Opposite Attracts

It had been days.

Days since Orm last saw Lingling.

Days since she heard her voice.

Days since she felt the warmth of her presence.

And Orm was losing her mind.

Lingling hadn’t been going to work, hadn’t responded to her texts, and ignored her calls completely. Even when Orm sent “I love you” messages, there was no reply.

Orm didn’t know what to do. She debated going to Lingling’s apartment, but something held her back—fear. What if Lingling was so mad that seeing Orm would only push her further away?

So she waited.

Every day, she sent messages. Explaining. Apologizing. Begging.

Nothing.

Her work suffered.

Meetings passed in a blur, her mind somewhere else. She could barely focus on anything, even when her father was giving her instructions. She nodded at the right times, answered when spoken to, but the truth was—she didn’t care about anything except Lingling.

The weekend came, and Orm couldn’t take the silence any longer. She needed to talk to someone, so she called Namtan and Faye, her closest friends.

As expected, they were available—because unlike her, they weren’t dealing with a major relationship crisis.

At Namtan’s house, Orm threw herself onto the couch, rubbing her temples.

Namtan crossed her arms, smirking. “Well, look who finally remembers her friends.”

Faye chuckled. “I was starting to think she got abducted.”

Orm groaned. “Come on, you guys.”

Namtan and Faye exchanged a glance.

Faye raised an eyebrow. “Okay, spill it. What did you do this time?”

Orm hesitated before exhaling. “Bam showed up at my office a few days ago and acted like she was my ex-girlfriend. She told Lingling we slept together. A lot of times.”

Faye winced. “Ouch.”

Namtan’s smirk disappeared. “Damn.”

Orm threw her hands up. “And now Lingling won’t talk to me!”

She grabbed a bottle of vodka and took a long sip, but before she could go for another, Namtan snatched it away.

“Whoa, slow down. Alcohol won’t fix this.”

Orm sighed, slumping back against the couch.

Namtan frowned. “Wait, that’s really why she’s mad? Just because Bam said you two hooked up?”

Orm nodded.

Namtan bit her lip before hesitating. “Okay… maybe I made it worse.”

Orm sat up. “What?”

Namtan cringed. “She asked about you the few days ago and I told her you were busy with your girlfriend.”

Orm groaned. “Well, you weren’t wrong.”

Faye sighed. “Okay, let’s be real here. You know Bam has a thing for you, right?”

Orm rolled her eyes. “So what?”

Faye leaned forward. “So… did you ever actually end things with her?”

Silence.

Orm hesitated.

Then rubbed her face in frustration. “Not really. I just ignored her.”

Namtan burst out laughing. “Exactly!”

Orm groaned dramatically. “I didn’t know having a girlfriend would be this hard!”

Faye handed her back the vodka. “That’s what happens when your girlfriend is possessive.” Jokingly said then she laughed.

Orm sighed, taking another sip. “Jesus, save me. I miss her so much.”

Namtan grinned. “You’re so whipped.”

Faye smirked. “Imagine that. Orm Sethratanapong—once a playgirl, now down on her knees for Lingling.”

Orm scowled. “Shut up.”

Faye laughed. “Honestly, thank god you’re gay. Otherwise, those girls from your past—including Bam—would probably have been pregnant by now.”

Orm ran a hand through her hair. “That was the old me. I’ve changed.”

Namtan snorted. “You mean… a few months ago?”

Orm glared. “Shut. Up.”

Faye and Namtan burst into laughter.

Then, as the laughter died down, Faye nudged Orm. “Okay, jokes aside. If you miss her that much, why don’t you go see her?”

Namtan nodded. “Yeah, stop sulking. You won’t fix anything by sitting here drinking.”

Orm exhaled. “I don’t know… What if she doesn’t want to see me?”

Faye rolled her eyes. “She does. She’s just mad.”

Namtan grinned. “And you’re gonna fix it. Somehow.”

Orm groaned.

She just wished she knew how.

__________________

It had been days since Lingling had last stepped foot in the office.

She wasn’t sure what exactly she was avoiding, but she knew she couldn’t face Orm—not yet.

Ever since the incident with Bam, a strange weight had settled in her chest. It wasn’t just jealousy. It wasn’t just anger. It was hurt.

She thought she had prepared herself for Orm’s past. She knew Orm was experienced, that she had been with other women before. But hearing it from Bam—so directly, so cruelly—had been different.

So she did the only thing she knew how to do when she didn’t want to think about something—she buried herself in work.

Instead of going to the office, she picked up extra shifts at the restaurant. She told Becky she had taken a few days off, avoiding any further questions. Becky, of course, wasn’t convinced.

“You okay?” Becky asked one night as they were finishing their shift.

