Opposite Attracts

Friday finally arrived. The week had dragged on, but now, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the air felt charged with anticipation.

Lingling was in a rush to get home. The moment the clock hit the end of the workday, she grabbed her bag and waved Orm a quick goodbye.

Orm, still finishing up some last-minute work, frowned. “See you later,” she called out, watching as Lingling disappeared out the door in a hurry.

Something about Lingling’s urgency made Orm curious, but she shook it off, refocusing on her tasks.

Lingling’s POV

She arrived at her apartment and immediately stripped off her work clothes, heading straight for the shower. The warm water relaxed her tense muscles, but her mind was racing.

After wrapping herself in a towel, she walked to her dresser, pulling open a drawer in search of something decent to wear.

“What the fuck am I gonna wear?” she muttered to herself, sifting through her clothes.

She paused for a moment, catching her reflection in the mirror. “Why am I even bothered?” she asked, but deep down, she knew the answer.

With a sigh, she grabbed a mid-length black dress that hugged her curves just right. The neckline dipped lower than usual, revealing just enough to be enticing.

“This will do,” she murmured, slipping into the dress before moving to her vanity.

Her fingers worked swiftly, applying light but sultry makeup—just enough to enhance her features without looking like she tried too hard.

She stared at her reflection.

It had been a long time since she had put effort into dressing up for anyone.

But this wasn’t for Orm.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

Orm’s POV

After wrapping up her work, Orm headed home to freshen up.

She stood in front of her closet, running her fingers along the fabrics before pulling out a one-shoulder, skin-tone dress. It clung to her body just enough to be elegant yet slightly provocative.

As she adjusted the fit in the mirror, a voice called from behind.

“Going on a date?”

Orm turned to see her father, Oct, standing in the doorway with a teasing grin.

She scoffed. “Not gonna say anything, Dad.”

Oct raised his hands in surrender, smirking. “Alright, alright. Have fun, then.”

Orm rolled her eyes, grabbing her clutch and heading for the door.

Once inside her car, she pulled out her phone and sent a text.

Orm: Want me to pick you up?

Lingling’s response came almost instantly.

Lingling: No need. Just send me the address.

Orm hesitated before sending the location.

She didn’t know why, but something about tonight felt different.

_____________________

Lingling’s brows furrowed as the taxi slowed to a stop. She glanced out the window, expecting to see a restaurant or some kind of lounge, but instead, she was met with the sight of a private pier.

Her eyes followed the rows of docked boats until they landed on something far more extravagant—a sleek, luxurious yacht.

And there, standing on the deck, was Orm, waving at her with a smug grin.

Lingling blinked. “You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath.

She paid the driver, stepped out of the taxi, and took a moment to process. “I didn’t know she also owns a yacht,” she mumbled to herself.

As she walked down the pier toward the yacht, Orm was already waiting at the edge, extending a hand to help her on board.

Lingling hesitated for a second before taking it. Orm’s grip was firm but warm, sending an unexpected jolt up Lingling’s spine.

Up close, Orm looked absolutely stunning. The soft glow of the yacht’s deck lights highlighted her sharp features, and the way her dress hugged her figure was borderline criminal.

Orm, on the other hand, was fighting a battle in her head. She looks incredible. That dress—God, I want to get rid of that dress.

She immediately shook the thought away. No, Orm. Stop. Taking it slow, remember? Jesus Christ.

Lingling noticed Orm’s sudden shift in expression. “You okay?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Orm snapped out of it and forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a small headache.”

Lingling narrowed her eyes, unconvinced, but let it slide.

As she stepped onto the yacht, she took in her surroundings. The sheer size of it was impressive. The deck was polished, the interior lit with ambient lighting, and the soft sound of jazz music played in the background.

A uniformed butler greeted her with a polite nod before stepping aside, revealing an elegantly set table under the open sky.

Lingling crossed her arms. “You certainly made an effort.”

Orm smirked. “Impressed?”

Lingling raised an eyebrow. “A little.”

Orm leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “You’re the first one.”

Lingling scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Okayyy. If you say so.”

Still, the words lingered in her mind as Orm pulled out a chair, assisting her to sit.

Lingling couldn’t ignore it—this was different. Orm wasn’t just showing off.

_____________________

The yacht slowly sailed under the golden hues of the setting sun. A soft breeze carried the scent of the sea, mingling with the aroma of the gourmet dishes prepared by the private chef. Their butler poured them wine before stepping away, giving them privacy.

Orm watched Lingling, who seemed slightly uneasy. “Relax,” Orm said with a teasing smirk. “You’re acting like I kidnapped you.”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “You kind of did. You didn’t tell me we’d be on a yacht.”

Orm laughed, swirling the wine in her glass. “I wanted to surprise you. Did it work?”

Lingling sighed, but a small smile played on her lips. “I’ll admit, this is… nice.”

Orm leaned in slightly. “Just nice?”

Lingling scoffed. “Alright, alright. It’s impressive. Happy now?”

Orm smirked. “Very.” She pulled out a chair for Lingling, motioning for her to sit. Lingling hesitated for a moment before finally settling down.

As they started their meal, the conversation naturally shifted to their lives. Orm, eager to know more about Lingling, asked, “So, what was it like growing up in Khon Kaen?”

Lingling sipped her wine, considering her answer. “It was simple. My parents used to run a small food stall but stopped as they got old. They work hard to make ends meet. We weren’t rich, but we got by.”

