposed relationship, kicked Orm's feet under the table, a subtle warning to maintain the act.

Orm was mid-sentence when she jerked at the unexpected kick, she gasped slightly and shot a quick, annoyed glare towards Lingling before returning her focus to Ying.

A hint of irritation flashed in her eyes, but trying to keep her composure, she continued with a polite smile.

"Yeah, it's been a chaotic few days," she said, her voice slightly strained.

Ying, blissfully unaware of the undercurrents, shared her own sentiments.

"You know, I felt the same way. I had a fantastic time with you, especially since I didn't have someone to hang out with in South Korea."

Lingling, unable to contain her own irritation, interjected with a sharper tone.

"Ah yes, the 'fantastic time' you both had. How lovely." The sarcasm laced in her voice was palpable.

Orm leaned in, her voice hushed as she spoke into Lingling's ear, making it appear as though they were engaged in an affectionate moment. However, her words were far from it.

"Seriously, girl, focus on Prigkhing and let me have some fun too."

Lingling forced a smile and let out a lighthearted chuckle, feigning amusement at the supposed funny comment Orm told her.

However, her eyes held a steely, knowing look that sent a silent message: "You're in for it when we get home."

Ying, genuinely interested in Orm's life, directed her question at her.

"How's the writing process going for you?" she inquired, her eyes fixed keenly on the girl.

"Currently, I've been having some good ideas. The creative juices are flowing, you know?" Orm glanced at Lingling, a genuine yet teasing smile plastered on her face.

Lingling, well aware of Orm's thoughts and intentions behind the exchange, couldn't help but roll her eyes slightly.

Yet, she maintained her composure, still acting the part of the caring and devoted girlfriend.

Ying, noticing Orm and Lingling's exchange, frowned ever so slightly. However, she attempted to shake off any lingering jealousy and offered her assistance to Orm.

"Orm, I've got good connections in the industry. I'll be glad to help you out with the publishing process."

Prigkhing, feeling slightly disappointed, pouted exaggeratedly, her voice tinged with a hint of faux-hurt.

"Hey, what about me? I asked for your help earlier, but you told me you were busy."

Lingling, seeing Prigkhing's disappointment, hastily chimed in with an offer, eager to divert Prigkhing's attention away from Ying.

"Prigkhing, no need to worry. I can help you out, just say what you need and I will be more than happy to oblige."

Prigkhing, feeling relieved and grateful, thanked Lingling with a sweet smile.

"Oh, thank you, darling. You're a lifesaver!"

"Exactly, Prigkhing, focus on me. I'm the one who's here for you," Lingling thought to herself, a hint of smugness in her inner voice.

********

As the meal concluded, they bid farewell to one another.

Orm and Lingling, their true relationship nowhere near the romantic facade they portrayed, exchanged a final wave with Ying and Prigkhing before they sent daggers at each other.

As they sat in the car, Lingling let out a huff of frustration.

"What the hell? You were supposed to make Prigkhing jealous, not Ying!"

She exclaimed, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"I can't believe you were practically flirting with her right in front of me!"

Orm, her tone dripping with sarcasm, retorted, "Well, I just thought that since Prigkhing has a thing for Ying, why not just take her and see how quickly Prigkhing comes crawling back to you? Problem solved!"

Lingling's earlier irritation at Orm faded slightly as she considered her words.

"Yeah, you might have a point... but what about the whole girlfriend act? We still need to keep that up, right?"

Orm rolled her eyes at Lingling's question, her tone a mix of annoyance and mockery.

"You were the one who blurted out the girlfriend thing in front of Prigkhing in the first place."

Lingling took a deep breath, contemplating her words before speaking.

"Alright, alright. We'll stop the whole girlfriend act when the time comes, but for now, we need to stick to it."

Orm, feeling mischievous, couldn't resist pushing Lingling's buttons a little more.

"Oh, come on, just admit it...you secretly enjoy my company, don't you?" she teased, her tone laced with a hint of smugness.

Lingling, her tone filled with a mix of sarcasm and feigned disgust, snapped back at Orm.

"Oh, please! In your dreams," she retorted, her voice taking on a mocking tone as she continued, "As if I'd lower my standards for you. Don't flatter yourself."

Orm, pretending to be hurt by Lingling's words, placed a hand over her heart in mock distress.

"You wound me, Lingling," she said dramatically, her voice filled with exaggerated hurt. "Here I am, graciously offering my company, and you insult me like that."

Lingling, trying to keep things under control, quickly grew tired of Orm's playful banter.

In a swift move, she leaned in and buckled Orm's seatbelt, getting closer to her in the process.

As she finished fastening it, she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "There, now shut up and let me drive."

Orm, surprised by Lingling's sudden closeness, questioned her actions.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" she exclaimed, her voice betraying a hint of confusion and something else - a subtle trace of flusteredness.

Lingling, maintaining a veneer of nonchalance, replied with a cold, sarcastic tone.

"What? I'm just making sure you're buckled up. Wouldn't want anything to happen to my 'girlfriend' now, would we?"

"Oh, how considerate..." Orm managed to utter, her voice a mix of sarcasm and a hint of genuine surprise.

Lingling, fighting to keep a straight face, attempted to explain herself.

"I'm just trying to tweak our 'chemistry' a bit since it was downright atrocious back on our date," she stated, her voice holding a hint of irony and amusement.

For a moment, the tension between them eased, and their laughter filled the car.

A rare moment of genuine amusement considering their usual banters and disagreements.

Unwittingly, both of them were unaware of the lurking paparazzi, who took shots of their close proximity.

The cameras captured every little detail, the tension and chemistry between the two women, creating fodder for potential gossip and headlines.