Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Orm Kornnaphat was euphoric—she had just stepped out from her screen test for Channel 3’s new drama and got the part. She would be playing Engfa, a young woman seduced by her teacher, who falls in love with her best friend and is pushed to marry a man her family chose.

“Lingling Kwoooong!” Orm called out, seeing her best friend and roommate stepping out of another room. The brunette jumped, surprised, and braced herself for being attacked with a bear hug. “How did it go? Did you get the part?”

Lingling pretended she was upset, but a smile soon appeared on her lips. “Yes! I’ll be playing your best friend in the drama!”

Orm screamed, still holding Lingling in her arms as she jumped up and down. “We’re going to have our breakthrough together! Soon, our faces will be all over Thailand!”

“Calm down, Orm! We still have a lot of work to do,” Lingling said, patting her head to try and keep her still.

They had met in acting class at university. Lingling was 24, studying tourism, while Orm, just 20, was pursuing a degree in economics. However, both of them dreamed of being actresses and had spent the last two years bonding over theater classes, tough exams, late-night coffee sessions trying to catch up on coursework, and occasionally partying - because they were still young.

Orm had found herself falling in love with Lingling Kwong, bit by bit. She kept dreaming about kissing her best friend and wondering if the world would finally turn to color.

In this world, everyone was born unable to see color. They spent their lives seeing everything in black, white, and maybe grey. People got used to it, but always wondered what those who had found their soulmates— like Orm’s parents —actually saw.
Only a kiss from your soulmate could change that.

“We’ll celebrate tonight!” Orm proposed, steering her thoughts away before she did something impulsive. “I’ll call the rest of the gang and we’ll meet at the university bar.”

“Okay! Who are you calling?” Lingling asked, pulling her by the waist as they walked out of the building.

“Prig, Junji, Kwang, and Ying,” Orm replied.

“Ying?” Lingling pouted at the name.

“Yes, she’s my friend, Ling. I don’t know why you don’t like her,” Orm said, watching her face.

“Because she’s overly flirty and makes everyone uncomfortable,” Lingling muttered, leaning against her car as they arrived.

“It’s just a joke — don’t get upset with her,” Orm said, nudging her shoulder playfully. “You’re just jealous because you get less attention from men when she’s around.”

“That’s not the problem!” Lingling snorted.

“It’s okay, you’re prettier than her! You just need to be more confident and outgoing,” Orm advised.

Lingling gave her a pointed look. Orm completely missed the real issue. But Lingling wasn’t about to confess that the real reason she didn’t like Ying was that she flirted with Orm.

“Okay, call whoever you want,” Lingling said, opening the car door. She had to head to the library instead of going home with her roommate. “See you later.”

“Yes! See you later, Jie!” Orm called. “Remember to dress sluttier!”

Orm could see Lingling’s cheeks darken inside the car—she was blushing from the joke.

-o-

Orm chose a strapless dress, tight enough to show off her curvy body, barely reaching mid-thigh. It was black — like all her clothes — since she couldn’t see any other colors.

The blonde was sure her outfit would bother her best friend. Lingling was conservative when it came to revealing clothes, always spending time judging Orm’s choices and sometimes even trying to cover her up. But Orm wanted to celebrate, and she had something else in mind that night.

As expected, when Lingling saw her stepping out of her room, she just sighed. Orm found it funny how she could always predict her reactions.

Their group picked a table by the window at the bar, where they could watch the dance floor but still be close to the bar. Orm started with tequila - three shots down before they even exchanged three words.

“Easy, Orm,” Lingling said, taking the fourth shot from her hand. Of course, the blonde noticed her best friend already glancing disapprovingly at her dress.

“We’re celebrating, Lingling Kwong!” Orm said, slinging her arms around her neck and whispering in her ear. “I have something else I want to accomplish tonight.”

“What?” Lingling asked, curious.

“I need to kiss women. More than one, at least,” Orm confessed.

“Why?” Kwang asked, since Orm hadn’t realized the whole table was listening.

“My character in the show kisses at least three different men,” Orm told them. “I’ve only kissed two women in my life — what kind of lesbian am I if I end up kissing more men than women?”

“This sounds fun!” Prig laughed, high-fiving her.

“This doesn’t make sense,” Lingling said at the same time.

“Don’t be a buzzkill,” Orm grinned at Lingling, then looked over her shoulder. She took the fourth cup from Lingling’s hand and drank it. “I see my first victim.”

Lingling watched Orm walk up to a beautiful woman with long curly hair and an easy, cute smile.

Unable to watch any longer, Lingling turned back to the table and downed the tequila shot her best friend had left behind. When she glanced back, Orm was already making out with the woman, and Lingling’s stomach twisted with jealousy.

“You should tell her how you feel,” Junji said, noticing her discomfort while the rest of the group watched Orm.

“Orm’s younger. She should meet more people,” Lingling said, trying to hide her sorrow. “Besides, we’re roommates. It would get weird.”

“But she likes you,” Junji replied gently.

“It’s not what it seems,” Lingling muttered, glancing over her shoulder again to see Orm still kissing the woman.

The night was supposed to be about celebrating Lingling and Orm’s achievement, but it quickly turned into a funeral for Lingling’s heart. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to leave, not without knowing Orm was safe.

So, she started drinking for real, especially after Orm kissed the second and third women. The alcohol numbed the ache, and soon Lingling found herself dancing, joking, and enjoying the night with her friends.

Then Ying arrived, later than everyone else. Orm, clearly thrilled, pulled her onto the dance floor. They started moving to the beat, bodies too close for comfort.

The next time Lingling looked at them, Orm and Ying were kissing, way too intensely in the middle of the crowd. Ying’s hand had crept up Orm’s thigh, nearly under her dress, reaching a place that was supposed to be private.

“Hell no!” Lingling’s blood boiled. The alcohol made her more impulsive.

She stormed across the dance floor, grabbed Orm’s arm, and yanked her away mid-kiss. The blonde yelped in surprise as Lingling dragged her toward the bathroom, leaving an infuriated Ying behind. Her grip was like iron.

