Chapter Text
Lingling was sitting at her desk in the office, eyes fixed on her screen as lines of code blurred together in front of her. Her phone buzzed softly beside her, breaking her focus.
It was a message from her mother.
Mom: Don’t forget. Your grandma’s birthday is this weekend. You have to come, no matter what. She’ll be heartbroken if you don’t.
Lingling let out a small breath, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she read it. Of course she would come. She loved her grandmother too much not to.
Still, she couldn’t ignore the familiar weight settling in her chest.
She already knew how it would go.
Just like at every family gathering, she would be surrounded by relatives, and sooner or later, the questions would come. The ones she never quite knew how to answer.
It was a pattern Lingling had come to recognize all too well, one that surfaced at every occasion where her family gathered.
Her grandmother’s birthday just happened to be one of them.
-
The weekend finally arrived, and it was time for Lingling to head to her grandmother’s house to celebrate her birthday.
The house would brim with relatives, every room alive with overlapping conversations and easy laughter. The air carried the comforting aroma of home-cooked dishes, while the long dining table stretched under the weight of food and familiarity, faces she had known her entire life gathered in one place.
It should have felt warm. Safe. Like home.
And in many ways, it was.
But Lingling knew how the night would unfold.
It always led to the same moment.
“Lingling,” her grandmother called, her voice gentle yet expectant, a fond smile resting on her lips. “When are you getting married?”
There it was.
Lingling exhaled softly, her shoulders dropping just a little. “Grandma…”
“I’m already seventy-five,” her grandmother continued, her voice tinged with longing. “I just want to see you get married while I’m still here.”
Her aunt leaned in, eyes bright with insistence. “You’re already thirty-three. You have a great job, you’re independent, you’re beautiful, what exactly are you waiting for?”
“Exactly,” her uncle followed, nodding in agreement. “You’re more than ready.”
Someone else chimed in with a light laugh, “Don’t wait too long, or all the good ones will be taken.”
Lingling pressed her lips into a thin line, her fingers tapping lightly against the table, a quiet rhythm betraying her growing impatience.
Every time they had the chance.
The same question.
The same pressure.
The same conversation, as if her life were something that had to follow a timeline everyone else had quietly agreed on.
And the worst part?
It never really changed.
The question came back whenever the opportunity arose. Reshaped, repackaged, dressed up in different words, but always circling the same expectation.
“When are you getting married?”
Lingling set her spoon down with a soft clink.
“Alright,” she said, her tone calm, almost too calm.
The chatter around the table slowly faded.
“If you all really want an answer…” she continued, leaning back slightly in her chair, “…then I’ll give you one.”
Her grandmother looked at her with quiet anticipation. “Yes, dear?”
Lingling glanced around the table, meeting their eyes one by one.
“I’ll get married,” she said.
A small ripple of relief passed through a few of them, too soon.
“…but only if she’s exactly my type.”
The room stilled again.
Lingling crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. But there was a hint of mischief in her eyes now.
“She has to be sexy,” she said plainly.
Silence.
“Like, really sexy,” she continued, as if clarifying an important detail. “Great body…”
A fork slipped from someone’s hand.
“And an absolutely amazing ass.”
Complete. Dead. Silence.
Her aunt froze mid-bite, then quickly reached over to cover the ears of Lingling’s younger cousin, who sat beside her, eyes wide with confusion. Her uncle stared straight ahead, unblinking. Her mother looked like she wanted to say something, but no words came out.
Even her grandmother, who had started this entire conversation, sat there quietly, stunned into stillness.
Lingling reached for her glass, taking a slow, unbothered sip.
And that… that was exactly the reaction she had been aiming for.
No follow-up questions.
No advice.
No pressure.
Just pure, overwhelming awkwardness.
Perfect.
She lowered her glass, the faintest hint of a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
Mission accomplished.
-
Lingling was having dinner with Namtan after work, the kind of casual, end-of-day meal where exhaustion softened into laughter and stories flowed easily between bites.
She was telling her friend about what had happened at her grandmother’s birthday party.
Namtan choked.
She coughed, quickly grabbing a napkin as she tried to recover, a bit of her drink almost spilling out. “You… you did not just say that—” she sputtered, eyes wide. “In front of your entire family??”
Lingling laughed, completely unbothered, and took another calm sip from her glass before nodding. “I did.”
