Chapter 25
It was already past one in the morning.
The entire VIP room glowed dimly beneath warm golden lights while muffled bass from downstairs vibrated faintly through the walls.
Rain continued pouring heavily outside the glass windows overlooking Phuket.
Inside the room-
Lingling was completely oblivious to everything around her.
Too drunk.
Too emotionally exhausted.
Too broken.
Her body leaned heavily against Jingjing on the velvet couch, head resting on her shoulder while one of her hands loosely clutched the sleeve of Jingjing's shirt unconsciously.
Jingjing looked down at her quietly.
And for a moment-
her chest tightened painfully.
Because even drunk, even emotionally destroyed, Lingling still looked devastatingly beautiful.
Her eyelashes rested softly against flushed cheeks.
Her lips parted slightly with every slow breath.
Several strands of hair fell messily across her forehead.
Beautiful.
But heartbreakingly fragile.
Jingjing gently brushed Lingling's hair away from her face.
Careful.
Tender.
And without realizing it-
her mind drifted back to two days ago.
The tourist boat.
The first moment she saw Lingling.
Jingjing still remembered how bored she had been that morning.
She originally boarded the island tour simply because one of her managers insisted she needed a vacation instead of drowning herself in work.
Then Lingling appeared.
Standing quietly near the railing while the ocean wind moved through her hair.
And somehow-
everybody else disappeared.
Jingjing found herself staring almost immediately.
Because Lingling possessed the kind of beauty that didn't even try.
Effortless.
Natural.
Dangerous.
Not flashy.
Not loud.
But impossible to ignore.
Throughout the boat ride, Jingjing kept secretly glancing toward her.
Watching the way Lingling silently admired the ocean.
The way she smiled politely whenever tourists accidentally bumped into her.
The way sunlight reflected against her skin.
Then they reached the swimming area.
And Jingjing almost got stung by a jellyfish.
Everything happened quickly after that.
One second she was laughing underwater.
Then suddenly-
a strong hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her hard against another body.
Lingling.
Jingjing still remembered the exact feeling of crashing against her chest beneath the seawater.
The warmth.
The safety.
The scent of saltwater and sunscreen.
And for the first time, Jingjing saw Lingling closely.
Really closely.
And honestly?
God clearly had favorites.
Bushy eyebrows that perfectly framed her face.
That tiny mole on her cheek making her look even more attractive somehow.
Sharp jawline.
Pointed nose.
Lips that looked sinful even underwater.
Beautifully handsome.
But it was her eyes that stayed inside Jingjing's mind afterward.
Because when Lingling looked at her-
those eyes looked empty.
Not cold.
Not emotionless.
Just... tired.
Like someone who spent years carrying grief alone.
Like someone who learned how to smile while secretly drowning.
Then the next day fate played another game.
Jingjing saw Lingling eating alone inside one of her restaurants.
So she personally served her banana cake she baked that morning.
They talked afterward.
Exchanged numbers.
Laughed a little.
And Jingjing remembered feeling strangely happy over something so simple.
Then later-
while walking through a quieter side of the island-
she saw Lingling again.
This time with a child.
Then came Orm.
And Sean.
And suddenly-
everything started making sense.
Now here they were two days after.
Two women sitting inside a luxurious VIP room at one in the morning.
One trying to survive heartbreak.
The other trying not to fall for someone emotionally unavailable.
Jingjing looked down at Lingling again.
Then whispered softly without realizing it-
"How could Orm not see you the way everyone else does?"
Lingling shifted slightly in her sleep, unconsciously moving closer toward her warmth.
Jingjing's chest ached.
"You're too precious to be this devastated," she murmured quietly while brushing Lingling's hair again.
"And honestly... too good-looking to cry over someone for four whole years."
A sudden knock interrupted her thoughts.
Jingjing lifted her head.
"Come in."
The door opened slightly before one of the waiters stepped inside respectfully.
"Boss," he said carefully. "There's a beautiful woman looking for you downstairs. She said her name is Orm."
Jingjing's brows lifted slightly.
Then she glanced down toward the sleeping Lingling.
"...Oh."
A pause.
Then finally-
"Lead her here."
The waiter nodded before disappearing again.