“I’m fine,” Lingling replied, forcing a small smile.

Becky didn’t push, but the concern in her eyes lingered.

Lingling had been working long shifts for days, barely stopping to eat or rest.

Her body was starting to feel the effects.

That night, as she walked toward the bus stop after her shift, exhaustion finally caught up with her.

Her vision blurred, her knees wobbled, and before she could steady herself—

Strong arms caught her.

“Hey! Are you okay?”

The familiar voice jolted her.

Lingling blinked and looked up. “Win?”

He smiled, but there was worry in his eyes. “I was planning to surprise you, but it looks like I’m the one surprised.”

Lingling shook her head, trying to clear the fog. “How did you know I was here?”

Win smirked. “It’s the weekend. You weren’t at your apartment, so I figured I’d check.”

Before she could protest, he was already half-carrying her toward his car.

“You look like you’re about to collapse,” Win said, his tone firm. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Lingling weakly tried to resist. “I just need to rest…”

Win ignored her.

Then, as he reached for his phone, he added, “I’m calling Orm.”

Panic shot through Lingling.

She grabbed his wrist. “No.”

Win frowned. “Why not?”

Lingling looked away. “Just don’t.”

Win studied her for a long moment before sighing. “Fine. But you’re still going to the hospital.”

When they arrived, the doctor examined Lingling, checked her vitals, and asked her questions about her recent routine.

“You’re overworked,” the doctor finally said. “Your body is exhausted. You need proper rest, hydration, and food.”

She handed Win a prescription for some vitamins and a mild energy booster.

“Can she go home?” Win asked.

The doctor nodded. “As long as she rests.”

Win looked down at Lingling. “Did you hear that? Rest.”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom.”

Win chuckled, but he was still clearly worried.

On the way back, Lingling dozed off in the car.

She barely registered the movement when Win parked, got out, and gently carried her into her apartment.

She stirred slightly as he placed her on the bed. “I can walk, you know.”

Win smirked. “You almost fell just standing up earlier. Let me do my hero moment, okay?”

Lingling gave a weak chuckle, eyes already closing again.

Win sighed, pulling the blanket over her.

Then he stepped back, watching her for a moment.

He knew her too well.

She wouldn’t tell him what happened with Orm, but it was obvious that something was wrong.

Lingling never ignored Orm’s calls.

Which meant something bad may had happened.

And despite Lingling’s request…

Win didn’t hesitate.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Orm’s number.

She needed to know.

___________________

The moment Orm’s phone rang and she saw Win’s name on the screen, a sinking feeling settled in her stomach.

She answered immediately. “Win?”

“She’s exhausted,” Win said without preamble. “I took her to the hospital. She’s okay, just overworked. But you should come.”

Orm didn’t waste a second.

She grabbed her car keys and rushed to Lingling’s apartment, her heart pounding the entire drive.

Guilt gnawed at her. She’s been working herself to exhaustion just to avoid me.

She hated this.

Orm parked her car haphazardly and practically ran to Lingling’s door—only to be met with Win standing outside, blocking her way.

He was leaning against the door, his arms crossed, but his face wasn’t angry. Just… concerned.

When Orm reached for the doorknob, Win held the door shut.

Orm huffed in frustration. “Win, move.”

Win sighed, rubbing his forehead. “What happened, Orm?”

Orm clenched her jaw. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

Win studied her for a moment before shaking his head. “I don’t want to meddle in your relationship with Lingling. But I’ve outgrown whatever feelings I had for her—I see her as my little sister now.”

Orm exhaled, her shoulders dropping. “I know.”

“Then listen to me when I say this,” Win continued, his voice serious. “Fix this. Do not hurt her. Or I will get in your way.”

Orm swallowed. Win wasn’t threatening her, not really. But the protective tone in his voice was enough to make it clear—he wouldn’t let Lingling get hurt without stepping in.

“I will,” Orm promised.

Win held her gaze for another second before stepping aside and opening the door.

“I’m going now,” he said. “Take care of her.”

Orm nodded before stepping inside.

The room was dim, the soft glow from a bedside lamp casting a warm light over the space.

Lingling lay curled up under the covers, her breathing soft and even, her face turned slightly toward the window.

Orm’s heart clenched.

She walked over quietly, crouching beside the bed.

Lingling’s face looked pale, her dark circles more noticeable than usual. How much had she been working?

Orm reached out, brushing a few strands of hair away from Lingling’s face.

Then, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Lingling’s forehead.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Please forgive me.”

Lingling didn’t stir.

She was in a deep sleep, too exhausted to even register Orm’s presence.

Orm sighed, sitting on the floor beside the bed, resting her head on the mattress.

She wasn’t going anywhere.

She would wait for Lingling to wake up.

And then, she would make things right.