“Lingling!” Namtan stared at her like she had just confessed to a crime. “Are you insane? I could never say something like that in front of my relatives. I’d simply pass away on the spot.”
That only made Lingling laugh harder.
“Maybe,” she said with a shrug, “but it worked.”
Namtan blinked. “Worked?”
“Last week, my aunt had a housewarming party,” Lingling continued, leaning back in her chair. “And for the first time ever, not a single person asked me about getting married.”
“Wait… seriously?”
“Not one,” Lingling confirmed, clearly pleased with herself. “And trust me, that question used to show up every single time they saw my face. It was practically a family tradition.” She lifted her glass slightly, as if making a toast to herself. “So yeah. I call it… good job, Lingling.”
Namtan burst into laughter, shaking her head. “I can’t believe you.”
“There’s more,” Lingling added, her tone far too casual.
Namtan groaned. “Of course there is.”
“Another family gathering next week,” Lingling said. “Grandma’s inviting everyone over for dinner again.”
Namtan stared at her. “Already? Your family doesn’t get tired of seeing each other?”
“I know, right??” Lingling laughed. “My family is obsessed with gathering. Birthdays and housewarmings are still reasonable. But sometimes, they’ll come together for the most random, unnecessary things.”
Namtan crossed her arms. “Like what?”
Lingling began counting on her fingers, completely serious. “They once had a small celebration because my nephew finally managed to say ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ clearly. Then there was a whole dinner because my uncle solved a Rubik’s cube in under five minutes.”
Namtan blinked.
“And oh, my aunt kept a plant alive for over a month, so that apparently deserved cake,” Lingling continued. “My cousin woke up before noon three days in a row… three days, Namtan, and they treated it like a national achievement.”
“…You’re joking,” she said flatly.
Lingling met her gaze, then slowly shook her head, a grin spreading across her face.
“I wish I was.”
Namtan blinked once more, then finally burst into laughter, unable to hold it in any longer.
-
Lingling arrived at her grandmother’s house just as the evening began to settle. From the outside, it looked like any other family gathering.
And yet, the moment she stepped out of her car, something felt… different.
Her eyes landed on a sleek car parked near the gate, one she didn’t recognize.
She paused mid-step. Did someone buy a new car? she wondered. Don’t tell me they’re throwing a gathering just to celebrate that…
Then again, knowing her family, it wouldn’t be the strangest reason. Her family had celebrated far more questionable achievements.
Shaking her head lightly, Lingling made her way inside.
The house greeted her with its familiar bustle. The soft clatter of plates and glasses echoing through the space, filling it with a warm, lived-in energy.
“Lingling! You’re here!”
“Finally!”
“Come, come, sit down!”
She smiled politely, slipping off her shoes. “I just got here,” she replied, her tone light, practiced.
But then—
She noticed them.
Two unfamiliar faces sitting among her relatives. A middle-aged man and woman, dressed neatly, carrying themselves with a kind of quiet familiarity. As if they belonged, yet didn’t quite fit into the picture Lingling was used to.
Her brows knit together slightly.
Before she could ask, her father appeared beside her.
“Lingling,” he said, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder, “these are the Sethratanapongs. Uncle Oct and Aunt Koy.”
Lingling blinked.
“We used to be neighbors years ago,” he continued. “Before they moved away.”
“Oh…” Lingling nodded, quickly composing herself. She offered a polite smile and a slight bow. “Sawasdee ka.”
“Ah, Lingling!” the woman, Aunt Koy, smiled warmly. “You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman. We almost didn’t recognize you.”
“It’s been a long time,” Uncle Oct added with a small chuckle.
Lingling returned the smile politely, though her mind had already started drifting.
Neighbors…?
Slowly, pieces of memory began to resurface.
A house next door.
They had a daughter… didn’t they?
A small, restless girl who came and went as she pleased.
Too loud. Too energetic. Far too comfortable.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tried to recall more clearly.
And then—
Flash.
A younger girl grabbing the remote and changing the channel right in the middle of Lingling’s favorite show.
Another memory, singing loudly, off-key, right outside her room while Lingling was trying to study for an exam.
Lingling almost scoffed under her breath.
Yeah… that kid was a menace.
“What was her name again…?” Lingling muttered quietly to herself, her brows furrowing. Oom? Aum? Something like that…
“Lingling!”
She turned at once.