Several minutes later-
the door opened once more.
And Orm walked inside.
For a second-
even Jingjing understood why Lingling never moved on.
Orm looked breathtaking.
Tight jeans hugging her figure perfectly.
A soft sleeveless blouse slightly loose around her body.
Her hair cascading beautifully down her shoulders and back.
Elegant heels.
Matching bag.
Simple.
Classy.
Beautiful in a painful kind of way.
The moment Orm entered the room-
her eyes immediately landed on Lingling.
And never left.
Jingjing noticed it instantly.
That look.
That devastating look.
Like Orm had finally found something she spent years searching for.
Orm bowed politely afterward.
"Good morning Ms. Yu."
"Good morning too. Have a seat, Ms. Orm," Jingjing replied calmly.
Orm slowly walked closer.
Careful.
Almost hesitant.
Like she was afraid Lingling might disappear if she moved too quickly.
Then finally she sat across from them, eyes still fixed on Lingling resting against Jingjing's shoulder.
"Thank you," Orm whispered softly.
Her gaze softened painfully afterward.
"Did she pass out drunk?"
Jingjing chuckled lightly.
"Completely."
She adjusted Lingling more comfortably against her shoulder.
"She kept drinking like she was competing in some alcohol marathon."
A small smile appeared briefly on Jingjing's lips.
"She even wanted to go back downstairs and dance again. I refused because women kept throwing themselves at her every five seconds."
Orm visibly stiffened.
Jingjing noticed immediately.
"She's a real magnet," Jingjing added casually while fixing Lingling's hair gently.
Orm swallowed hard afterward.
Her fingers clenched tightly against her lap.
Jealousy.
Again.
Raw.
Barely hidden.
"Do you want a drink?" Jingjing offered politely.
Orm shook her head lightly.
"I'm driving."
Then quietly-
"But thank you."
Silence settled briefly afterward.
Rain continued pouring outside the bar.
The steady sound of water striking the windows blended with the distant rumble of thunder, wrapping the room in a strange kind of loneliness.
At the couch, Lingling slept peacefully against Jingjing's shoulder.
Completely drunk.
Completely exhausted.
Completely unaware of the emotional storm raging only a few feet away.
Jingjing adjusted Lingling's position carefully so she wouldn't wake up.
Then she leaned back against the booth.
Her gaze shifted toward Orm.
"So," she said quietly, breaking the suffocating silence. "It's already one in the morning."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why are you here, Orm?"
The question was simple.
Yet it felt like a knife sliding directly into Orm's chest.
Orm opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
She swallowed.
Tried again.
Still nothing.
Because suddenly—
memories came rushing back.
Too many.
Too fast.
And before she knew it, she was no longer sitting inside the bar.
Her mind dragged her backward.
Back to earlier that night.
11 PM.
The hotel room.
Liam had already fallen asleep beside her.
Curled beneath the blanket with his stuffed dinosaur tucked against his chest.
The room was dark except for the warm glow of the bedside lamp.
But Orm couldn't sleep.
For two nights now, she hadn't been able to.
Every time she closed her eyes—
she saw Lingling.
Standing barefoot on the beach.
The ocean behind her.
The sunset painting gold across her skin.
Looking heartbreakingly beautiful.
Looking heartbreakingly familiar.
Looking at her the exact same way she used to years ago.
Like love had never really left.
And every single time Orm remembered that moment, her chest tightened until she could barely breathe.
Because for one terrifying second that afternoon—
she genuinely thought she was hallucinating.
She thought her grief had finally become cruel enough to take shape.
After all, there had been countless nights over the past four years when she dreamed of seeing Lingling again.
Dreams so vivid.
So real.
That waking up afterward felt like losing her all over again.
There were nights she swore she heard Lingling's laugh in crowded restaurants.
Days she found herself turning around because someone wore the same perfume.
Moments her fingers reached for her phone before reality reminded her there was no number left to call.
No messages waiting.
No missed calls.
No Lingling.
Just silence.
Four years of silence.
And yet somehow...
her heart never learned how to live with it.
Orm squeezed her eyes shut.
Fresh tears burned behind them.
Then came the memories she had spent four years desperately trying to bury.
The letter.