“What the hell, Ling?” Orm yelled as they stopped in front of the sink, catching her roommate’s eyes in the mirror.

“That’s enough for tonight, Orm!” Lingling shouted back, her cheeks burning with rage.

“Says who?” Orm crossed her arms, turning to face her. Even drunk and annoyed, she couldn’t help but think Lingling looked beautiful when she was angry.

“Me!” Lingling snapped, the alcohol stripping away all her filters.

“I don’t care if you’re old-school. I’m just having fun,” Orm snapped back, her bratty tone taking over.

“But you were kissing Ying…” Lingling’s fury began to fade.

“I don’t know what your problem with her is, but you need to stop,” Orm snapped, her voice sharp with irritation. “I wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to kiss me. I don’t owe you anything, you’re not my girlfriend.”

Lingling’s brain gave her two options: walk out of the bathroom and ignore Orm for the rest of the night, or slap Ying in the face like she had been wanting to for months.

But her body chose a third, secret option: she grabbed Orm, pushed her against the wall, and kissed her.

At first, Orm was too stunned to respond. She had dreamed about this moment for so long, but never truly believed it would happen. Lingling pressed her harder into the wall, and that snapped Orm out of her shock; she kissed back with growing warmth.

Encouraged, Lingling deepened the kiss, parting her lips and teasing Orm’s with her tongue. Orm responded in kind, and soon their tongues tangled in a passionate battle, exploring this new and electric connection.

They only broke apart when they ran out of air. Lingling was the first to open her eyes, greeted by the sight of Orm: flushed cheeks, tousled hair, and parted lips panting softly.

Then Orm opened her eyes too, and Lingling froze.

There, in Orm’s irises, was a gleaming shade of gold, the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.

And that’s when Lingling realized: she could see colors. The red in Orm’s cheeks, the blue of the wall behind them, the soft pink hue of the sink. For the first time in her life, everything wasn’t just black, white, or gray.

The truth hit her like a wrecking ball.

Orm Kornnaphat — her best friend, her roommate — was her soulmate.

“Orm? Did something change for you too?” Lingling asked, searching Orm’s face for a sign.

But her expression had shifted. Lingling didn’t know the name for the color she was seeing now, but Orm’s face had turned a distinct shade of green.

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Orm groaned.

Lingling quickly pulled her to the toilet, holding her hair back just in time for Orm to throw up everything she had consumed that night. It took at least five long minutes for her to empty her stomach — then she passed out in Lingling’s arms.

The brunette dragged her back to their table, now surrounded by a whirlwind of colors she couldn’t focus on, because all she could think about was Orm.

“Prig, call us a car,” Lingling said, trying to rouse Orm enough to get some water into her.

“What happened?” Prig asked, already pulling out her phone. She was the only sober one in the group.

“She passed out after vomiting,” Lingling said bluntly. “I need to get her home.”

With the help of Kwang and Prig, they managed to get Orm out of the bar. Orm kept mumbling complaints the entire way, at least that meant she was still alive. Lingling insisted on staying up to watch over her.

They managed to wake Orm enough to get her under a cold shower, then dressed her in pajamas and fed her a little food before tucking her into bed. Prig left after making sure everything was settled.

“You should lie down with her. That chair will kill your back,” Prig said as Lingling got comfortable in the armchair beside Orm’s bed.

“I’m fine here,” Lingling replied. Sleeping in the same bed as her soulmate—before even having a proper conversation about it—felt like crossing a line she wasn’t ready for.

“Okay,” Prig said, raising an eyebrow. “Call me if you need anything.”

-o-

When Orm opened her eyes the next morning, she noticed two things: the unbearable headache pounding in her skull, and—for the first time in her life—the colors of her room.

She could see the pink bedsheets her mother had picked out, the rich brown wood of her desk, and the burnt orange of the armchair where Lingling was fast asleep in an awkward position.

“Oh fuck! What did I do?” Orm muttered, cursing her previous self.

She tried to piece together the events of the night before, but only fragments came back to her. There was drinking, some dancing, a few blurry flashes of kissing strangers… but none of their faces were clear. How was she supposed to know who had awakened her world in color?

“Orm? How are you feeling?” Lingling’s voice pulled her out of her daze. She had woken up and was watching her carefully.

“Lingling Kwong,” Orm replied, trying to come up with something clever, but failing. “I feel like shit.”

“Why?” Lingling asked with a quiet laugh, and Orm’s heart skipped a beat.

The thought crept into her mind: What if it was Ling who kissed me? But she quickly pushed it away. If Lingling Kwong had kissed her, she would remember it, for sure.*

“My head hurts, and my mouth feels like I ate sand,” Orm groaned. “Also, I can see colors now—and I don’t remember anything from last night.”

She sat up and stared at Lingling, who was now giving her a strange, funny and unreadable look.

“You don’t remember anything?” Lingling asked, doing her best to keep her tone neutral.

“Just bits and pieces. Drinking, dancing, kissing some people… but I can’t remember their faces or anything else,” Orm grumbled. “How the hell am I supposed to know who my soulmate is? Did you see how many people I kissed last night?”

“Five women,” Lingling replied flatly.

“Well… at least it was a woman,” Orm sighed, slumping forward. “But I guess she wasn’t too thrilled about being my soulmate, since she didn’t even bother to keep in touch.”

“Or maybe she’s just as confused as you are,” Lingling offered.

But inside, she was just as confused herself. Orm had thrown up moments after kissing her, then apparently forgotten the entire thing. Maybe she remembered and hated the truth or maybe she just didn’t want to break her heart by admitting it.

Orm stood up, rummaging around for aspirin and water. Lingling quickly got up too, smoothing out her clothes.

“I’m going back to my room,” she announced.

“Why are you leaving?” Orm asked, surprised. They spent so much time in each other’s rooms that it felt strange for Lingling to leave so suddenly.

“I need a shower. And a change of clothes. And maybe a real nap in my bed,” Lingling replied curtly.

Before Orm could protest and ask her to stay, Lingling was gone, locking the door to her room behind her.

Orm didn’t think much of the strange behavior, too distracted by the aching in her head and the flood of thoughts about her mysterious soulmate.