Her mother was walking toward the dining table, carefully carrying several plates of food.
And beside her—
Lingling stilled.
A woman walked in step with her mother, helping set the dishes down.
At first, Lingling didn’t recognize her.
But then she looked.
And suddenly, everything else faded into the background.
The woman was… stunning.
No, breathtaking.
Her blonde, softly wavy hair framed her face perfectly, catching the warm light of the room. Her skin was fair and smooth, almost glowing, and her features were delicate yet striking in a way that made it impossible to look away.
She wore a fitted dress that traced the natural curves of her body. Elegant, tasteful, yet undeniably captivating. There was a quiet grace in the way she moved, every gesture soft, composed… effortlessly beautiful.
Lingling felt her breath hitch.
For a brief, disorienting moment, her mind went completely blank.
Who… is that?
Her lips parted slightly, her gaze fixed a second too long.
“Lingling,” her mother called again, glancing between the two of them with a knowing smile, “come here.”
Lingling stepped closer, though her eyes hadn’t quite left the woman.
“This is Orm,” her mother said.
Orm.
The name hit her instantly.
Lingling blinked.
…Orm?
Her thoughts stumbled over themselves.
Wait, Orm?
Her eyes widened just slightly as she looked at the woman again, really looked this time.
That Orm?
Her eyes flicked over the woman again, as if trying to reconcile the image in front of her with the memories in her head.
The loud, mischievous little girl…
and this composed, breathtaking woman—
They didn’t match.
They couldn’t.
No way.
Lingling stared, disbelief written all over her face, though she tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to hide it.
Orm, on the other hand, seemed a little shy under her gaze.
She offered a small, polite smile, her hands lightly clasped in front of her.
“Sawasdee ka, Phi Ling,” she greeted softly.
The respectful tone snapped Lingling out of her daze.
“Oh—” she straightened slightly, blinking as if waking up. “Sawasdee ka… Nong… Orm,” she replied, her voice betraying just the slightest hesitation.
A beat of silence passed.
Lingling cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure.
“You…” she started, then paused, almost laughing at herself. “You’ve changed a lot.”
Orm let out a small, shy laugh. “I could say the same, Phi.”
-
Dinner began not long after, the table filling with movement as everyone took their seats.
Lingling tried, she really did, to focus on her food, to blend into the rhythm of the evening like she always had. But her attention kept slipping, betraying her. Her gaze wandered, again and again, toward the same person.
Orm.
It was almost frustrating, how effortlessly her eyes found her.
She was simply too beautiful not to be looked at.
Every small movement, every quiet smile, every gentle gesture, seemed to draw Lingling in without permission. More than once, she caught herself staring a second too long, only to quickly look away, pretending she had been focused on something else all along.
By the time dinner ended, Lingling felt oddly restless.
As expected, the family naturally broke into smaller groups. The men drifted outside to the garden, their voices carrying faintly through the open doors, while the women gathered in the living room, settling into comfortable conversation.
Orm was there too.
Lingling lingered near the dining table, pouring herself a drink she didn’t particularly need. She lifted the glass to her lips, but her attention was elsewhere. Sneaking brief, careful glances toward the living room.
She didn’t even realize how obvious it might look.
“So… what do you think?”
Lingling nearly jumped.
She turned to find her father standing beside her, watching her with a knowing expression.
“What?” she asked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”
Her father tilted his head slightly toward the living room. “Orm. Oct’s daughter.”
Lingling blinked. “What about her?”
A small smile appeared on her father’s face. “She fits your criteria, doesn’t she?”
Lingling frowned, confusion knitting her brows. “Criteria? What criteria?”
Her father looked genuinely puzzled for a moment, before it clicked.
“Your future wife,” he said matter-of-factly. “You said you wanted someone sexy, with an amazing ass”.
Lingling choked.
The sip she had just taken went down the wrong way, and she coughed violently, nearly spraying her drink. A few nearby relatives turned at the sudden commotion, their attention snapping toward them.
Her father quickly raised his hand. “Ah, sorry, sorry,” he said with an awkward laugh.
Lingling, however, was far from amused.
Grabbing his wrist, she pulled him away from the others, guiding him toward a quieter corner of the house where fewer ears could reach them.
