Opposite Attracts

Orm started her Sunday morning with a jog on her treadmill, trying to shake off the restless energy buzzing inside her. Her mind was at war—one side telling her to respect Lingling’s space, the other desperately wanting to drop by unannounced. What if she secretly wants to see me too? Orm thought, increasing the treadmill’s speed.

She groaned in frustration. No, Orm. You promised to give her space.

In an effort to distract herself, she showered, got dressed, and picked up her phone. She texted Pring, her assistant.

Orm: Make sure no one comes into my office tomorrow unless I say so. I don’t want unnecessary distractions.

Pring: Noted, boss. Busy Sunday?

Orm: You have no idea.

She sighed, tossing her phone onto her bed. Even keeping herself busy wasn’t working. Her mind always circled back to Lingling.

Meanwhile, Lingling had a completely different Sunday. She started her day running errands, enjoying her rare break from work. After doing laundry, she grabbed a tote bag and headed to the grocery store, browsing through the aisles at a leisurely pace.

While standing in line to check out, she pulled out her phone and texted Orm.

Lingling: Good morning.

It took only a few seconds before Orm responded.

Orm: Good morning.

And that was it. No extra message, no teasing.

Lingling frowned at the screen, staring at their brief exchange. Normally, Orm would send something extra—a flirty remark or a complaint about missing her—but today, nothing.

She shrugged, putting her phone away and paying for her groceries.

Back at her apartment, Lingling settled onto her couch with a warm cup of tea, sighing in contentment. It was rare to have a peaceful day like this. No running between jobs, no stressful shifts, no impatient customers—just her and her quiet little space.

Yet, despite the calm, her mind drifted back to Orm.

She bit her lip, debating whether to text again. But a small smirk appeared on her lips. Let’s see how long she can last without texting first.

_____

Win stretched as he stood up from the couch, cracking his neck as if he had just finished an important mission. “Anyway,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets, “I actually just dropped by to tell you that I’ll be gone for a month… maybe two.”

Lingling blinked. “Gone? Where?”

“Business trip,” Win said with a casual shrug. “Dad wants me to handle a few things overseas. But hey, that means I won’t be around to babysit you, so you better behave.” He smirked. “And by the time I come back, I hope you’ve figured things out with Orm.”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “Win—”

“Nope,” he interrupted, raising a finger. “Don’t even try to argue. You like her. She likes you. You’re just being stubborn.”

Lingling crossed her arms. “And you’re being annoying.”

Win chuckled. “I know, and I take great pride in it.” He took a few steps toward the door but turned back one last time. “I won’t be here to protect you or listen to your endless rants in person, but you know I’m just one call away.”

Lingling’s lips twitched into a small smile despite herself. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Win gave her a lazy salute before heading out. But just as he was about to disappear down the hall, he turned around again with a smirk. “Oh, and Ling?”

She sighed. “What now?”

“Good luck.” He winked before finally leaving.

Lingling let out a long breath, sinking into the couch. As much as she appreciated Win’s friendship, he could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

“Is this how rich people are?” she muttered to herself. Always meddling. Always thinking they know everything.

She shook her head and glanced at her phone. A single unread message from Orm sat there, waiting.

Orm: Still busy?

Lingling smiled to herself, but instead of replying, she tossed her phone onto the couch. Let her wait a little longer.

Meanwhile, Orm was still trying to keep herself busy.

She had already gone for a morning run, had breakfast, and even forced herself to do a bit of work. When that wasn’t enough to distract her, she decided to go shopping.

She met up with a Faye and some friends at one of Bangkok’s high-end malls, but even as they dragged her from store to store, her mind was elsewhere.

She still hasn’t texted me back.

It was driving her insane.

“Orm, you’re spacing out again,” one of her friends—Faye—said, nudging her. “What’s up with you today?”

Orm forced a smirk. “Nothing. Just thinking.”

“About a certain someone?” Faye teased.

Orm scoffed. “Shut up.”

Faye laughed. “Damn, I never thought I’d see you like this. Usually, you’re the one making other people wait.”

Orm rolled her eyes, but deep down, she knew Faye was right.

Lingling had completely turned the tables on her.

________

The day after. Lingling stepped out of her apartment into the crisp morning air, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. Another Monday had arrived, yet an unexpected excitement stirred within her. She couldn’t quite pinpoint the reason, but a certain lightness filled her chest, an anticipation she wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

But just as she was about to walk to the bus stop, she noticed something out of place.

A white, sleek, luxurious car was parked right outside her building.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. Who the hell…?

Before she could even process it, the car window slowly rolled down, revealing none other than Orm Kornnaphat Sethratanapong.

With her usual smug smile, Orm leaned against the window frame, one hand lazily draped over the steering wheel. “Hey,” she greeted smoothly. “Surprise?”

Lingling froze in place, completely caught off guard.

There was no text from Orm this morning. No warning. No sign that she would be waiting here.

“What are you doing here?” Lingling finally managed to ask, crossing her arms.

Orm scoffed. “Good morning to you too,” she teased. Then she gestured to the passenger seat. “Get in.”

Lingling narrowed her eyes. “I always take the bus.”

Orm rolled her eyes, exasperated. “Ling, come on.” And before Lingling could protest further, Orm reached over, popped the door open, and—without warning—grabbed her wrist, pulling her in.

“Hey—!” Lingling gasped as she stumbled into the passenger seat.

The door shut immediately, and before she could escape, Orm had already started driving.

With a victorious grin, Orm asked, “Ready for work? ’Cause I am.”

Lingling stared at her, completely puzzled.

“What—why are you doing this?” she asked.