Once the medicine kicked in, she took a moment to take in the new world around her. She had never imagined how every object would have its distinct color, or how harmoniously they blended together.

She pulled out an old flashcard her mother had given her when she turned eighteen. It had color names printed on it, and Orm began matching the labels with objects around her room.

The plants in the corner had a deep green hue, while the flowers bloomed in a vibrant mix of red and yellow. Her bed and wardrobe were made from slightly different shades of wood. Her wardrobe, she realized, looked boring now—full of nothing but black and white.

Her thoughts wandered back to her soulmate. Maybe Lingling was right: maybe this person didn’t hate her. Maybe she was confused too. Maybe she forgot, just like Orm had.

“I have to find her,” Orm declared to the empty room, her voice full of fire.

Chapter Text

Inside her room, Lingling dropped onto her bed after taking a long shower. She was also observing her room, full of colors.

Her cellphone flashed with a new message from their group chat:

Capybara: Urgent meeting at the bar tonight

Kwang: Again?

Prig: Ready for another one?

Capybara: I need everyone’s help.
Capybara: Something happened last night.
Capybara: I woke up today seeing colors.

Kwang: Oh fuck! Orm! You found your soulmate!

Capybara: And lost her again.
Capybara: Tonight, you will help me find her.

Lingling felt nauseous, and it wasn’t because of the alcohol from last night. She felt bad about not telling Orm what had really happened. However, she wanted to protect their friendship — and herself — from heartbreak.

The brunette knew how short her best friend’s attention span was. Soon, Orm would forget about it, and Lingling would keep postponing the truth until she felt her heart could handle the rejection.

—o—

Orm was checking her clothes, looking for clues from the night, but they only smelled like alcohol and Lingling. Reaching into the pocket, she found a small piece of paper, folded in four, almost too tiny to notice.

In ink, she found a name and a phone number with a cute heart drawn next to “call me.” Maybe it was from her soulmate.

Orm started jumping in place, excited again. Her soulmate didn’t hate her — she had just forgotten about the note. She jumped onto the bed to grab her phone, saved the contact, and sent a message right away.

Orm Kornnaphat: Hi Sonya! It’s Orm here (from the bar last night).
Orm Kornnaphat: Up to meet for coffee soon?

The next thing Orm wanted was to tell Lingling. But she remembered that the brunette had planned to sleep after getting back to her room, so she stopped herself from bothering her.

Just thinking about her roommate made Orm’s heart start racing again. She thought that once she finally found her soulmate, this silly crush on her best friend would vanish. But they had been apart for barely two hours, and Orm was already missing her.

“Maybe I need to find my soulmate and fall in love with her first,” Orm thought out loud. Love wasn’t something to catch instantly.

-o-

Lingling emerged from her room just in time for their group date that night. She found Orm typing furiously on her cellphone, oblivious to her presence.

“Orm?” Lingling called, making the girl jump in place and clutch her racing heart with her right hand.

“Jiejie, didn’t see you coming,” Orm complained.

“Too engrossed in your cellphone,” Lingling joked, and Orm smiled at her. The brunette noticed how her roommate’s caramel eyes became clearer and brighter every time she smiled back at her.

Her heart gave a painful twist. Being in love with Orm all this time and now noticing these small details about her was torturous.

“Did you know your eyes are the same color as chocolate?” Orm blurted, and Lingling realized they had been staring at each other for several long moments.

“Really?” Lingling turned her face away to hide her blush. She had already observed her own eyes—and her whole body—in front of the mirror that evening.

“Yes. They’re beautiful.” Orm held her jaw gently, making her look back at her. Lingling felt as if she was searching for something on her face.

“Are you ready to go?” Lingling asked, trying to break the moment. The room suddenly felt too suffocating.

“Yes. Let’s go.” Orm jumped off the couch, offering her hand. Lingling wasn’t strong enough to ignore it.

They drove back to the bar, Lingling at the wheel, since she had promised not to drink again that night.

When they arrived, their friends were already at their usual booth, nursing their drinks.

“Hello!” Orm announced, pulling Lingling by the hand to sit beside her.

“Look at her, the newest member of the ‘I have a soulmate’ group,” Kwang joked as they sat down.

Orm shot him a pointed look. “If I find her.”

“How exactly did this happen?” Prig asked, eyeing her with curiosity.

Lingling excused herself to grab a soda at the bar.

“Please, I want a soda too, Jie,” Orm asked, before turning back to Prig to answer. “I kissed a lot of women yesterday—at least five. I don’t remember a thing.”

“Five? I only saw you kissing three different women,” Kwang commented.

“Ling told me it was five.” As if summoned by her name, Lingling returned to the table.

“Me too. I saw three women,” Prig added.

“It was five,” Lingling replied, leaving no room for discussion.

“If you know it was five, don’t you remember who they were?” Kwang teased.

“No, I don’t. I was busy celebrating too,” Lingling shrugged.

It felt like a stone dropped into Orm’s chest. Caught in the whirlwind her life had become in the last 24 hours, Orm had completely forgotten that it was supposed to be a celebration for Lingling too.

Her hand reached across the table, interlocking her fingers with Ling’s. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“For what?” Lingling asked, confused.

“For stealing your moment.” Orm was on the verge of tears.

Lingling shook her head, offering a small smile. “No need.”

Their friends observed the scene in front of them, almost bored. It had happened a thousand times before—so often that everyone at that table was sure the two felt more than just friendship for each other.

It was hard to predict how Orm finding her soulmate would affect their dynamic.

“Anyway,” Junji called out. “Do you have any clue?”

“I found a number in my pocket. Her name is Sonya,” Orm explained.

“Did you reach out to her?” Kwang asked.

“I texted her. Invited her for coffee, but she hasn’t replied yet,” Orm said, stirring her drink with the straw. “But if it’s not her, I don’t know how to find the other ones.”

“Don’t lose hope. Let’s think together to figure out who the others might be,” Prig suggested, her eyes scanning the bar. “Did you ask the bartender?”

“Good idea!” Orm jumped from the booth and walked over to the counter.