“What do you mean?” she demanded in a hushed but urgent tone, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Her father frowned slightly, as if he didn’t understand why she was reacting this way. “Well, you said you wanted to marry a sexy woman with an amazing—”
“Stop. Stop, don’t say it again!” Lingling cut him off immediately, her face flushing with embarrassment. Hearing those words repeated was bad enough. Hearing them from her father was unbearable.
Her father let out a small sigh, as if humoring her. “After what you said at your grandmother’s birthday, we all took it seriously. Your mother, your aunts, your uncles… we thought, if that’s what you want, then we should help.”
Lingling’s expression slowly shifted, from confusion to realization.
“And a few days ago,” her father continued, “I met Oct and his family. Your mother and I talked about it, and we both agreed, Orm is beautiful. She seems kind, well-mannered… and she matches what you described.”
Lingling stared at him, her mind going completely blank.
For a moment, she couldn’t even process the words.
So that was it.
That was why no one had been asking her those questions lately.
Not because they had finally given up—
But because they had been busy.
Busy trying to find someone.
For her.
Based on that one reckless, impulsive sentence she had thrown out just to make them uncomfortable.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass in her hand.
Her face slowly drained of color.
“…Do they know?” she asked at last, her voice quieter now, almost fragile. “Does their family know what you’re trying to do? That you’re… setting me up with Orm?”
Her father nodded without hesitation. “Oct and Koy, of course. We’ve talked about it.”
Lingling swallowed.
“And Orm?” she pressed, her heart beating just a little faster. “Does she know?”
Her father gave a small shrug. “I’m not sure. They might have told her. Or maybe they didn’t want to pressure her.”
Silence fell between them.
Lingling stood there, unmoving, the weight of it all settling heavily in her chest.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
She had only said those things to shut them up. To make things awkward enough that they would stop asking.
And somehow…
it had turned into this.
Across the room, she could still see Orm, sitting quietly among the others, her soft laughter blending into the background.
Lingling’s gaze lingered for a moment.
Then she looked away, her thoughts in complete disarray.
She felt… drained.
Completely, utterly unprepared.
And for the first time that night, Lingling didn’t know what to do.
-
“Lingling!”
Her aunt’s voice rang out across the room, bright and inviting. “Come here, join us.”
Lingling turned, and the moment she saw who her aunt was sitting with, she felt her steps falter just slightly.
Orm.
And her parents.
Of course.
For a brief second, Lingling considered pretending she hadn’t heard. But her aunt was already waving her over, far too enthusiastically for any graceful escape.
So, with a quiet breath and a carefully composed smile, Lingling made her way toward them.
“Sit, sit,” her aunt urged, patting the empty space beside her.
Lingling lowered herself into the seat, her posture just a little too straight, her movements just a little too careful. She could feel it immediately, the subtle shift in attention, the way the conversation seemed to gather around her the moment she joined.
And just like she had expected…
it began.
“So, Lingling,” Uncle Oct said warmly, leaning forward with interest, “where are you working these days?”
Lingling offered a polite smile. “I work in IT, at a telecommunications company.”
“Oh?” Orm’s father’s eyes lit up at once. “IT, you say? That’s perfect!”
Lingling already knew what was coming.
“My laptop has been acting up lately,” he continued, nodding to himself. “It gets really slow when I use it. Do you know what might be causing that?”
There it was.
Lingling smiled. Polite, practiced, just a touch strained.
Of course… she thought. It always comes back to this.
No matter how many times it happened, it was almost inevitable. The moment someone heard “IT,” she somehow became the go-to person for every gadget-related problem they had ever encountered.
She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say a word—
“Dad!”
Orm’s voice cut in, a little sharper than expected.
Everyone turned.
Orm looked slightly flustered, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “Not all people in IT deal with broken laptops, you know,” she said, her tone carrying both embarrassment and quiet insistence.
For a split second, Lingling just stared at her.
And then—
a small, almost amused smile tugged at her lips.
Finally, she thought. Someone understands.
“It’s okay, Nong Orm,” Lingling said gently, her voice softening. “I’m used to it.”
She turned back to Orm’s father, maintaining her polite composure. “It could be a RAM issue,” she explained. “If it’s running slow, upgrading the memory might help. I can take a look at it for you sometime, if you’d like.”
“Oh, see?” Uncle Oct laughed, clearly pleased. “She knows exactly what she’s talking about.”
Lingling let out a quiet breath through her nose, amused despite herself.
