Behind the Script

Chapter 38: Orm's Idiot

"Okay, ma'am," Orm thought sarcastically, plopping down onto the chair. Not that she minded. If Ling Ling wanted to fuss over her like a mother hen, Orm was more than happy to indulge her. 

Orm smirked as Ling Ling adjusted the blanket for the third time. "What if I keep the blanket now but show you the outfit later in private?Would that be okay?" 

Ling Ling froze, her face turning a deep shade of red. "Help," Ling Ling whispered to no one in particular. "Orm is trying to kill me." 

---

Orm's next move was inspired by one of Ling Ling's solo interviews. When asked what kind of look she found attractive, Ling Ling had casually mentioned, "People in glasses." 

Orm didn't even need to hear the rest of the sentence. That night, she posted a series of selfies on Instagram, all featuring her in glasses.

The fans went wild, but Orm wasn't interested in their reactions. She wanted to see how Ling Ling would respond. 

"Orm, what's with the glasses?" Mae Koy asked the next morning as they drove to a makeup appointment. "Do you have sore eyes?" 

"No," Orm replied, adjusting the frames on her nose. 

"Then why are you wearing them?" 

"They save me time in the morning," Orm lied. 

"You save what, five minutes?" Mae Koy shot her a skeptical look. 

When Ling Ling finally saw her, Orm didn't waste any time. 

"P'Ling," she said, tilting her head. "Since you find people in glasses attractive, I thought I'd give this look a try." 

The makeup artist blushed, hiding a grin, while Ling Ling simply smiled and shook her head. "You're impossible, Nong Orm." 

---

By the end of the week, Orm was convinced that everyone knew she liked Ling Ling—except for Ling Ling herself.

Or maybe Ling Ling didn't feel the same way.

Everything came to a head during an interview where the host asked, "Could you two ever become a real couple?" 

Orm's heart raced. She turned to Ling Ling, silently willing her to answer. 

Ling Ling smiled warmly. "Well, right now, I enjoy how we are. We're close, we're each other's safe zone. I don't think we could be apart." 

Orm's chest swelled with hope. But then Ling Ling added, "And, you know, Orm is still young..." 

Young? Orm's smile faltered. What does that even mean?

"You talk like you're 40," the host joked. "You're only 29!" 

Ling Ling laughed nervously. "No, no, I mean—when I met Orm, she was 16 or 17. She's still young, and she could meet a lot of people." 

Meet other people?! Orm's internal monologue was a mess. Ling Ling, YOU are the 'other people'! Why would I want to meet anyone else?!

---

After the interview back in the waiting room, Orm couldn't hold it in anymore. 

"P'Ling," she called, her voice sharp. 

Ling Ling looked up from her phone, startled. "Nong Orm? What's wrong?" 

"You really want me to meet other people?" Orm asked, stepping closer. 

Ling Ling hesitated, her lips parting as she struggled to find the right words. 

Orm closed the distance, placing her hands on Ling Ling's waist and gently pinning her against the wall. "Answer me. Do you?" 

Ling Ling's breath hitched. "Y-Yes, Orm. I... I mean, you're still young. You could meet someone..." 

Orm stared into her eyes, her voice softening. "So you actually want me to be with someone else?" 

Ling Ling's expression betrayed her. The pain in her eyes, the way her breath stuttered—it was all Orm needed to see. 

Orm smiled. "I thought so," she said quietly. "Next time, don't say things like that, okay, P'Ling? I'll decide who I want to be with." 

Her hand lingered on Ling Ling's waist, her thumb brushing against her side. For a moment, she considered kissing her, just to make things crystal clear. 

"Orm!" Mae Koy's voice interrupted. "Are you bullying your P'Ling again? Let her go!" 

Orm laughed, stepping back. "Mae, I'm not bullying her." 

Turning back to Ling Ling, she whispered with a teasing smile, "P'Ling, you're so beautiful... but also such an idiot."