As Orm left the table, all eyes turned to Lingling, who was happily sipping her soda and pretending Orm’s pursuit of her soulmate wasn’t bothering her. She felt their stares and looked up.

“What?” she asked defensively.

“Do you actually not remember who Orm kissed, or are you just not telling her because you’re jealous?” Junji asked. She was seated closest to Lingling, besides Orm.

“I wasn’t really paying attention. Didn’t want to see it,” Lingling told her friends. “But I know two of the people she kissed. And I’m not going to tell her!”

“Lingling Kwong! I never thought you could be this cruel—to your best friend!” Junji exclaimed, outraged.

“I’m not being cruel. I know those two aren’t Orm’s soulmate,” Lingling confessed. “She told me that much last night,” she added, to cover her secret.

“Then tell her that,” Kwang said.

“I will!” Lingling replied just as Orm returned from the counter with a fresh refill of their sodas.

“Eak saw me kissing one woman. He said her name is Emi, and she studies orthodontics,” Orm said.

“We’ve got two out of three, right, Ling?” Prig asked.

“Yes,” Lingling replied without looking at Orm.

“Two out of three? Why?” Orm asked.

“I know two of them aren’t your soulmate,” Lingling explained. “You told me that before you passed out.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? That makes things way easier!” Orm exclaimed.

“Didn’t think it would make a difference,” Lingling admitted with a sad pout, and Orm couldn’t stay mad anymore.

Orm’s phone buzzed, and Lingling was relieved not to be the center of attention anymore.

“She replied!” Orm shouted. “Sonya wants to meet tomorrow. If she’s not my soulmate, I’ll find Emi next.”

Lingling sank into her seat and didn’t say another word for the rest of the night, while Orm excitedly planned her coffee date with Sonya.

A woman passed by their table and shot a knowing smile at Orm. The blonde stopped mid-sentence to look at the woman, trying to pull her from memory.

“I remember her! I kissed her too. She was the first one that night,” Orm blurted out.

“Go talk to her,” Kwang said, pushing her from the table.

Orm stood up, fixed her clothes, and wished she were dressed fancier than jean shorts and a baby tee. She walked toward the woman and took the seat beside her.

Lingling couldn’t take her eyes off the scene. Orm exchanged a few words with the woman, who now had her hands all over Orm’s body again. They weren’t kissing, but the flirting was obvious even from several feet away.

Somehow, that made Lingling’s heart burn with a mix of rage and sadness. Why was Orm giving this kind of intimacy to someone who wasn’t even her soulmate—knowing her real one was out there? It was just humiliating at this point.

“Can you drive Orm home?” Lingling asked Prig, her voice cracking under the effort it took to hold back her tears. “I’m not feeling well.”

“Okay. I hope you feel better soon,” her friend said, squeezing her hand. The gesture almost made Lingling break down right there.

She rushed to her car, unable to hold back the tears that streamed down her face. Sobs and hiccups escaped her throat as she opened the door and drove back to their place, her vision blurred with emotion.

Orm returned to the table, and the first thing she noticed was that Lingling was gone.

“Where’s Ling? She’s my ride home,” Orm asked, looking around, half-expecting her to be coming back from the bathroom.

“She went home. Said she wasn’t feeling well. I’ll drive you,” Prig promised.

“Enough about Ling,” Kwang cut in, still annoyed with her for lying. “So? Was that your soulmate?”

“No, that was Namtan. She’s not my soulmate, but she offered to hang out while I look for her,” Orm replied with an embarrassed laugh.

“And you accepted?” Junji raised an eyebrow.

“What? No!” Orm said quickly. “Now that I know my soulmate is out there, I don’t want to waste time with random girls anymore.”

“Oh no, we lost a slut,” Prig joked, dramatically wiping a fake tear.

“Like I was ever that much of a whore,” Orm replied with a grin.

Despite the jokes, Orm grew restless, wanting to get back home and check on Lingling. But the night dragged on for their friends.

-o-

When she arrived home, Lingling had been gone for almost three hours. Orm figured her roommate would be asleep already, but light leaked from under her bedroom door.

“Jiejie? Are you awake?” Orm knocked gently. No answer—but she could hear movement inside. “I know you’re awake. Let me in.”

Lingling opened the door, wearing her cute dog-print pajamas and hugging the plush capybara Orm had given her—the same plushie she’d bought so Lingling would always remember her nickname for the blonde. Her eyes were red and swollen. Orm knew she had been crying.

Oh no. This was bad.

“What happened, Jie?” Orm asked, pulling her into a tight hug until it was hard to breathe. Lingling stiffened at first, then melted into her.

“It’s nothing,” Lingling replied once Orm gave her a little space.

“It’s because I didn’t give you attention, right?” Orm asked softly, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been so caught up in this soulmate thing…”

“I’m just overwhelmed.”

Lingling winced slightly at the mention of soulmates, but quickly masked it. Orm noticed.

“Let’s forget all that. No more soulmate talk tonight. Want to watch a movie?” Orm offered.

Lingling nodded, and Orm smiled. “I’m gonna change into my pajamas and be right back. Pick a movie!”

Orm ran to her room and changed into her cat-print pajamas—the matching pair to Lingling’s. When she returned, Lingling had already grabbed snacks from the kitchen, and How to Train Your Dragon was ready on the screen.

“I thought it’d be cool to rewatch it with colors,” Lingling commented, glancing at Orm. “For you.” She added after noticing her slip.

Orm nodded and jumped onto the bed, arms open. Lingling sighed but crawled into them, snuggling close. It was strange how her body instantly relaxed when she was near Orm—like she’d found her safe place.

The movie played in the background, but minutes later, Orm felt Lingling fall asleep against her neck, her hand slipping under Orm’s shirt to rest on her belly. Orm smiled and shifted, pulling them deeper into the mattress to make them more comfortable. She brushed a lock of hair behind Lingling’s ear.

Orm loved watching Lingling sleep. With her face soft and peaceful, the worries no longer creased her brow. That small mole on her cheek was fascinating—Orm could spend hours just staring at it.