Beside her, Orm sighed softly and lifted a hand to her forehead, covering her face in clear embarrassment.
Lingling caught the gesture. And this time, she couldn’t quite hold back a smile.
“So, Orm,” Lingling’s mother began, her tone warm but curious, “where are you working now?”
Orm straightened slightly, offering a polite, composed smile. “I work in legal at a property company,” she replied.
A soft chorus of impressed reactions followed almost immediately.
“Ohh…”
“No wonder…”
“That’s a good position…”
The approval was subtle, but unmistakable.
Lingling’s mother nodded, clearly satisfied, though there was a glint of something else in her eyes. Something a little too intentional.
At the same time, Orm’s mother turned her attention to Lingling, her eyes briefly scanning her before she reached out, gently holding her shoulder and arm as if confirming a quiet observation.
“I knew it,” she said, clearly impressed. “Your arms look toned even through your clothes. Do you exercise?”
Lingling couldn’t help smiling, a small spark of pride appearing in her eyes. Compliments like that were exactly the kind she secretly enjoyed hearing.
“Yes,” she replied politely. “I go to the gym quite often, Auntie.”
Lingling’s mother chuckled softly beside her. “That’s true. All she does is work and go to the gym. Honestly, it’s practically her second home.”
Lingling laughed, a little embarrassed but not denying it.
Then Lingling’s mother turned to Orm. “What about you, Orm? Do you like exercising too?”
Orm shook her head, her smile turning slightly shy. “Not really. I don’t exercise much.”
Lingling blinked in surprise.
Wait… seriously?
Her gaze flickered toward Orm before she quickly looked away again.
Someone can look like that without even working out? That’s not fair, she thought. I mean… just look at her figure. Even people who exercise regularly don’t always have curves like that… and her ass—
She stopped herself abruptly.
No, no, Lingling. What are you thinking?!
A strange restlessness crept into her chest as she quickly tried to collect her thoughts and return to normal.
Her father noticed the subtle shift in her expression and leaned slightly closer. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.
“Nothing,” Lingling replied quickly, straightening her posture and lifting her chin again. “I’m fine.”
For a moment, things seemed to settle.
But before she could fully relax—
Her mother spoke again.
“And Orm… do you have a partner?”
Lingling nearly choked on her own breath.
What?? Mom, that’s way too direct! she screamed internally, her fingers tightening slightly around the glass in her hand.
For a brief moment, the room seemed to quiet just a little, as if everyone was waiting.
Orm’s expression shifted, just slightly.
A faint blush crept up her cheeks, soft and unmistakable. She glanced down for a second, as if gathering herself, before lifting her gaze again.
“Not yet,” she answered gently.
“Oh, really?” Lingling’s mother chimed in almost immediately, her tone far too pleased. “Lingling is single too, you know.”
Lingling’s eyes widened.
Mom—
And just like that—
the atmosphere changed.
Lingling didn’t even need to look to know what was happening.
But she did anyway.
Almost in unison, several pairs of eyes turned toward her. Accompanied by knowing smiles, subtle nudges, and expressions that said far more than words ever could.
Lingling stiffened under the sudden attention.
She cleared her throat, the sound a little too forced, and quickly looked away, pretending to be interested in something else in the room.
Her ears burned.
This is ridiculous… she thought, trying, and failing to act unaffected.
Meanwhile, the faintest hint of pink still lingered on Orm’s cheeks.
Then, as if the evening hadn’t already been eventful enough, Orm’s father spoke up again, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Lingling,” he said, leaning back slightly, “did you know that when our family moved away, Orm cried her eyes out?”
Lingling blinked, caught off guard. “She did?”
“Oh, she did,” he continued, clearly amused. “She refused to leave because she didn’t want to be separated from her Phi Ling.”
For a split second, Orm froze.
Then—
“Dad!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. “That’s not true! I didn’t, don’t make things up!” She shook her head quickly, her cheeks already flushing a deep shade of pink. “You’re lying!”
Her tone had turned almost pleading, a hint of a whine slipping through as she tried to shut him down.
But it was far too late.
The room erupted into laughter.
“It is true,” Orm’s mother chimed in, smiling fondly as she glanced at her daughter. “Your father isn’t lying.”
She turned back to Lingling. “At that time, you were already in college, living near your campus, so you didn’t see it. But Orm really cried, she didn’t want to move because she didn’t want to be far away from you.”