Orm listened intently. She never really thought about where Lingling came from. It was a contrast to her own privileged upbringing. “Did you always want to live in Bangkok?”

Lingling nodded. “Not really. But I wanted something different, something bigger. Bangkok had opportunities. I moved here supposedly for school, worked odd jobs to support myself and save money, but somehow ended up here.” She gestured vaguely, referring to her current job and life.

Orm admired her determination. “You really built everything on your own.”

Lingling shrugged. “I had to.”

A moment of silence fell between them, not uncomfortable, but contemplative.

Lingling glanced at Orm. “What about you? What was it like being the daughter of Oct Sethratanapong?”

Orm chuckled. “Spoiled. Privileged. Exhausting.”

Lingling raised a brow. “Exhausting?”

Orm sighed. “Everyone expects something from me. To be perfect. To take over the business. To behave a certain way. I never really had the freedom to just… be.”

Lingling tilted her head. “And what do you want?”

Orm looked at her, hesitating. “I don’t know yet.”

Lingling smirked. “That’s a first. Orm Sethratanapong, not knowing what she wants?”

Orm laughed. “Shocking, right?”

They continued their meal, sharing stories, teasing each other, and occasionally exchanging glances that lingered a little too long.

As the night deepened, Orm leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “Ling, I meant what I said before. I want to take this seriously.”

Lingling held her gaze, searching for any hint of insincerity but found none. She sighed. “Then prove it.”

Orm nodded. “I will.”

Lingling smirked. “Good. Now pour me another glass of wine.”

Orm chuckled. “Anything for you.”

__________________

They had talked for hours, exchanging stories, teasing each other, and occasionally letting the weight of unspoken words settle between them. But the atmosphere had shifted now. There was something in the way Lingling looked at her, a spark of mischief flickering behind her dark eyes.

As Orm sipped her wine, she cleared her throat, casually leaning back in her chair. “So,” she began, her voice dripping with amusement, “you’ve never been in any kind of relationship before. No exes. No experiences.” She smirked, swirling the wine in her glass. “That means I’ll be your first in everything.”

Lingling, in the middle of taking a sip, nearly choked. She coughed lightly, setting her glass down, then tilted her head at Orm. “You’re so confident,” she mused, a slow smirk forming on her lips. “I like that.”

Orm held her gaze, the self-assured smile never leaving her face. “I always get what I want, Ling.”

Lingling hummed in amusement. “That so?” She leaned forward slightly, placing a hand on the edge of her dress’s low neckline, deliberately slow, as if adjusting it. The simple movement made Orm’s eyes flicker down for a split second before she forced herself to maintain eye contact.

Lingling’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “I won’t make things easy for you, Orm.”

Orm swallowed. Hard.

What is she trying to do now?

The tables had turned so fast she barely had time to register it.

This backfired on me.

Lingling tilted her head, studying Orm’s face, clearly enjoying the effect she was having. “If you’re used to getting all the girls you want, hooking up whenever you please… trust me, I am faaaaar from those girls.”

Orm’s grip on her wine glass tightened. She felt like a hunter suddenly turned into the prey. Lingling’s tone was playful, but there was a challenge in her eyes, daring Orm to step up.

Orm exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay composed. “I never said you were like them,” she said smoothly. “In fact, I know you’re not. That’s why I’m here.”

Lingling chuckled, her fingers still tracing the edge of her dress. “Good answer.”

The air between them was thick with tension now, the teasing and power struggle making Orm’s pulse quicken. She’s playing with fire. And yet, Orm knew she’d gladly burn for her.

Lingling leaned back in her chair, her fingers lazily tracing the rim of her wine glass. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes locked onto Orm as she lifted two fingers and gestured towards her own body.

“Do you want all of this?” she asked, her voice smooth, teasing, dangerously seductive.

Orm was too stunned to respond. Her brain short-circuited at the blatant provocation, her grip tightening around the stem of her glass. She felt heat rise to her face, and before she could think of a proper answer, she found herself nodding. Slowly.

Lingling smirked at her reaction. She took a deliberate sip of her wine, dragging out the silence, letting Orm squirm. Then, with a casual shrug, she set the glass down and leaned forward slightly.

“You’re gonna have to work really hard for it,” she said, her voice a whisper, but it hit Orm like a challenge, sinking deep into her chest.

Orm blinked. She felt like her entire system had shut down, her mind going blank except for one very vivid image—Lingling, in that damn dress, slipping it off, piece by piece.

Lingling chuckled at the way Orm looked—completely frozen, her pupils slightly blown. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice just enough to make Orm’s stomach do somersaults.

“You wanted slow?” she taunted, dragging out her words. “Let’s take it reaaaally slooowww.”

Orm groaned inwardly. She had played herself.

She straightened in her chair, trying to regain some control. “Can I change my mind?” she asked, half-joking, half-serious.

Lingling grinned, her eyes flashing with mischief. “Nope.” She leaned back again, tilting her head as if deep in thought. “That night? I could’ve given you ALL of this.” She gestured to herself again, slowly, deliberately. “But oh well… you chose this path. Too bad.”

Orm exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face. She could feel her frustration bubbling up—not just because of Lingling’s teasing, but because she was actually enjoying this torture.

Lingling, on the other hand, was grinning in victory, watching Orm struggle with amusement dancing in her eyes. “You better get used to this,” she said, crossing her legs deliberately. “I’m not making things easy for you, Orm.”

Orm clenched her jaw. She was so screwed. She is trapped.