The thought crossed her mind again: how much easier everything would be if Lingling was her soulmate. She already knew every corner of her soul—what made her laugh, what made her cry. The feelings were already there, growing over the two years they’d shared their home.

Orm felt guilty for having those thoughts when her soulmate might be out there, waiting for her. But her heart was already full—with Lingling.

She wondered if she should stop chasing the unknown and just confess. Try to make this real. But part of her still clung to the story her parents told, about finding each other as soulmates and still being in love after all these years.

Before the movie ended, Orm had drifted off to sleep, too comfortable to even bother turning off the TV.

Chapter Text

The next morning, when Lingling woke up, her body was pinned to the mattress by Orm’s. She felt her core tremble when she noticed Orm’s hand over her left breast, the tips of her fingers grazing her neck — more intimate than how a pair of best friends would ever touch each other. It would be amazing to wake up like this daily, Lingling thought. Well, if at least Orm felt the same way, she would feel confident enough to tell her about their kiss at the bar — and their soulmate connection.

At the same time, Lingling thought about how not telling Orm might work out better. Being soulmates didn’t necessarily mean sharing romantic love; there were thousands of people out there who were just friends with their soulmates, either because they discovered them by accident or didn’t find them at all, falling in love randomly instead. If just friendship was what would keep Orm in her life, eventually Lingling would fall out of love with her — and be happy about it. It was her only choice.

Orm began to stir awake on top of her, pulling Lingling away from her thoughts.

“Good morning, Jie,” Orm mumbled, nuzzling deeply into her neck.

“Morning,” Lingling replied, brushing Orm’s blonde hair with her fingers. “What do you need to do today?”

“I have class in the morning, and in the evening I’ll drive to the channel for a fitting,” Orm explained. “Then I’m meeting up with Sonya.”

“Okay,” Lingling gulped, remembering who Sonya was.

“What about you?” Orm asked, trying to change the subject.

“I just have a fitting this morning,” Lingling said. “I think I’ll grab some coffee later with Junji.”

“Okay.” Orm kissed Ling’s cheek and pushed herself out of bed, immediately missing their contact. She opened the door, then turned around just to watch Ling once more — all sleepy, her hair loose. “See you tonight.”

-o-

Orm stepped inside the cafeteria, quickly spotting Sonya at one of the tables by the window. She was already drinking something.

“Hi!” Orm greeted shyly.

“Hi!” Sonya replied excitedly. “Orm, right? Please, take a seat.”

“Yes. Thank you,” Orm said, sitting down in front of her.

“I didn’t think you would text me,” Sonya said, stirring her drink with the straw. “You didn’t seem interested in anything more than one kiss.”

Orm blushed at her boldness. Well, at least Sonya wasn’t wrong. “I’m sorry, but that’s exactly what happened that night. However, something came up, and now I have to reach out to everyone I kissed that night.”

“Hmm, interesting. Did you get pregnant and now you’re looking for the responsible party?” Sonya joked, making Orm’s bubble laugh show up.

“Oh my God, no!” Orm laughed, needing to drink some water to calm herself. “I need to ask… Sonya, did you start to see colors after we kissed?”

“Oh, that.” Sonya reached for Orm’s hand on the table. “I’m sorry, Orm, but I’m not your soulmate.”

“Oh.” Orm replied, feeling relieved — but part of her also felt a little sad. Sonya seemed like a fun person.

“I already know who my soulmate is,” Sonya continued.

“Really? Then why are you still kissing random girls in bars?” Orm asked, her curiosity overtaking her sadness.

“Because Lookhmee is just my best friend,” Sonya confessed. “Even though I’m in love with her, she’s still dating her high school boyfriend.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Sonya,” Orm said sincerely. She could relate to loving someone who didn’t love you back.

“It’s okay. I think I’m getting over it,” Sonya said, avoiding Orm’s eyes to hide her lie. “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t discovered it.”

“How did it happen? You said she’s been dating him since she was young.”

“We were playing truth or dare. Her boyfriend dared LM to kiss me,” Sonya explained. “It was two years ago. The world got colorful — and we never talked about it.”

“Really? But you’re best friends. How can you not talk about it?” Orm wondered.

“Orm, she thinks we’re the kind of soulmates who are just meant to be best friends,” Sonya said, shrugging. "At least, that's what she told her boyfriend."

“If that happened with me and Lingling, I think I wouldn’t survive,” Orm said with a sad smile.

“Who’s Lingling?” Sonya asked.

“My best friend. I’ve been in love with her forever too, but she doesn’t love me back either,” Orm confessed. “Finding my soulmate is my hope to get over it.”

“Does she have black hair and a mole on her cheek?” Sonya asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah.”

“She was staring at us almost the whole time we were making out,” Sonya said, laughing. “She likes you! I thought she was going to punch me.”

“Ling? Pfft. She doesn’t even like women,” Orm said, brushing it off. “She’s just overprotective.”

“Are you sure she’s straight?” Sonya questioned.

“She’s never talked to me about liking women,” Orm said, thinking about it again. “I’m her best friend — she would have told me.”

“If you say so,” Sonya gave her a knowing smile. “You should try to discover if she likes women."

"How am I supposed to do this?" Orm can't believe that she was even considering doing something about this.

"Just get really close to her lips. Tease her, let's see if she finishes the job." Sonya suggested.

"This is insane." Orm shook her head at the absurd situation, even she was questioning whether to do it.

"It's going to work," Sonya pushed a little. "I hope I get invited to your wedding as a thank you.”

“I need to find my soulmate first!” Orm complained.

“I think you already have,” Sonya winked. “If you like Lingling, don’t get stuck on this soulmate thing. Don’t lose your chance at happiness for something that’s not guaranteed.”

-o-

"Your bad energy is sucking my good energy," Junji complained as she watched her friend working on her notes. In the half hour Junji had spent with her, Lingling had snorted five times and sighed another five.

Lingling raised her head from the book and stuck out her tongue. "Let me have my sorrow."

"Why are you so upset?" Junji asked. "Is it about Orm's date?"

"Yes. But no," Lingling pouted. "Sonya is not her soulmate."

"Why do you keep insisting that people aren’t her soulmate? What are you trying to tell me?"

