Perfectly Imperfect

Ling never meant to fall behind. 

But at 30, she's broke, stuck in a toxic office job, and writing bestselling romances no one knows she's behind. Her fresh start in Bangkok has become late-night deadlines, endless side hustles, and the quiet ache of always feeling like a disappointment.

Orm Kornnaphat never meant to build an empire. At just 23, she's the golden girl of Thai media—model, actress, designer, and influencer. 

But behind the curated perfection is a girl suffocating under pressure, craving a life that actually feels like hers.

They met once, briefly—and badly—in Khon Kaen. 

Ling never forgot it. 

Orm pretended to.

Now, they're thrown back together in the worst possible way: an assignment that demands professional civility and proximity neither of them are ready for. 

Between awkward interviews, accidental run-ins, and late nights where the truth slips through the cracks, something fragile and furious begins to bloom.

This isn't the story of perfect girls falling in love.

It's about two women who weren't supposed to find each other again—and what happens when they do. 

When the past is messy, the present is uncertain, and love shows up anyway—not as a fairytale, but as something real.

Because sometimes, love doesn't arrive when you're ready.
It arrives when you're honest.

—————

Author's Note:

Hi! Thank you so much for clicking on this story—it's been living rent-free in my head for way too long. I wasn't supposed to upload it yet (famous last words), but here we are. Consider this soft-launch chaos the gentle shove I needed to actually finish it.

This fic will be updated alongside Rak Among Ruins once Dreamlike Proposal wraps up. I promise to give both the love, heartbreak, and screaming-into-the-void moments they deserve.

This story is very personal to me, and I've poured a lot of time and heart into it.
Please do not repost, translate, or share this work outside of this account without my clear permission.

I'm only sharing it here under my official Wattpad/AO3 account — if you see it elsewhere, it wasn't approved.
Thank you for respecting my writing and supporting it the right way🤍

Before you dive in, a gentle but important heads-up:

This is not a fluffy romance. It's messy. Emotional. Sometimes dark. This story explores manipulation, toxic relationship dynamics, emotional control, humiliation, and the kind of internalized pain many LGBTQ+ people face—the shame, the longing, the heartbreak of wanting someone in a world that doesn't always make space for that kind of love. 

There are also scenes with explicit sexual content, coercion, violence, and mental health struggles. Reader discretion is advised, especially for those sensitive to these topics.

If any of this feels like it might not be for you—that's completely okay. Please take care of your heart. You're under no pressure to continue.

Also, a kind reminder:

While this story uses the real names of Lingling and Orm (of the GL tandem LingOrm), this is a fictional alternate universe. 

In this world, Ling is a writer, and Orm is a CEO, producer, and model—completely imagined versions of them. This story does not reflect who they are in real life. It's written out of admiration, not to project or assume.

This is a story for the ones who feel like they missed their moment. For those quietly rebuilding themselves in silence. For the girls who love in secret and still believe in something tender. For the ones writing their truths in the dark, wondering if anyone's reading.

You are. And I'm so, so glad you're here.

Ling and Orm are two very different people on a slow, tangled collision course — and I hope you'll stick around as they figure out what it means to be truly seen, to be chosen, and to fall in love when life is anything but ready.

With affection, caution tape, and far too many unfinished drafts,
—Dev