Orbit

🎵

As the muffled sounds of festival rumbled through the walls, Namtan let out a long breath and slouched against the wall. "Well, looks like we're stuck here until God-knows-when. Might as well make the most of it."

Film tilted her head, her glasses slightly slipping down the bridge of her nose. "What does that mean?" she questions softly.

"It means we're going to have fun." Namtan's smile was wide and mischievous. "Or at least as much fun as two strangers handcuffed together in this freaking broom closet can have."

Film stared at her, unblinking. "That's rather concerning."

"Don't knock it until you try it, Nong"

The younger girl hesitated for a bit, but caved in later on.

They had nothing better to do anyway.

The fluorescent light buzzed softly above them, casting an unflattering glow over the cramped booth. Namtan tapped her fingers against her knee, thinking of something as it is her turn in playing "I spy". A good hour and a half had passed since they'd been locked up, they resorted to playing this little game to kill time.

Film looks at her expectantly.

"Hmm, I spy with my little eye - floodwater but make it tasty" says Namtan, she gives Film a sly, taunting smile.

"It's that half-full Thai tea drink" Film said, smiling and points to the drink on top of the teacher's table. Namtan's little ice breaker worked its magic as Film is slowly emerging from her high walls.

"Tsk. Smartypants. Fine, your turn" Namtan rolls her eyes.

Film giggles in return. Eyes disappearing into thin crescents; her face showing pair of whisker dimples.

Oh?

Those dimples.

They're cute.

Namtan thinks to herself. Film's laugh was soft and a little raspy, it scratches Namtan's brain in a good way.

"I spy with my little eye - something 'convenient' lying around" by this Film meant the empty 7-11 convenience store plastic bag by the trash bin.

"Convenient..." Namtan ponders and looks around the room. She points to a discarded subway card by the floor which earns her a shake of the head from Film. Namtan sighs and keeps repeating the word 'convenient' to herself while continuing to search through the room. She turns around and spots the trash bin.

"Oh!!! It's that thing!" shouts Namtan.

She finally sees the plastic bag and out of excitement she points it out using her hand that was handcuffed together with Film's and as a result, accidentally yanks the younger girl towards her and they both stumble on the floor with Film on top of her, their faces only inches away from each other.

A fuzzy, electric jolt shots through Namtan's body while her hands hold Film by the waist as a result of the fall. Normally, this isn't something that she feels; she has never been nervous about being affectionate towards her friends - especially her female friends, she could flirt and do skinship with them all day long like it's no big deal.

But for the first time in a long time, she feels shyness; she feels her palms sweating and a breath stuck in her throat.

Was it because Film is a stranger?

Or was it because this Film laughs adorably and has a pair of beautiful, doe-like eyes, now that Namtan notices as she unembarrassedly locks eyes with the girl on top of her.

"I spy with my little eye - something cute and red..." Namtan slowly whispers. Her eyes never leaving Film's face.

Film was already holding on for dear life with the way she's positioned on top of Namtan, it does not help that she's an introvert who's not used to physical contact. Her heart feels like a caged animal wanting to flee.

With heavy and jagged breathing, Film dares to lock eyes with the girl she's pinning down on the floor, her eyes travel down to Namtan's pointed nose and then to her plump, dewy lips.

"...Is it my hair tie?" Film murmurs. Recollecting Namtan's question.

"No"

"...it's your cheeks" Namtan mumbles as she gazes softly at Film and as if by reflex, her free hand caresses those cheeks, glowing in a rosy hue despite the dimness in the room. It was but a moment until Film couldn't keep up with it and adjusts herself away from Namtan, averts her gaze elsewhere as they sit together side by side.

Silence fills the room but they can't deny each other's frantic heartbeats.

Minutes passed in silence as both of them are lost in their own thoughts. None of them ever imagined a random school festival day to turn out like this. Both are in their own unchartered territory. Namtan being embarrassed and at a loss for words and Film in close proximity to the point of an embrace.

This deafening silence was broken as Namtan's stomach started to grumble in protest.

Film looked at her, surprised but amused. She looked down, biting her lips to suppress a laugh while Namtan scratches her head and smiles to herself.

"I guess we somehow need to find a way to eat" Film was the first one to break the silence.

"Me and my stomach are with you on that" Namtan agrees while pointing at her belly.

Film finally lets out a full-on, hearty laughter that she's been suppressing. She just met this girl today, but her voice, her laughter was already music to the older girl's ears.

Somehow Namtan decides that this day wasn't so bad after all.

- 🐥See you on the next chapter 🐼-