"Sonya isn’t her soulmate because I am," Lingling confessed.

"Whaaaaaat?" Junji exclaimed, dropping her coffee all over her notebook.

"Oh my gosh, Junji!" Lingling shouted, exasperated, rushing to grab napkins to clean the mess.

Junji looked at the mess, closed the ruined notebook, and casually tossed it into the trash. Lingling stared at her, horrified.

"There was nothing important in there," Junji explained. "Now tell me why you were HIDING from me the fact that you’re Orm’s soulmate! When did you two kiss?"

"That night at the bar. I was the last woman she kissed," Lingling said, her voice small. "Well... actually, I kissed her."

"I knew this would happen. Sooner than I expected, though," Junji lamented. "Why didn’t you tell Orm? She's looking for her soulmate while sleeping under the same roof as you!"

"Orm puked right after she kissed me. Then she completely forgot about it the next day," Lingling said, scratching her nose. "She’s disgusted at the idea of me being her soulmate."

"Where are you getting this nonsense? That girl loves you!" Junji exclaimed.

"Yes, as her best friend," Lingling insisted.

"And what are you doing, letting her run around on this pointless search?" Junji was clearly annoyed. Her friend was smart, but when it came to love, she was the dumbest person alive.

"You know Orm. She’ll get bored and eventually give up," Lingling said simply. "I’ll tell her. Someday."

"When?"

"When I’m no longer in love with her," Lingling declared, her voice thick with pain. "Please, don’t tell her. Or anyone else."

"I won’t tell anyone. But I’m pretty sure you’re making a huge mistake," Junji said, hugging Lingling tightly as the first tears started to fall from her eyes.

-o-
Orm returned home, finding Lingling curled up on the couch, watching TV while eating ice cream.

"Hi, Jie!" Orm greeted her, dropping herself onto the couch.

"Hi, Orm," Lingling replied, sitting up and fixing her posture. "How did your date go with that woman?"

"Sonya is not my soulmate, if you are asking about that," Orm explained, reaching out her hand to ask for the ice cream tub. "She already has her soulmate."

"Hmm," Lingling murmured, trying to hide her joy.

"There's still Emi. But I need a break before searching for her," Orm said, studying her nails to avoid looking at her best friend.

Lingling wanted to laugh, knowing Orm so well. She knew Orm would eventually get bored and give up on the pursuit. "It's okay, baby, there's no rush."

"For sure. I'm going to shower and change clothes," Orm announced, and Lingling hummed in acknowledgment.

Half an hour later, Orm was back on the couch. Lingling cradled her against her chest, squeezing her tightly and kissing the crown of her head. Orm felt overwhelmed by the love she felt for her best friend, and everything Sonya had said kept echoing in her mind.

So what if Lingling wasn’t her soulmate? Her love for her was already strong enough without the need for any magical bond.

Orm turned her head and kissed just below Lingling’s ear. It was meant to be an innocent kiss, but she accidentally hit a sensitive spot, making Lingling shiver and tighten her arms around her. Orm smiled.

Ignoring all her fears and unable to hold herself back anymore, she traced Lingling’s jawline with the tip of her tongue, feeling Lingling’s pulse quicken, and lightly sucked the skin. Lingling let her explore further, pressing her even closer.
Orm's heart was beating wildly, and her body lit up when Lingling let out a low moan.

"Orm," Lingling whispered, breathless. "What are you doing?"

"Why? Aren't you enjoying it?" Orm paused, searching Lingling’s face for any sign of discomfort. Ling’s cheeks were flushed, and her pupils were blown wide.

"It’s not that. It’s just... we’ve never done anything like this," Lingling said, but she didn’t loosen her hold on Orm’s waist.

"It’s always the right time to start," Orm said, gently grabbing Lingling’s jaw to tilt her head, exposing more of her neck to explore.

Lingling was rapidly losing her rationality. She was confused, but Orm’s touches were getting intense reactions from her body.

"Orm, you’re turning me on," Lingling warned, half embarrassed and half aroused. "I’m getting wet."

"Me too," Orm replied with a mischievous smile, confirming her suspicion that Lingling was attracted to women too. She stopped kissing Ling’s neck, lowering her lips just a breath away from Ling’s mouth, letting the warmth of her words hit her. "So wet..."

Lingling couldn’t take it anymore. She closed the gap between them, capturing Orm’s lips with hers. Orm moaned, opening her mouth immediately and slipping her tongue against Lingling’s.

"Come here," Lingling breathed between kisses, pulling Orm up to straddle her lap. Their mouths crashed together again in a messy, hungry kiss, Lingling burying her hands in Orm’s golden locks.

Orm pushed her hips forward, moaning when her core rubbed against Lingling’s thigh. Lingling swallowed the sound, placing her hands on Orm’s hips to guide her into repeating the movement.

Of course, her perfect-in-everything best friend would give her the most intoxicating hookup of her life.

"Jie..." Orm moaned as Lingling pushed her harder against her hips and bit her lower lip. "Touch me, please."

"Are you sure?" Lingling froze, as if a bit of sense returned to her clouded mind.

Orm blinked twice, needing a moment to catch up with the sudden change in atmosphere. Seeing the uncertainty in Lingling’s eyes, she didn’t hesitate. She pulled off her pajama shirt, baring herself from the waist up.

Lingling’s chocolate eyes grew darker, and her cheeks turned impossibly red as she gazed at Orm’s exposed body.

"Yes, I’m sure," Orm said softly before lowering herself to capture Lingling’s lips once more.

Chapter Text

They woke up tangled in the bedsheets—and in each other. Lingling was the first to stir, feeling like her body was floating.

It was the first time she had felt happy in days. Orm didn’t think she was disgusting. She was attracted to her, and they were incredibly compatible in bed, just like in everything else.

Orm was really her soulmate. And Lingling was finally ready to tell her.

“Good morning, Jie.” Orm gave her a little peck on the lips, snapping her out of her daydream. “I have an early class and a meeting afterward.”

“Can’t you skip it?” Lingling pouted. “I think we should talk.”