Lingling’s brows lifted slightly in surprise.
“Really?” she murmured, her gaze shifting slowly toward Orm.
Orm, meanwhile, looked like she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
“Mom… please,” she groaned, covering part of her face with her hand. “Can we not talk about this?”
“You were clinging to the door,” her father added, clearly enjoying himself. “Refusing to get in the car.”
“Dad!” Orm protested, mortified. “Stop!”
“And you kept saying, ‘I don’t want to leave Phi Ling!’” her mother continued, laughing softly.
“That’s enough!” Orm all but whined, her entire face now burning red. “Why are you telling her this?!”
Her reaction only made things worse.
The laughter grew louder, filling the room with warmth and amusement. Even Lingling’s relatives seemed thoroughly entertained by the unexpected revelation.
Lingling, for her part, stayed quiet for a moment.
Then, slowly, a smile spread across her lips.
Not mocking, not teasing.
Something softer. Something warmer.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze resting on Orm, who was still trying, unsuccessfully, to stop her parents from exposing her childhood.
Orm peeked at her through her fingers, clearly flustered. “Phi… please don’t listen to them,” she muttered weakly.
Around them, the laughter continued.
Lingling simply leaned back in her seat, her smile lingering, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling in her chest as her eyes drifted back to Orm.
After that, the older relatives began exchanging subtle glances and quiet whispers among themselves. It didn’t take long before one of Lingling’s aunts suddenly spoke up, her voice a little too bright.
“Hey, I just got a new orchid,” she said excitedly. “It’s very rare. Do you want to see it?”
Lingling’s grandmother immediately responded, “Oh? Really? Let’s go, let’s go, I want to see it!”
Her aunts and uncles quickly chimed in.
“Yes, let’s go!”
“I want to see it too!”
Even Orm’s parents stood up, clearly interested. The aunts began dragging their children along as well, some of them protesting as they were pulled to their feet.
In a matter of seconds, the room that had been full just moments ago began to empty.
Orm blinked, looking slightly confused. “I want to see it too—”
But Lingling’s mother cut in smoothly, “Ah, you stay here. It won’t be interesting for you.”
Orm paused, caught off guard.
Lingling, meanwhile, watched the entire scene unfold with a slow exhale, shaking her head slightly.
They’re not even trying to be subtle…
It was painfully obvious.
They were leaving her and Orm alone on purpose.
And just like that—
they were.
The room fell quiet.
Too quiet.
The sudden shift made the air between them feel heavier, more awkward than before.
Lingling picked up her glass, taking a small sip, though her mind wasn’t on the drink at all.
Orm cleared her throat softly.
“Phi Ling…” she began, her voice a little hesitant. “You know… what they said earlier, that was from a really long time ago, right?”
Lingling turned to look at her.
“I mean,” Orm continued quickly, fumbling over her words, “I was still a kid back then, and I didn’t really understand—”
“I know, Orm,” Lingling cut in gently, a small smile forming on her lips. “You don’t have to panic.”
Orm paused.
Lingling let out a soft breath. “Parents just love bringing up embarrassing things we did in the past,” she added lightly.
A small, relieved smile appeared on Orm’s face. “You’re right.”
Silence followed again.
A brief one, but noticeable.
Orm fidgeted slightly, clearly wanting to say something, yet hesitating.
Then, after a moment, she finally spoke.
“That orchid…” she said slowly, glancing toward the direction everyone had gone. “Do you think it’s really that interesting… that everyone had to leave at the same time?”
She hesitated, then added more carefully, “They… left us here on purpose, didn’t they?”
Lingling blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question.
Then she let out a small laugh, shaking her head as a smile tugged at her lips.
“So you noticed too?” she asked.
Orm let out a quiet laugh of her own. “At first, I didn’t think anything of it,” she admitted. “But those questions earlier were… a bit too specific. And the way they were acting…” She trailed off, amused. “It was kind of suspicious.”
“I know, right?” Lingling said, a hint of disbelief in her tone.
Their eyes met.
And this time—
they both laughed.
“So… what do you think, Orm? Are you okay with all of this?” Lingling asked.
Orm blinked slightly. “What do you mean?”
Lingling hesitated for a moment before answering, “About… them trying to set us up.”
A brief awkwardness settled between them.
