Chapter Text
The weather in Bangkok in November was changing rapidly. During the day the sun was still shining, but at night the rain fell heavily.
Orm's desk was by the window. Wind and rain hit the glass mercilessly as lightning lit up the sky, accompanied by the sound of thunder.
From there she could see the street: the neon lights, the traffic lights, and the headlights of cars mixing with the rain. The heavy traffic and the constant sound of vehicles made the whole atmosphere feel a little depressing.
Orm sighed and closed the curtains.
At that moment, her phone vibrated.
She quickly unlocked it, but it was only a reminder from the phone company.
It was the beginning of the month.
Time to pay the bill.
Orm let out another sigh and opened the chat app.
The conversation with Lingling had stopped two hours ago.
To be exact, the last message was hers.
【Have you had dinner yet?】
【The BBQ restaurant we went to before changed owners.】
【I mean... do you want to have dinner together?】
【Curious Kitten Emoji】
Each message had been sent three minutes apart.
Orm did not type slowly.
But she thought that sending the messages like this would make the notifications for Lingling seem less insistent.
Even so... there was no response.
Would she still be in a meeting?
Orm rested her head on her hands as she stared at the screen.
The sound of rain mixed with the sound of keyboards in the office.
With the tip of her finger, she tapped the desk slowly.
After a while, she took a deep breath as if she had made an important decision.
She picked up the phone and wrote another message.
【Can you come pick me up from the L&L Media Group building? I forgot to bring an umbrella.】
Then she put the phone face down.
Although she stared at the computer screen reviewing interview manuscripts, from time to time her eyes returned to the phone.
An hour passed.
No notification arrived.
Lingling didn't answer.
"Team leader, you're not leaving yet?" Nam asked, looking at her watch. "It's already seven o'clock."
"I'm still editing the manuscript," Orm replied with a smile. "And you?"
"Don't mention it. Leader, do you know the new celebrity that's all the rage, Miu Natsha?"
Orm nodded.
Nam sat down in front of her.
"I thought it would be a good interview. Miu Natsha is at the peak of her popularity... but it turned out she was arrogant and rude. I prepared for several days, and in the end she only said 'yes', 'ah', 'you're right' and dismissed me in just a few minutes."
Nam drank some water, clearly annoyed.
"I'll tell you a way to get revenge," Irin said from behind. "Write an exclusive article: 'The Nation's Bride in Private: Her True Behavior with Reporters...'"
"Shut up!" Nam said, tapping her on the back.
The office, which had been silent before, filled with laughter.
Even Orm smiled.
When the noise died down, she said calmly:
"Next Tuesday, Miu Natsha will come to the L&L Media Group building for a promotion."
The office fell silent.
"No wonder they've been sticking those stickers on the wall," Nam murmured. "In a few days they will probably fill the entire building with her posters."
Half a year ago, Lotus Star Entertainment was acquired by L&L Media Group.
Since then, Orm had been working there.
Although she spent every day with her colleagues, her relationships with them had never gone beyond the workplace.
Suddenly, the sound of heels echoed in the hallway.
"You have a girlfriend, don't you? Then let her come and pick you up."
The voice belonged to Heidi.
The office fell silent.
"Oh, I forgot," she added with a mocking smile. "Your girlfriend never comes to pick you up."
Two months earlier, during a team activity, Heidi's crush had confessed to Orm.
Orm rejected him, saying that she already had a girlfriend.
From then on, Heidi couldn't stand seeing her.
"Nam," Orm said calmly. "Is there a field interview next week?"
"Yes. You'll have to follow the team all day... even climbing mountains."
Heidi's face turned pale.
She hated fieldwork.
Without saying anything else, she grabbed her bag.
Before leaving, she looked at Orm with resentment.
"You're cruel."
When she left, laughter could be heard from the office.
Orm only smiled innocently.
She had only asked about work.
At nine o'clock at night, she finally finished the manuscript.
When she looked up, the office was almost empty.
Lingling still hadn't answered.
Would she still be busy?
Orm went down to the lobby of the building.
The rain continued, although lighter.
While she was waiting, two people walked past her.
A man in a suit.
A woman wearing a black hat and mask.
She couldn't see her face... but her eyes were clear and calm.
A clean scent lingered in the air.
Like a bamboo forest after the rain.
With a hint of plum.
Lingling would like that perfume.
Orm thought about asking what it was... but she didn't.
A moment later, she regretted it.
It would have been a nice gift.
Suddenly, the man returned.
"Excuse me. My artist asked me to give this to you."
He placed an umbrella in her hand.
Then he left.
Orm looked at the umbrella in surprise.
An artist... in the L&L Media Group building.
Curious.
Before leaving, she took a photo of the illuminated building and sent it to Lingling.
【Beautiful people have already left work. Ugly people are still working.】
【Good thing you didn't come. A kind person lent me an umbrella.】
【Have you had dinner yet?】
【When I get home, I can cook your favorite braised ribs.】
She didn't take a taxi.
She waited for the bus.
The vehicle was full of tired people who had just left work.
Everyone seemed exhausted.
Orm sat by the window.
Everyone is busy.
Busy with work.
Busy with life.
And Lingling... she was so busy that she didn't even have time to reply to her messages.