“We will talk. I want to stay in bed and make love to you all day, but I can’t miss it, this important.” Orm kissed her again and again until Lingling’s pout turned into a giggle.

Orm jumped out of bed, still naked. Her clothes were discarded in the living room and were still there. She picked up Lingling’s robe to cover herself and walked out of the room.

She returned moments later, already dressed, and offered Lingling a cup of coffee. Orm kissed her lips one more time. “See you later.”

“See you later,” Lingling replied, sipping her coffee.

-o-

Orm was walking around the university like a kid on Christmas morning. She smiled and greeted everyone around, observing everything—the colors still brand new to her, and everything felt brighter than before.

Of course, she was nervous about confessing that she was in love with Lingling. Last night had been something impulsive, and she was happy Lingling had reciprocated—but Orm didn’t know what it meant to her best friend.

Absorbed in her thoughts, Orm didn’t notice when she bumped into someone on the street.

“Orm! Are you okay?” the person asked, holding her by the arms to steady her.

“Ying?” Orm straightened up. “I’m sorry, I was distracted.”

The brunette smiled at her. “So you are alive! I thought you vanished after you didn’t text me following that night at the bar.”

Orm looked at her, confused. “Why would I text you?”

“Don’t you remember? We kissed,” Ying said with a teasing smile. “It was fun—until Lingling came to take you away.”

“I kissed you that night?” Orm felt like her heart was being squeezed. “Lingling didn’t tell me.”

“Of course not, she hates me! I don’t even know why,” Ying giggled.

Orm stayed silent for a few minutes, trying to process what was happening. Ying was the fourth one she had discovered from the five women she kissed that night. She could be her soulmate.

“Ying,” Orm said, holding her by the arms, “did you start seeing colors after I kissed you?”

Ying looked at her, as if searching for the right words. “Yes, I did start seeing colors after kissing you. But you vanished, and I wasn’t sure how to bring it up.”

“Oh my gosh.” Orm placed a hand over her heart, trying to calm herself. “Ying, you’re my soulmate.”

-o-

Lingling was over the moon, savoring every ounce of happiness that her night with Orm had brought her. Of course, they still needed to talk about it, and Lingling was apprehensive that Orm might be upset with her for not telling her about them being soulmates right away. However, she was sure that once she told the whole story, her best friend would understand.

She walked into the cafeteria to meet Junji, Kwang, Prig, and, of course, Orm. Lingling didn’t want to admit it, but she already missed her soulmate after spending just a few hours apart. She also wondered if their friends would notice anything different.

However, when she stepped inside the place, there was one person at the table she hadn’t expected.

“Hi, Lingling,” Ying smiled at her. The brunette’s hand was resting on Orm’s leg.

“Hi, Ying. Didn’t know you were invited,” Lingling replied with an acidic tone.

“Orm asked me to come,” Ying said with a cynical smile. “I think she has something to tell you.”

Their friends observed the exchange, feeling the tension in the air. Lingling took the seat beside Junji, across from Orm, but the blonde kept avoiding her eyes.

“Ying is my soulmate,” Orm told them, making the entire table fall into absolute silence. “We’re dating now.”

The people at the table looked at each other, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Lingling kept glaring at Orm, while the blonde stared down at the table.

Lingling felt her eyes burning—a clear sign that her tears were about to fall. She stood up and walked back to her car, holding it in until she was somewhere safe to cry her heart out.

She didn’t notice, but Junji had followed her and sat in the passenger seat just as she got in.

“Why didn’t you say it was a lie? That you’re Orm’s real soulmate?” Junji asked, startling Lingling.

“Because I’m tired of this shit!” Lingling yelled, punching the steering wheel. “We had sex last night, and the first thing Orm does the next day is start a relationship with another woman. She wasn’t disgusted by me, but she’s not interested in anything more.”

Lingling was crying—tears streaming down her face, her nose running.

“I can’t take this anymore, Junji. I just can’t,” Lingling sobbed. Moments ago, she had been so happy, and now it felt like someone had shot her in the chest.

“Let me drive, then. You’re in no condition,” Junji said as she opened the door and gently pulled Lingling over to the passenger seat. Lingling didn’t resist.

Junji drove them back and helped Lingling into their shared apartment. Stepping inside, Lingling wanted to cry even harder—everything around her reminded her of the night they had shared love and pleasure, with silent promises of forever.

“Thank you, Junji. I’m sorry for bothering you,” Lingling said, hugging her friend. “I’ll be fine on my own.”

Junji looked at her face. She had never seen Lingling this devastated. Her friend was usually strong and reserved, barely letting people know what she was feeling. Now, the pain was written all over her face—and that hurt Junji too.

“Please, talk to Orm?” Junji suggested gently.

“There’s nothing left to say now. Maybe tomorrow,” Lingling said, as tears started to flow again.

“I love you,” Junji whispered, kissing the top of her head.

“I love you too. You’re my sister,” Lingling replied.

With her heart heavy in her chest, Junji left Lingling behind, already lying down in her room.

-o-

When Orm arrived home, the place was as silent as death. No music, no TV, no lights. It felt empty.

However, when she reached Lingling’s door, she heard the soft sobs of her best friend. Her heart felt like it was torn in two, and each second hurt more than the last.

“Lingling, let me in! Please, I need to explain,” Orm begged, knocking on the door.

“Go away, Orm,” came the muffled reply from the other side.

“Please, Ling,” Orm leaned her forehead against the door. “Please, just let me explain.” Her voice cracked as she heard Lingling’s sniffs and hiccups growing louder inside the room.

“There’s nothing to explain, Orm. You’re dating Ying now. Leave me alone,” Lingling said, her voice broken from crying.

“It’s just... she’s my soulmate, Ling,” Orm tried to argue, but there was no response after that.

Orm sat down in front of the door, prepared to spend the night there. This was not how she thought her day would end, not after waking up in Lingling’s arms that same morning.

But when Ying had asked her if they were girlfriends… How was she supposed to say no to her soulmate?

Still, she wished she'd had the chance to talk to Lingling — a real talk — and tell her that last night had meant everything. That she was in love with her best friend. She wanted to tell her everything and ask for her advice, like always.

