Opposite Attracts

Orm stretched her arms over her head, feeling a pleasant soreness from the previous night. She turned her head to look at Lingling, who was still curled up under the blanket, sleeping soundly. A lazy smile formed on Orm’s lips as she admired her.

Not wanting to wake her up abruptly, Orm gently pressed her lips to Lingling’s bare shoulder. When she didn’t stir, Orm moved to place a few more kisses along her shoulder blade, trailing up to her neck.

Lingling groaned sleepily. “Babe… I’m still tired,” she mumbled, her voice muffled against the pillow.

Orm smirked and nibbled on Lingling’s earlobe, whispering, “Are you sore from last night?” And she chuckled.

Lingling let out a dramatic sigh, eyes still closed. “Very.”

Orm smiled and pulled her closer for a brief moment before slipping out of bed. She stretched again, rolling her shoulders before heading toward her suitcase to grab her running clothes.

As she pulled on her sports bra and leggings, she glanced back at Lingling, who had shifted slightly but was still snuggled beneath the covers. Orm leaned down, brushing a strand of hair from her face and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’m going for a run,” she whispered. “Then I’ll grab us breakfast.”

Lingling hummed in response, barely awake. “Mmm… bring coffee,” she muttered.

Orm grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

She grabbed her phone and earbuds before quietly slipping out of the villa.

A refreshing breeze met her as she stepped onto the beachside path, the morning air cool against her skin. At sunrise, Krabi’s beauty felt almost surreal. The resort remained peaceful, with most guests still lost in sleep or just starting to stir.

Orm jogged along the shore, feeling the damp sand beneath her running shoes.

She thought about how this trip had brought her and Lingling even closer. It wasn’t just about the fun, the intimacy, or the breathtaking views—it was about them, about the way they fit together so effortlessly despite their different backgrounds.

After about forty minutes, she slowed down, taking in deep breaths as she cooled down with a walk. She spotted a small café near the resort that was just opening and decided to grab breakfast there.

By the time Orm returned, the scent of fresh pastries and coffee filled the villa. She carefully set the take outs down on the bedside table before sitting on the edge of the bed.

Lingling stirred at the smell, her nose twitching slightly before her eyes fluttered open. “Is that… coffee?” she asked groggily.

Orm chuckled. “It is. And breakfast. I got you those coconut pancakes you love.”

Lingling slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Orm handed her the coffee first, watching as she took a small sip, letting out a satisfied sigh.

“You’re the best,” Lingling mumbled sleepily.

Orm smirked. “I know.”

Lingling pulled Orm closer, capturing her lips in a slow, lazy kiss before trailing soft kisses down her neck. Orm sighed into the touch but suddenly pulled away, scrunching her nose. “Hey, I haven’t showered yet. I’m all sweaty from my run.”

Lingling smirked, resting her chin on Orm’s shoulder. “I don’t care,” she murmured, pulling Orm back into bed with her.

Orm chuckled, allowing herself to be dragged down. She ran her fingers through Lingling’s messy hair, admiring how effortlessly beautiful she looked in the morning light. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Lingling grinned. “And you love it.”

Orm teasingly brushed her lips over Lingling’s ear. “Since you don’t care that I’m all sweaty, does that mean we should shower together?”

Lingling narrowed her eyes at Orm. “You just want to turn this into something else.”

Orm gasped dramatically. “Me? No! I just thought we could conserve water. Be eco-friendly.”

Lingling rolled her eyes, picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip. “Orm, it’s too early for shower sex.”

Orm pouted like a child. “But I think I’m getting addicted to your body.” She leaned in closer, whispering, “Seeing you naked is my new favorite thing.”

Lingling nearly choked on her coffee. She placed the cup down and smacked Orm’s arm lightly. “I thought we were here to rest and relax?! I ended up being sore and restless.”

Orm sighed, flopping back onto the pillows. “Well, yeah… but you know,” she said, looking at Lingling with the most pitiful puppy eyes.

Lingling laughed, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

Orm reached out and pulled Lingling onto her chest. “Fine. No shower together—this time.”

Lingling made herself comfortable against Orm, resting her cheek on her collarbone. “Good.” she teased, making Orm groan.

They lay there for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet morning. The only sounds were the distant waves and the occasional chirping of birds outside.

