Behind the Script

Chapter 39: Orm's Confession

Orm knew one thing for sure: it pained Ling Ling to imagine her with someone else. That much, Orm was certain of. But certainty wasn't enough. Orm wanted Ling Ling to want to be with her, to choose her without hesitation.

Maybe if Orm made Ling Ling jealous enough, she'd realize her feelings.

Some might say, Orm, why not be an adult and just talk to her?

But where's the fun in that?

It was far more satisfying to rile up her ever-so-composed Ling Ling, to crack that perfect façade. And truthfully, Orm hadn't quite forgiven Ling Ling for that interview where she'd casually suggested Orm meet other people—for the world to see, no less.

Only Orm decides who she wants to meet.

So when an opportunity arose during an interview, Orm saw it as the universe granting her permission to play her little game.

The host's question came innocently enough: "Since The Secret of Us skyrocketed in popularity, have you been getting people sliding into your DMs?"

Orm didn't hesitate to exaggerate. "Oh, absolutely! I get tons of DMs asking if I'm single or free to go on dates."

In truth, Orm rarely checked messages from strangers. Mae usually filtered them, deleting anything inappropriate, though Orm knew Ling Ling would never send anything like that. Besides, if Orm ever looked at her inbox, it was to check for Ling Ling's reactions to her Insta stories, not random admirers. But of course, none of that needed to be shared.

She couldn't see Ling Ling's reaction during the interview, but later, she saw the fan edits. One captioned Ling Ling's reaction perfectly: "Fahlada mode: ACTIVATED."

Orm 1, Ling Ling 0.
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The next interview brought another golden opportunity. The host asked, "Do you have any crushes on girls?"

Orm grinned playfully. "Oh, definitely! I went to an all-girls school, so I had a huge crush on one of my seniors. She was a tomboy, and I thought she was the coolest person ever."

That wasn't a lie, but it also wasn't the full truth. If Orm had a type, it wouldn't be tomboys. It'd be someone with long hair, a great smile, and a distinctly Chinese elegance. You know where I'm going with this, she thought.

But when she caught Ling Ling's expression, something shifted. Ling Ling looked... pained.

Orm felt her stomach twist. As much as she wanted to push Ling Ling's buttons, she couldn't bear to see her like this. So, the moment the cameras stopped rolling, she walked over to Ling Ling and wrapped her arms around her waist, her head nestled close.

"Orm?" Ling Ling's voice was soft, questioning.

Orm whispered against her neck, "Sorry, P'Ling. I need an energy boost. Orm needs charging."

Ling Ling's hand instinctively rubbed Orm's arms, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "So this is how you charge?"

Orm turned her head, her breath brushing Ling Ling's skin. "Yes. Boost, boost."

Ling Ling shivered, her voice hitching. "Orm..."

Orm smiled mischievously, pulling back just enough to look at her. "Okay, fully charged!"

"P'Ling?" Orm called softly.

"Yes, Nong Orm?"

Orm hesitated, wanting to say, I want you. Please want me back. But instead, she simply whispered, "Thank you."