Chapter 2

The plane was filling up, people bustling here and there as they got settled into their seats.

Orm found her a window seat, perfect for observing the view of the clouds and the sky as they took off.

She put her bag in the overhead compartment and sat down, letting out a soft sigh of excitement.

She couldn't believe she was finally on her dream vacation.

Orm's mind wandered to her friends, a small smile gracing her lips.

They were always a source of chaos and mischief, causing trouble and laughing heartily.

And yet, here they were, going out of their way to arrange such a thoughtful vacation for her.

She had to remind herself that they were more complex than just troublemakers. They cared; they remembered her dream.

She mentally noted to repay them someday. For now, she would just enjoy and embrace the adventure ahead.

********

Orm still feeling a subtle tingle of nerves. To help calm them, she decided on a glass of wine.

As she looked up, the flight attendant stood there, smiling warmly.

"May I have a glass of red wine, please?"

The flight attendant nodded, still smiling. "Of course, ma'am. I'll be back with your drink shortly."

Orm reached for the magazine pocket of the seat in front, a futile attempt to divert her attention away from the looming take-off.

As she opened the magazine, her eyes were immediately drawn to a breathtaking photo of an elegant celebrity.

The woman's delicate neck and sharp jawline, adorned with the most gorgeous jewelry, made her look like a goddess.

"New night, new companion," Orm murmured almost absentmindedly, raising an eyebrow as she read the headline.

She glanced at the woman on the magazine cover again, her mind working to place the gorgeous face. She knew she had seen her somewhere but couldn't quite recall.

Then it hit her, her mind bringing up the half Chinese half Thai actress - whose works Orm had casually glimpsed before without much interest.

Orm flipped through the magazine, shaking her head at the relentless tabloids.

It seemed like every move the actress made was fodder for headlines and wild speculation.

She couldn't understand how the actress managed to keep her career alive with constant scandals.

Sure, she was pretty and talented, but all this drama and commotion just to sell tabloids? It all seemed excessive, to say the least.

Orm carefully replaced the magazine back into its pocket, her eyes fixated on the photo of the actress, her frown deepening.

She was the complete antithesis of this actress, awkward, clumsy, and practically invisible to both genders, never able to grab anyone's attention.

"Maybe it's time to switch teams..."

The thought brought a small chuckle to her lips, but then she shook her head at the idea.

********

With a gentle nudge to her arm, Orm was pulled from her momentary distraction.

She turned her gaze upwards to find the same flight attendant setting the glass of red wine on the small table in front of her.

Her mind lingering momentarily on thoughts of her love life, or lack thereof, she decided a drink could help drown her sorry luck in romance.

A small drink couldn't hurt. If anything, it would do her good at that moment!

Orm lifted the glass with a reluctant sip, a fleeting wince flashing across her face as the bitter taste of the beverage assailed her taste buds.

With each sip, the world seemed to spin, and her head felt lighter.

This alcohol was stronger than she had imagined, and her low tolerance proved to be her Achilles' heel, the effects quickly taking hold of her senses.

********

As Orm felt the room spin, another passenger slipped into the aisle seat beside her. Orm's vision was slightly blurry, but she could make out a woman, a glimmer of intrigue catching her attention.

The passenger's amusement was evident in her slow, deliberate smile, and her brow arched slightly as she observed Orm's futile attempt to sit up straighter, desperately trying to maintain a facade of sobriety.

Orm, in her desoriented state, blinked twice, her vision gradually focusing on her seatmate's face.

Her widened eyes betrayed her astonishment, and she couldn't completely mask her slack-jawed reaction as she recognized the woman before her.

This wasn't just any seatmate; it was the one and only Lingling Kwong in the flesh.

From a mere photo or screen, the full extent of the actress's charm never fully captured the magnetic allure she possessed in person.

Orm's heart raced, the sight of the stunning woman rendering her momentarily speechless.

Her mind was too busy to form coherent words, but a thought flashed through her head - "No wonder she changes partners as easily as changing socks."

Lingling, fully conscious of the scrutiny in Orm's eyes, heard her murmured words. Her eyes turned darker with displeasure, her already irritable mood souring further. She was well aware of her reputation, but the audacity of a stranger commenting on her private affairs only fueled her annoyance....

"Is there something you'd like to say?" Lingling snapped with an edge of anger, her eyebrow arching as she fixed her intense stare on Orm, who was frozen like a deer in headlights, caught red-handed.

Orm's brain glitched, her mouth hanging open, but no coherent words escaped her lips, further fuelling Lingling's impatience.

"Cat got your tongue?" Lingling snapped, her tone laced with a bite.

Orm finally found her voice, her words tumbling out in an apologetic rush, her mind still clouded.

"I-I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to sound rude," she stammered, the alcohol affecting her, causing her brain to lag. She felt herself slipping up, the urge to correct her mishap, growing stronger. In her clumsy state, she leaned in a little too close to Lingling, her eyes fixed upon her face.

Lingling with her eyes narrowed in a frown at the girl's insolence, she managed to push the girl back, her palms firmly braced on Orm's shoulders, forcing her to slump back into her seat, effectively creating distance between their faces.

Lingling snapped, "That's close enough." She followed the statement with a sharp roll of her eyes.

Orm stumbled with her words, struggling to express herself amidst the slur in her speech.

"I.. I.. I didn't mean to sound rude... it was the alcohol talking...," Orm started, her words trailing off, her eyes transfixed on Lingling's face, her expression intimidating.

As she met Lingling's sharp gaze, Orm felt a shiver run down her spine, her bravery fleeting as she realized the intimidating presence she was face to face with.

Lingling was already at her wits end with the blonde's behavior, frustrated that the person she had to be seated with was someone who lacked respect for personal space and seemed far from sober.

"You should refrain from getting wasted so early in the flight, especially if you can't hold your liquor," she admonished, her expression visibly unamused.

Lingling had expected a response, but she was met with silence, and her irritation was quickly reaching its peak.

She glanced over at the girl, and to her surprise, she found her sleeping, blissfully unaware, her head lolling forward and her mouth slightly open.

She found herself compelled by her tranquil expression, her eyes tracing every delicate feature.

A soft, almost involuntary smile tugged at the corner of her lips at the adorable sight.

Lingling shook her head, a flicker of amusement playing across her face. She muttered under her breath, barely audibly.

"Couldn't she at least have said something nice earlier? Does she have no filter at all?"

She let out a soft sigh, thankful that the remaining hours of the flight would 'hopefully' be more tranquil, allowing her to sleep off her impending headache before she arrived in South Korea.