Lingling ran her fingers lazily over Orm’s arm. “You know… you could bring me some fruits in bed. Since you love me so much.”

Orm playfully scoffed. “Excuse me? I already ran this morning and got you coffee and pancakes.”

Lingling sat up, crossing her arms. “So, you don’t love me?”

Orm groaned. “Oh my god, fine.” She kissed Lingling’s forehead and got out of bed. “I swear, you’re worse than my dad when it comes to demanding things.”

Lingling smirked. “That’s because you spoil me.”

Orm threw on a robe and headed to the kitchen. “Stay put, princess. Fruits is coming right up.”

A few minutes later, Orm returned with a tray full of fruits like mangoes and apples. She set it on the bed and climbed in beside Lingling.

Lingling’s eyes sparkled. “You really do love me.”

Orm rolled her eyes but smiled. “Yeah, yeah. Now eat before I change my mind.”

Lingling leaned over and kissed Orm’s cheek. “Thank you, baby.”

Orm grinned. “Anything for you.”

__________________

For the rest of their trip, Orm and Lingling fell into a blissful routine—waking up in each other’s arms, sharing lazy mornings in bed, indulging in stolen kisses between meals, and making love as if time didn’t exist. They swam in the crystal-clear waters, walked hand in hand along the shore, and watched the sunset with their fingers intertwined.

Every moment felt like a dream, a bubble they never wanted to burst.

At night, they’d sneak back to the bar, where Orm would do everything in her power to get Lingling tipsy again, just to see her loosen up and giggle at her every joke. Lingling, for her part, had never felt so carefree, so loved.

“I wish this trip would never end,” Lingling murmured one night, curled up against Orm on a lounge chair outside their villa.

Orm kissed her temple. “Then let’s make every second count.”

And they did.

From morning till night, their world consisted of only each other—soft laughter, deep kisses, whispered confessions.

But as their departure day crept closer, a bittersweet feeling lingered in the air. They both knew reality was waiting for them back home.

_________________

On their last day at Krabi. Orm and Lingling sat in the hotel lobby, waiting for their driver to take them to the airport. Lingling leaned into Orm’s side, resting her head on Orm’s shoulder.

“I don’t want to go back yet,” she sighed.

Orm chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind Lingling’s ear. “We can always come back. Or go somewhere else. Just say the word.”

Lingling smiled at the thought, but before she could respond, something—or rather, someone—caught her attention.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Charlotte?”

The woman in question, dressed in a casual sundress with sunglasses perched atop her head, turned around. As soon as she saw Lingling, her face lit up.

“Lingling? Oh my god!”

Before Orm could even process what was happening, Lingling was already up and embracing the stranger.

Orm remained seated, her expression neutral, but internally, she was assessing the situation. Who the hell is this woman? And how close were they?

Lingling pulled away, grinning. “What are you doing here?”

Charlotte laughed. “Vacation! Just got here yesterday. But wow, I can’t believe it’s really you! Where have you been all these years? You just disappeared back in Khon Kaen!”

At the mention of Khon Kaen, Orm’s ears perked up.

Lingling scratched the back of her head. “Yeah… life got busy. Had to work and all.”

She suddenly remembered Orm and turned to introduce her. “Oh! Charlotte, this is my girlfriend, Orm.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Girlfriend, huh? So someone finally tied you down.”

Orm’s eyes narrowed slightly. Finally?

Lingling groaned. “Don’t start, Char.”

Charlotte smirked and turned to Orm, extending a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Orm shook her hand, her grip firm. “Likewise.”

Charlotte’s gaze flicked back to Lingling. “We have to catch up before you leave.”

She then glanced at Orm with a playful glint in her eyes. “I’m stealing her for a bit, okay?”

Orm kept her smile polite, though she felt an odd pang of possessiveness. “Sure,” she said smoothly. Not like I have a choice, do I?

Orm sitting only a feet away from Lingling, pretending to scroll through her phone, but in reality, she was eavesdropping on the conversation. She kept her expression neutral, occasionally nodding or humming as if she wasn’t paying attention, but her ears were completely tuned in.

“So, you’re back in Bangkok?” Lingling asked, leaning forward with interest.

Charlotte nodded. “Yeah, been back for about two years now. I work at a law firm in the city. It’s been hectic, but I can’t complain.”