Orm shifted slightly, then let out a small breath. “Hmm… like I said earlier, I don’t have a partner right now. And your mom said the same about you, so…” She gave a small, thoughtful smile. “I think their intentions are good.”
She continued, a little more at ease now, “I’m sure my parents also have their own reasons for wanting to introduce me to you, just like your family does.”
Then, with a playful hint in her tone, she added, “It means I’m good enough, right? For your family to think I’d be a good match for you?”
Lingling didn’t respond immediately.
Orm smiled again, softer this time. “Besides, they didn’t say we have to get married or anything, they’re just… trying to bring us closer in their own way.”
She paused, letting out a quiet laugh. “…Even if it’s a bit of a strange way.”
Lingling found herself watching Orm for a moment.
She liked that answer.
It wasn’t defensive. It wasn’t rejecting the situation outright. Instead, Orm chose to see the good in it. And somehow, that made Lingling feel… lighter.
A small smile appeared on her lips. “Yeah… you’re right.”
There was a brief pause before Orm spoke again.
“Did you know about this beforehand?” she asked.
Lingling shook her head. “Honestly, I only found out earlier, right after dinner. My dad told me.”
Orm nodded slowly, processing that.
Then—
“…And now that you know,” she asked, her voice softening slightly, “what do you think?”
As she spoke, Orm leaned in just a little closer, her eyes meeting Lingling’s with a faint, teasing smile.
Lingling froze.
Orm was suddenly… too close.
Close enough that Lingling could see every detail of her face clearly. The smoothness of her skin, the gentle curve of her lips, the softness in her expression.
And her eyes.
Oh my God…
Lingling felt her heart skip.
For a second, she forgot how to breathe.
Her thoughts scattered, her composure slipping as she tried to form a response.
“I—I think…” she stammered, completely thrown off.
But before she could finish—
“Phi Lingling!”
A small voice called out.
A six-year-old boy came running toward her at full speed.
It was Eric, her younger cousin.
Without hesitation, he jumped onto her lap, sitting comfortably as if he had been waiting all night.
Lingling startled the moment he landed on her, her arms instinctively wrapping around him to steady his small body. “Hey, hey, careful,” she said quickly, pulling him closer. “You could fall.”
The boy only laughed, completely unbothered, as if the sudden leap had been perfectly normal. A second later, he was already absorbed in his phone, tapping away at a game while sitting comfortably on Lingling’s lap.
Lingling let out a soft sigh. “What are you doing here all of a sudden?” she asked, glancing down at him. “Weren’t you just with your mom, looking at the orchids?”
“It’s boring over there,” he replied flatly, eyes still glued to the screen. “The orchids are not even that pretty.”
A quiet laugh slipped from Orm. “Well… I guess he’s not wrong,” she said, amused. “He has no idea what the adults are actually doing.”
Then, curiosity getting the better of her, she leaned forward slightly. “So what are they talking about over there?”
“Phi Ling and Phi Orm,” Eric answered casually, still not looking up.
Orm’s interest sharpened immediately. “Really? What are they saying?”
Lingling glanced at him, her tone gentle but firm. “Eric, don’t play your game when someone’s talking to you.”
Eric obeyed without protest, turning off his game and finally lifting his head. “Grandma said she hopes Phi Ling and Phi Orm will like each other and be a good match,” he said, his tone completely innocent.
Silence.
Lingling and Orm both stiffened, the words hanging in the air between them.
A faint flush spread across their faces, and almost at the same time, they cleared their throats, unsure where to look.
Eric, however, remained blissfully unaware.
He turned to Lingling, his eyes bright with curiosity. “Phi Ling, you like Phi Orm, right?” he asked. “Because she matches what you want.”
Orm blinked, clearly confused. “What does that mean?” she asked, glancing between them.
Lingling’s heart dropped.
“Well,” Eric began, still speaking with childlike honesty, “that time you said you wanted to marry someone who’s sexy and has an amazing ass.”
“WAAAIT!” Lingling burst out, her voice far louder than she intended.
In one swift motion, she clapped her hand over Eric’s mouth.
Orm froze.
Her eyes widened, and a deep flush spread across her cheeks as the implication of his words sank in.
Lingling, on the other hand, felt like her soul had just left her body.
If there had been a hole in the ground, she would have gladly disappeared into it.
“Mmph—!” Eric struggled under her hand, wriggling in protest. He pried her fingers away with surprising determination, then quickly slid off her lap.