The confession letter Lingling never intended for her to read.
The letter she had found by accident.
The letter that revealed everything.
Every feeling.
Every hope.
Every dream Lingling had hidden inside her heart.
Orm remembered sitting on the floor that night.
Reading every word.
Crying through every page.
Realizing far too late how deeply she had been loved.
Then came another memory.
Khon Kaen.
The most beautiful night of her life.
The night they finally stopped running.
Stopped pretending.
Stopped fighting what had always existed between them.
For one perfect night, there had been no fear.
No doubts.
No expectations.
No future.
Just two people hopelessly in love.
Two hearts finally choosing each other.
Orm remembered the way Lingling had looked at her.
Like she was something precious.
Something worth protecting.
Something worth waiting for.
And for a few fleeting hours...
they had belonged to each other completely.
The memory shattered her.
Because she remembered what came after.
Bangkok.
Her condominium.
Weeks later.
The night everything died.
Lingling had come to fight for them.
To fight for their love.
To fight for a future together.
A future Orm secretly wanted too.
But fate had already cornered her by then.
Sean.
The engagement.
The pregnancy.
Six weeks.
Orm still remembered the exact moment Lingling found out.
The exact second her world collapsed.
The devastation in Lingling's eyes.
The disbelief.
The betrayal.
The heartbreak.
It wasn't anger that haunted Orm.
It was worse.
It was watching the woman she loved break apart right in front of her.
And knowing she was the one holding the hammer.
A tear slid down her cheek.
Then another.
Then another.
—
Yesterday she had been searching frantically for Liam.
Running across the beach for almost an hour.
Calling his name until her throat hurt.
Fear clawing through her entire body.
Then she saw them.
A woman standing near the shoreline.
A child beside her.
Just a silhouette against the ocean.
But Orm knew immediately.
Even after four years.
Even from behind.
She knew.
Her heart had recognized Lingling long before her eyes did.
Then she called Liam out.
Lingling turned around.
And suddenly the impossible became real.
Again.
Lingling had found Liam.
Lingling had protected him.
Lingling had helped her.
Immediately.
Without hesitation.
Despite everything.
Despite what Orm had done.
Despite how badly she'd hurt her.
Lingling still helped.
That alone nearly broke her.
But what truly shattered her came afterward.
Sean founded them and had reached for her hand.
A casual gesture.
Something normal.
Yet Orm hadn't missed it.
The subtle flinch.
The tiny stiffness in Lingling's shoulders.
The way her smile faltered for half a second.
Almost invisible.
Almost insignificant.
Yet Orm saw it.
And somehow...
that hurt even more.
Because it meant Lingling still reacted.
Still felt something.
Still wasn't completely indifferent.
And selfishly—
a part of Orm hated herself for finding comfort in that.
Then came Jingjing.
The bar owner.
Watching Lingling standing closely beside her.
Watching Jingjing naturally lean into Lingling's space.
Watching Lingling allow it.
Comfortably.
Easily.
Like she belonged there.
Like she was happy.
Like she had finally found a place where her heart could rest.
And Orm hated how jealous it made her feel.
Because she had no right.
None.
Not anymore.
Then fate decided to twist the knife deeper.
The breakfast restaurant this morning, Liam found Lingling standing on the counter ordering her breakfast.
Then their tables practically beside each other.
Liam happily talking while Orm found herself stealing glances across the room.
Watching Lingling eat alone.
Watching the sunlight touch her face.
Watching her smile at something on her phone.
Watching her exist.
As if four years had never happened.
As if four years had happened all at once.
Then Mint arrived.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Successful.
The lawyer.
The woman who admired Lingling years ago.
The woman who attended Lingling's birthday in Khon Kaen.
The woman Junji and Fluke had once tried setting up with her.
The same woman who kissed Lingling goodbye before leaving Khon Kaen.
Orm remembered all of it.
Unfortunately.
Painfully.
She remembered everything.
And now she watched them sit together.
Close.
Comfortable.
Natural.
They laughed.
Talked.
Shared stories.
Shared familiarity.
And God—
they looked good together.
Too good.
Like two people moving in the same direction.
Like two people who hadn't destroyed each other.
Like two people who still had a chance.