Orm smirked. “Because I missed you.”

Lingling blinked. “It’s only been two days.”

Orm gasped dramatically. “Two very long days,” she corrected. “Do you know how hard it was not seeing you? I barely survived.”

Lingling scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re so dramatic.”

“I am,” Orm admitted shamelessly. “But only for you.”

Lingling turned away, hiding the small smile threatening to form on her lips.

They drove in silence for a few minutes, the only sound being the hum of the engine and the occasional soft tunes from the car’s speakers.

Orm suddenly spoke, her voice softer now. “You really weren’t gonna see me this weekend, huh?”

Lingling glanced at her from the corner of her eye. “…No.”

Orm sighed. “That was cruel.”

Lingling chuckled. “You survived.”

“Barely.”

Lingling shook her head, amused.

Orm glanced at her and smiled. “But you did miss me, didn’t you?”

Lingling looked out the window, avoiding her gaze. “…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Orm grinned. “Liar.”

Lingling simply crossed her arms and refused to answer. But deep down, she knew Orm was right.

Lingling turned slightly in her seat, looking at Orm with a deadpan expression.

“Couldn’t you wait until I got to the office like a normal person?” she asked.

Orm smirked but kept her eyes on the road. “Nope,” she answered without hesitation. “Besides, you said, ‘See you Monday.’ Well—” she gestured around dramatically, “today is Monday.”

She took a quick glance at Lingling and raised an eyebrow. “Am I wrong?”

Lingling sighed, shaking her head in amusement. “That’s not what I meant.”

Orm shrugged. “Details, details.”

Lingling exhaled and rubbed her temple. “Orm—” she paused before speaking again, her voice firm, “please don’t do this again. I don’t want to be the center of attraction in the office.”

Orm’s smile faded slightly, and she frowned. “Who cares what they think?” she scoffed. “If they have a problem, I’ll fire them—”

“Orm!” Lingling shot her a look.

Orm huffed and took another glance at her. She could see how serious Lingling was.

“Fine, fine, fine,” Orm muttered, waving a hand in surrender. “It won’t happen again. Jesus.”

Lingling shook her head, trying not to smile at Orm’s childish pout.

As they pulled up to the office, Orm parked the car smoothly in her reserved spot. She turned to Lingling with a grin.

“Still mad at me?”

Lingling sighed, opening the door. “You’re impossible.”

Orm chuckled. “And yet, you like me anyway.”

Lingling rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it.

As they stepped out of the car together, Lingling felt the weight of the office stares already on them. She shot Orm a warning glance.

Orm, however, only smirked and whispered, “Relax. You’re with the boss.”

Lingling groaned. This was exactly what she wanted to avoid.

________________

The office buzzed with its usual rhythm—keyboards clacking, phones chiming, and hushed conversations weaving through the space. Seated at her desk, Orm sifted through documents while Lingling stood beside her, helping to sort them.

The door suddenly swung open.

“I told you, no one is allowed to—” Orm groaned without looking up, fully expecting Pring to have disobeyed her order.

But when she finally glanced up, her expression shifted instantly.

“Dad?”

Lingling immediately stiffened, her hands gripping the files she was holding.

Oct Sethratanapong, the head of the Sethratanapong empire, stood tall in the doorway, surveying the office with his usual authoritative presence. His sharp gaze flickered to Orm before shifting to Lingling.

“I was in the area and decided to drop by,” Oct said, his voice deep and calm. “I had to check something here.”

Orm leaned back in her chair, exhaling. “Oh… okay.”

Oct’s eyes lingered on Lingling before he turned back to his daughter, his gaze slightly narrowed as if silently questioning her.

Orm cleared her throat. “Uhm… Dad, this is Lingling. Ling, my dad.”

Lingling quickly bowed her head as a sign of respect. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Oct tilted his head slightly, studying her with a neutral expression before shifting his eyes back to Orm. Then, in a slow, deliberate tone, he asked, “And she is your…?”

Before Orm could open her mouth, Lingling answered politely, “I am her new assistant, sir.”

The room grew silent for a brief second.

Orm and her father locked eyes.

Oct simply hummed in response. “I see,” he said, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement. Then, glancing around the office, he raised an eyebrow. “And she’s inside your office because?”

Orm quickly replied, “She’s just fixing some documents, Dad.”

Oct gave his daughter a knowing look. The kind of look that made Orm shift uncomfortably in her seat.

“I hope I’m not interrupting something…” Oct said, before winking.

Orm groaned, visibly annoyed, and mouthed stop it like a scolded teenager.

Lingling, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, unsure how to react.

Oct chuckled at his daughter’s reaction before letting out a deep sigh. “Anyway, we have dinner tonight,” he said, casually adjusting his cufflinks. Then, without hesitation, he turned to Lingling. “You should come.”

Lingling’s heart nearly stopped.

Her eyes widened slightly. Did she hear that right?

Orm sat up straight. “Dad. Stop.”

Oct smirked. “What? It’s just dinner. She is your new assistant, isn’t she?” His gaze lingered on Lingling again, this time with amusement. “Right, dear? Meet the parents.”

Lingling blinked, unable to respond.

Orm was about to protest again, but Oct had already turned to leave. “See you tonight,” he said casually over his shoulder.

And just like that, he was gone.

Lingling exhaled the breath she had been holding.

Orm rubbed her temples. “Jesus Christ.”

Lingling slowly turned to Orm. “What was that?”

Orm groaned. “My dad being him.”

Lingling crossed her arms. “So… what now?”

Orm sighed, already regretting what was about to come.

“…I guess you’re coming to dinner.”