Orm’s eyes flicked up briefly. A lawyer? She studied Charlotte discreetly. The woman was confident, well-dressed, and clearly comfortable around Lingling. Orm didn’t like it.

Lingling smiled. “That’s amazing. I remember when you used to say you wanted to be a lawyer someday.”

Charlotte laughed. “Yeah, and you wanted to travel the world, remember?”

Lingling chuckled, a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, well, life had other plans.”

Charlotte sighed, giving her a soft smile. “It’s really good to see you. I mean it. It’s been so long.”

Orm cleared her throat, finally joining the conversation. “So, you two were childhood friends?”

Charlotte turned to her with a smile. “Yeah, we grew up in the same neighborhood. Our parents were friends, so naturally, we became friends too. We even went to the same high school, though I was 2 years ahead.”

Lingling nodded. “We lost touch when Charlotte’s dad got a job in UK. She moved there, and we just… drifted apart.”

Charlotte sighed. “I always meant to reconnect when I came back, but life got in the way.” She gave Orm a knowing look. “Guess I was a little too late, huh?” She jokingly said.

Orm kept her smile polite but firm. “Yeah, just a little.”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “Orm, stop acting like I have a scandalous past.”

Orm shrugged innocently. “Did I say anything?”

Charlotte laughed. “Don’t worry, Orm. Lingling and I were just childhood buddies. Nothing more.”

Orm raised an eyebrow. Nothing more? She wasn’t entirely convinced.

Before Orm could respond, their driver arrived, announcing it was time to leave for the airport.

Lingling turned to Charlotte. “We should catch up more in Bangkok. Let’s exchange numbers.”

Charlotte grinned. “Absolutely.”

While exchanging numbers, Orm took a deep breath, silently urging herself not to overanalyze. Yet, as they settled into the car, an unsettling thought lingered—she might have just met someone significant from Lingling’s past, perhaps even someone who once held a special place in her heart.

As they settled into the car heading to the airport, Orm was uncharacteristically quiet. She stared out the window, arms crossed, while Lingling scrolled through her phone. Normally, Orm would be chatting or teasing her, but now? Silence.

Lingling glanced at her girlfriend, then smirked. She reached over and pinched Orm’s cheek. “Hey, moody. What’s with the long face?”

Orm sighed and turned to her, her expression unreadable. “I’m jealous.”

Lingling raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Jealous? Because of Char?” She smirked. “Oh, you should be.”

Orm snapped her head toward Lingling, frowning. “What the hell?”

Lingling burst into laughter, leaning her head back against the seat. “I’m joking! Char and I are just old friends.” She paused for dramatic effect. “But… I did have a little crush on her back in high school.”

Orm narrowed her eyes. “Go on, Ling. This is getting interesting.”

Lingling grinned. “It was nothing serious. We were kids! And besides…” She turned to Orm, eyes gleaming. “I have a new crush now.”

Orm raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Who’s that?”

Lingling leaned closer and whispered, “Myself.”

Orm groaned. “You’re the worst.”

Lingling laughed. “Fine, fine. Obviously, my girlfriend. And I love her too much.” She kissed Orm’s cheek sweetly.

Orm pouted. “Good. Because your girlfriend is very possessive.”

Lingling giggled. “Oh, I know.”

________________

They arrived at the airport and quickly made their way to the VIP lounge. Orm was still oddly quiet, though now she was scrolling on her phone, pretending to be uninterested in whatever was happening around her.

Lingling eyed her suspiciously. “You’re still thinking about Charlotte, aren’t you?”

Orm huffed. “I don’t trust her.”

Lingling nearly choked on her coffee. “Seriously? What’s not to trust?”

Orm placed her phone down and crossed her arms. “She hugged you like you were long-lost lovers.”

Lingling rolled her eyes. “Orm, please. We grew up in the same neighborhood. We were close. That’s it.”

Orm remained unconvinced. “Still don’t like her.”

Lingling laughed and reached for Orm’s hand, squeezing it. “Baby, you’re being ridiculous. You don’t even know her.”

“I don’t need to,” Orm muttered, still pouting.

Lingling shook her head, amused. “Okay, jealous baby.”

Orm sat up straighter. “I am not jealous.”

Lingling sipped her coffee with a smirk. “Mhm. Sure.”

While waiting to board their flight, Orm gazed at her phone, lost in thought. If Charlotte had returned to Bangkok, she would be keeping a very close watch on her.