Orm had smiled politely through breakfast.
But inside—
something quietly broke.
Again.
Because grief didn't care about timing.
And neither did love.
Because despite everything—
despite four years.
Despite the distance.
Despite the mistakes.
Despite the life she had built.
A part of Orm still belonged to Lingling.
She knew it.
Deep down.
In the most painful corner of her heart.
A stubborn part.
A foolish part.
A broken part.
The part that never learned how to say goodbye.
The part that never stopped waiting.
Across the restaurant—
as if sensing her gaze—
Lingling looked up.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
One fragile.
Dangerous.
Beautiful second.
The entire restaurant disappeared.
The conversations.
The clinking glasses.
The footsteps.
The laughter.
Everything faded into nothing.
There was only Lingling.
And those eyes.
Those familiar eyes.
Eyes that had once known every version of her.
Eyes that had seen her at her best.
At her worst.
Eyes that once looked at her like she was home.
Orm felt something crack open inside her chest.
Because for one terrifying second—
she wanted to run back.
She wanted to cross the room.
She wanted to ask if it was too late.
If there was still a place for her somewhere inside Lingling's heart.
If Lingling ever missed her too.
If Lingling still thought about that night.
If Lingling still remembered them.
But what right did she have?
What right?
Everything that happened was her fault.
She was the one who let fear win.
The one who let circumstances decide for her.
The one who stood still while the love of her life walked away bleeding.
She was the one who lost Lingling.
No one else.
Just her.
Orm's chest tightened painfully at the realization.
Because the cruelest part wasn't losing Lingling.
The cruelest part was knowing Lingling had once stayed.
Had once fought.
Had once chosen her.
And Orm had still let her slip away.
Orm's chest tightened again remembering it.
Then her phone suddenly dinged.
An Instagram story.
One of her old friends partying inside a famous Phuket bar.
Orm barely paid attention at first-
until a familiar face appeared briefly in the middle of the video.
Lingling.
Dancing.
Women surrounding her.
Laughing faintly.
Beautiful under flashing lights.
Orm replayed the video again.
And again.
And again.
Her chest started hurting.
Then she immediately messaged her friend.
"What bar is this?"
"Is that really Lingling Kwong?"
The reply came instantly.
"Yes omg she's gorgeous in person."
Then another message arrived.
Photos.
Several photos.
One showed Lingling and Jingjing standing extremely close together.
Another angle looked almost like they were kissing.
Orm's heart nearly stopped.
Something sharp and unbearable crashed violently inside her chest.
Jealousy.
Fear.
Regret.
Panic.
All at once.
She suddenly couldn't breathe properly.
Before thinking further, Orm grabbed her keys and dialed Sean immediately while changing clothes frantically.
"Sean?" she said shakily. "Can you pick Liam up from my room? Let him sleep with you tonight."
A pause.
Then-
"Oh. Okay. I'll come now."
And now—
here she was.
Sitting across from Jingjing.
Watching Lingling sleep peacefully against another woman.
For a moment, Orm couldn't breathe.
The bar around them faded into nothing but distant noise. The laughter downstairs, the music, the soft clinking of glasses—it all disappeared beneath the crushing weight in her chest.
Because Lingling looked comfortable.
Safe.
At peace.
The kind of peace Orm had once believed belonged to her.
The kind of peace she had thrown away.
Lingling's head rested against Jingjing's shoulder, her features softened by sleep. Her breathing was slow and even, her fingers loosely curled around Jingjing's sleeve as if seeking comfort unconsciously.
And God.
That simple gesture hurt more than any punishment Orm could have imagined.
Because four years ago, that had been her place.
Her shoulder.
Her hand.
Her person.
But time had moved on.
And maybe Lingling had, too.
"Orm?"
Jingjing's voice pulled her back.
"You okay there?"
Orm blinked rapidly.
Only then realizing she'd been staring.
"Yeah."
The lie came out barely above a whisper.
"I'm okay."
But she wasn't.
She hadn't been okay for four years.
A silence settled between them.
Orm stared down at her trembling hands.
She knew she shouldn't ask.
She knew she had no right.
Yet the question had been eating her alive ever since she saw them together on the beach.