“I need to go to the toilet!” he shouted, already running off before either of them could stop him.
And just like that—
Lingling and Orm were left behind.
Alone.
In a silence that felt far heavier than before.
And then Orm let out a soft laugh, her eyes glinting with mischief. “So… that’s your type, Phi?” she teased.
Lingling groaned under her breath, already feeling the heat creeping up her neck. “Nong Orm, please… that’s not what I meant.”
“Mm?” Orm tilted her head slightly, her smile lingering. “Then what did you mean?”
Lingling hesitated, clearly torn between escaping the question and answering it honestly. In the end, she sighed, shoulders relaxing just a little.
“My family…” she began, her voice quieter now, “they ask me the same thing every time we meet. When I’m going to get married.” She let out a small, self-conscious laugh. “I got so tired of it that I just… said something outrageous. I thought if I made it awkward enough, they’d stop.”
Her gaze dropped for a moment before she added, almost sheepishly, “I didn’t think it would turn into… this.”
Orm watched her, amused, the corners of her lips curving slightly higher.
“So,” she said, leaning in just a fraction, her voice soft but playful, “what do you think now, Phi? Do I fit what you want?”
Lingling went completely still.
For a split second, she genuinely considered running. Just getting up and disappearing before she had to answer.
“I think… you…” she started, her voice faltering.
Orm didn’t let her off. “I’m what?” she asked gently, her gaze unwavering.
This woman is going to be the death of me, Lingling thought, her heart betraying her with every passing second.
There was no escape.
Not with Orm looking at her like that.
Lingling swallowed, forcing herself to meet her gaze, if only for a moment.
“You’re… beautiful,” she said at last, the words slipping out softly, almost too quiet to hear.
Orm laughed again, light and unrestrained. “But ‘beautiful’ wasn’t part of your criteria, was it?” she teased. “You said you prefer someone… sexy.”
“Orm…” Lingling’s voice softened into something dangerously close to a plea. “Please.”
She truly didn’t know how to answer that.
Orm only laughed more, clearly delighted by her reaction.
“Alright, alright,” she said, lifting her hands in surrender. “I’ll spare you this time, Phi.”
Then she added, with a playful wink, “But next time, I’m asking again.”
Lingling let out a long breath, tilting her head back slightly in defeat.
She had completely lost this round.
-
As the night grew late, the gathering slowly began to dissolve. One by one, families prepared to leave, the aunts exchanging warm farewells while Orm followed along, offering her own polite goodbyes, lingering a little longer when she reached Lingling’s grandmother.
Eventually, the warmth of the house gave way to the quiet coolness of the parking area.
Lingling walked beside Orm, accompanying her to the car.
They stopped just short of the door.
Then, without much warning, Orm turned toward her and held out her phone, a playful glint dancing in her eyes. “So… can I have your number?” she asked lightly. “Or do you only give it to sexy women?”
Lingling let out a soft groan, somewhere between embarrassed and defeated, but she took the phone anyway, quickly typing in her number.
A second later, her own phone buzzed.
“That’s mine,” Orm said, lowering her phone with a small, satisfied smile. “Make sure you save it.”
Lingling nodded, slipping her phone back into her pocket.
From inside the car, Orm’s father called her name, urging her to get in.
“I’m coming!” Orm replied, already turning—
—but then she paused.
As if something had just crossed her mind.
She turned back again, stepping toward Lingling once more, and held out her phone for the second time.
“Your Instagram,” she said simply.
Lingling blinked, slightly caught off guard, but obliged without question, entering her username. Once she was done, she handed the phone back to Orm.
“I’ve followed you,” Orm said, glancing at her screen. Then she looked up, her smile returning, softer this time but no less playful. “You have to follow me back, okay?”
Before Lingling could respond, Orm took a small step closer.
Close enough that Lingling could feel the shift in the air between them.
Orm leaned in, her voice dropping to a soft whisper right beside Lingling’s ear.
“And don’t forget…” she murmured, her tone teasing, almost dangerous, “to like my posts… especially the sexy ones.”
She pulled back just as quickly, a mischievous wink accompanying her smile, before slipping into the car as if nothing had happened.
The door closed.
And Lingling was left standing there.
Still. Silent.
Completely stunned.
After a moment, she exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over her face as she let out a long, helpless sigh.
-