Ever since she saw Lingling smiling at someone else.
Ever since she realized she wasn't the center of Lingling's world anymore.
And so, gathering every ounce of courage she had left—
"Can I ask you something?"
Jingjing nodded.
"Sure."
Orm swallowed.
Her throat felt painfully tight.
Then finally—
"Are you and Lingling dating?"
The question hung heavily between them.
Jingjing slowly raised an eyebrow.
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Oh?"
There was amusement in her voice.
"And if we are?"
Her eyes locked onto Orm's.
Sharp.
Knowing.
"Why does it concern you?"
The question landed exactly where it was meant to.
Orm immediately looked away.
Ashamed.
Embarrassed.
Because what answer could she possibly give?
That she still loved Lingling?
That she had never stopped?
That every single day for four years she had lived with a hole inside her chest shaped exactly like the woman sleeping beside them?
"I just..."
Her voice cracked.
"I just want to know if someone's taking care of her."
Jingjing stared at her for a long moment.
Then she laughed softly.
Not mockingly.
Just knowingly.
"She deserves top-tier treatment, honestly."
Her fingers absentmindedly intertwined with Lingling's sleeping hand.
A simple gesture.
Yet Orm felt as though someone had pressed a knife into her ribs.
"Half the women downstairs have already been trying to win her heart tonight."
Jingjing smiled.
"And honestly? I don't blame them."
Her eyes softened as she looked at Lingling.
"Whoever gets to love her someday will be insanely lucky."
Orm's breathing faltered.
Every word felt like another crack forming inside her chest.
Because she knew.
God, she knew.
She had known since she was seventeen years old.
Known since the first time Lingling smiled at her.
Known since the first time Lingling held her hand.
Known since the first time Lingling looked at her like she was the most important person in the world.
"You see," Jingjing continued softly, "she's successful, kind, loving..."
A small laugh escaped her.
"And ridiculously beautiful. It's honestly unfair."
As if hearing her name being praised, Lingling shifted slightly in her sleep.
Then unconsciously moved closer toward Jingjing.
Seeking warmth.
Seeking comfort.
Seeking someone.
The sight nearly destroyed Orm.
Because once upon a time—
Lingling used to reach for her like that.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
Without fear.
If only she had been brave enough.
If only she had chosen love.
If only she hadn't convinced herself that sacrificing her own happiness was the right thing to do.
Maybe none of this would have happened.
Maybe they would still be together.
Maybe Lingling would still be hers.
Jingjing's expression slowly changed.
The amusement disappeared.
What remained was something colder.
Something protective.
Because after hearing Lingling's story earlier, Jingjing had reached one conclusion.
This woman had broken Lingling's heart.
And Lingling still wasn't fully healed from it.
"Honestly, Orm," Jingjing said quietly.
"You don't need to come here checking on her."
Her gaze sharpened.
"You have a family now."
The words struck like a slap.
"Let her heart rest."
A pause.
"She endured enough heartaches from you."
Orm closed her eyes.
Because Jingjing wasn't wrong.
No matter how many explanations existed.
No matter how complicated the circumstances had been.
The truth remained the same.
Lingling had loved her.
And Orm had left.
That was the wound Lingling carried.
And that was the wound Orm would spend the rest of her life regretting.
"I know I hurt her."
The confession came out broken.
Raw.
"More than anyone probably realizes."
Tears slowly gathered in her eyes.
"And I still carry that guilt every single day."
Her voice trembled.
Every word scraped against her throat.
"But please..."
She looked up.
Pain shining openly in her eyes.
"Don't talk like you know the entire story."
Jingjing leaned back.
Then smirked.
"Oh."
A small pause.
"Feisty."
Despite herself, Orm almost laughed.
Almost.
Then Jingjing's expression softened.
"Honestly?"
She sighed.
"After I saw you on the beach, I knew immediately."
Orm frowned slightly.
"Knew what?"
Jingjing's eyes found hers.
"That you still love her."
The words shattered every wall Orm had spent years building.
Because they were true.
Painfully.
Hopelessly.
Unchangeably true.
"But Orm," Jingjing continued carefully, "you can't have her if you're still tied up with Sean."
Every muscle in Orm's body tightened.
Her chest ached.
"Four years have passed."
Jingjing's voice remained calm.
"That should've been enough time to figure things out."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
"And if you're going to hurt her again..."
Jingjing looked down at the sleeping woman beside her.
Her voice became almost a whisper.
"Think very carefully first."
Another pause.
Then—
"Because this time..."
Her eyes returned to Orm.
"She might not survive it anymore."
Something inside Orm finally broke.
The tears she'd been holding back spilled freely.
One after another.
Relentless.
"I know."
Her voice shook violently.
"I know."
She wiped at her face.
It didn't help.
More tears kept falling.
"And people can hate me for that."
A bitter laugh escaped her.
"Even you."
She looked down.
Unable to stop crying now.
"If I could go back and change everything..."
Her voice cracked.
"I would."
God.
She would.
She would go back to every single moment.
Every wrong choice.
Every goodbye.
Every decision made out of fear.
She would tear them apart with her bare hands if it meant getting Lingling back.
"And now that life somehow gave me another chance..."
Her lips trembled.
"I don't want to lose it again."
Jingjing stared at her.
Really stared at her.
Examining every crack.
Every scar.
Every ounce of regret.
And what she found there wasn't manipulation.
Wasn't selfishness.
Wasn't obsession.
It was grief.
Years and years of grief.
Then finally—
Jingjing nodded.
"Okay."
The tension eased slightly.
"So..."
She glanced down at Lingling.
"Are you taking her home?"
A beat.
"Or should I?"
Orm stood immediately.
Almost too quickly.
As if afraid the opportunity might disappear.
Slowly, she walked over.
Then crouched beside Lingling.
Her hands trembled.
Her heart trembled even more.
Carefully—
almost reverently—
she brushed a strand of hair away from Lingling's face.
Then gently touched her cheek.
And God.
The moment her skin met Lingling's—
everything hurt.
Because after four years...
After all the distance.
After all the heartbreak.
After all the nights spent missing her—
Lingling still felt like home.
Jingjing quietly helped her lift Lingling afterward.
Together, they guided her downstairs.
Through the quiet lobby.
Through the cool Phuket night.
Until they finally settled Lingling safely into the passenger seat of Orm's car.
Rain had begun to fall.
Soft at first.
Then heavier.
The city lights blurred against the wet windshield, turning Phuket into a watercolor painting of gold and silver.
Before closing the passenger door, Jingjing turned toward Orm.
The rain dampened her hair slightly.
"Thank you for taking care of her tonight," Orm said sincerely.
Jingjing crossed her arms.
"It was my pleasure."
Then she grew quiet.
Thoughtful.
"I don't know your side, Orm."
A pause.
"But I can see how those four years devastated you too."
Orm lowered her gaze.
"Fix this, Orm."
Jingjing's voice softened.
"And I hope your love somehow saves you and Lingling."
Rain continued falling around them.
Steady.
Gentle.
"May it carry you both toward healing."
Orm felt her throat tighten again.
Then Jingjing smirked.
Just slightly.
"Just a reminder."
Orm looked up.
"If you hurt her again..."
Jingjing pointed toward Lingling.
"There are plenty of people willing to love her properly."
A small laugh escaped her.
"And honestly?"
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
"If you mess this up again, I won't hesitate."
Orm blinked.
Jingjing grinned.
"I'll be very brave and take Lingling from you."
A pause.
"I'd even compete with Mint and every other woman waiting for their chance."
Despite the ache inside her chest, Orm smiled weakly.
"I know."
Her voice came out soft.
"Thank you, Jingjing."
And somehow—
that hurt even more.
Because for the first time in four years—
she finally understood something she had never allowed herself to think about.
Lingling no longer belonged only to her memories.
No longer belonged only to the version of them that existed in the past.
Other people saw her now.
Admired her.
Wanted her.
Could love her.
Just like Orm once had.
Just like Orm still did.
And the realization terrified her.
Because again like in the past, losing Lingling wasn't just a memory anymore.
It was a possibility.
A very real one.
Orm thanked Jingjing one last time before climbing into the driver's seat.
Then slowly—
she drove into the pouring Phuket rain.
With Lingling asleep quietly beside her.