Orm woke up the next morning to the sound of Lingling’s door opening. She jumped to her feet, getting dizzy in the process. It took her a moment to notice the suitcase Lingling was dragging behind her.

“Ling? Where are you going?” Orm asked, panicked.

“I’m going home,” Lingling said without meeting her eyes. “Can you step aside?”

“Home? This is your home, Lingling,” Orm didn’t move an inch.

“I’m going back to Kalasin. Junji will pick up the rest of my things later,” Lingling said, tears finally falling freely. “Please, let me go, Orm.”

“Don’t go. Why are you leaving like this? Give me at least one chance to explain,” Orm pleaded. “What about your degree and the drama?”

“I’m transferring my credits to Kalasin. And I already told the cast director I won’t be part of the show anymore,” Lingling said. “Excuse me.”

She tried to push past, but Orm wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her close. Both were openly crying as Lingling tried to pull away.

“Please don’t go. I’ll break up with Ying. Just don’t leave me,” Orm begged, her legs giving out as she sank to her knees. “You’re everything to me, Lingling. Please, don’t leave me.”

“I’m going, Orm. I want you to be happy,” Lingling whispered, breaking free. This time, Orm didn’t have the strength to hold her back.

Lingling walked out the door, taking Orm’s heart with her. The blonde curled up on the floor, sobbing and clutching at the emptiness in her chest.

—o-

For the next few days, Orm only left Lingling’s bed to shower and use the bathroom. She barely ate, spending her time crying, hugging Lingling’s capybara plush, still able to smell her on the sheets and in the air.

She thought about going after her a hundred times, but she couldn’t figure out what she could say to fix things. Ying was her soulmate, and even if she wanted to forget it, she couldn’t.

But thinking about Ying didn’t bring comfort either. There was no fire, no spark — none of the overwhelming love she had been told to expect. Yes, Ying was attractive and gentle, but she didn’t make Orm’s heart race. She didn’t make colors sing.

Orm sent Ying a half-hearted excuse about being busy with work and barely answered her messages.

Three days later, Prig found her in the same place, using her spare key to enter the apartment.

“Orm, what the hell happened?” she asked, stunned to find her friend in such a state. “You and Lingling have been missing for days, and Junji won’t say anything.”

“Prig,” Orm breathed, finally noticing her. “Lingling left me.”

Orm burst into tears again, and Prig rushed to hold her.

“What the fuck is going on with you two?” Prig demanded gently.

Orm tried to calm her breathing between sobs. “I had sex with Lingling the night before I found out Ying was my soulmate. When Lingling saw us together, she decided to leave for Kalasin.”

She tried to sum it up as best she could before breaking down again. Prig held her, trying to console her.

“Orm, I know you’re hurting, but you can’t spend the rest of your life in this bed,” Prig said softly. “You need to get up, eat, and go outside.”

“I can’t… not without Lingling,” Orm whispered.

“I don’t know if she’ll come back. But you have to do something, Orm. Either go after her or learn to live without her,” Prig said firmly.

And even though she felt like she had no strength left, Orm tried to take her life back. She resumed her classes, started preparing for the drama again, and even went on a few pleasant dates with Ying.

But Lingling never left her mind.

She was always there—a reminder of what was lost and what couldn’t be fixed. Her things remained exactly where she left them, as if she might return at any moment.

Orm felt like she was living with a ghost.

-o-

Junji was walking to the cafeteria to grab a late coffee. Her head hurt from all the work she had to catch up on now that Lingling was gone. Junji hoped this was just a break and that Lingling would eventually return to Bangkok to finish her course and her work.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Orm sitting alone at one of the tables. Junji gave her a sad smile, noticing how devastated the girl looked.

While she was waiting for her order, the door opened again — this time, Ying walked in. She crossed the hall and sat at Orm’s table, greeting her with a quick kiss on the lips.

“Hell no,” Junji muttered, outraged. She grabbed her coffee and walked over to the table, sitting down.

“Orm, why are you still dating this woman?” Junji asked, too angry to sugarcoat anything. “After everything that happened with Lingling?”

“She left me, Junji,” Orm replied, trying to hold back her tears.

“She left because you started dating her, right after you two had sex!” Junji wasn’t going to let her off easy. “You hurt my friend. YOUR BEST FRIEND.”

“Don’t talk to her like that, Junji,” Ying said, pulling Orm closer. “It’s not her fault.”

“Of course it’s her fault. Lingling loves you — she's been in love with you for months. You hooked up with her, and the next day you were dating this one, the exact person Lingling never liked,” Junji said, calmer now, but still firm.

“And what was I supposed to do? Ying is my soulmate,” Orm said, defeated. Tears began to roll down her face.

“No, she’s not,” Junji said, looking at Ying with a knowing expression.

“You’re lying, Junji,” Ying hissed, her tone dangerously slow.

“No. I’m not the one lying here.” Junji gave a mischievous smile. She pulled out two colored plastic straws from the counter. She knew that someone who couldn’t see colors wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. “Can you name these colors?”

Junji had been able to see colors for three years, ever since kissing her boyfriend.

Orm looked at Ying, waiting for her response.

“This one is pink, and this one is red,” Ying answered, unsure, her face turning red.

Orm and Junji looked at the straws on the table. They were blue and purple.

“Touché,” Junji said, grabbing her drink and standing up. “Orm, I’ll drop by your place later to pick up Lingling’s things.”

Orm stared at her "girlfriend" in confusion. How could Ying not identify the colors? She couldn’t see them?

“You lied to me,” Orm said. “Why did you lie?”

Ying averted her eyes, ashamed. “I’ve been interested in you for months, but you never paid attention to me. You were always with Lingling.”

“And you thought this would make me like you?” Orm was furious. “How long did you think this lie could last?”

“I thought you were interested in me, too. I was going to tell you when the time was right,” Ying shrugged.

“I can’t believe you did this to me, Ying. You’re manipulative and cruel,” Orm said, standing up. “This is over. Don’t contact me again.”

Orm left the cafeteria without looking back. It didn’t fix everything, but at least she no longer had to force herself to like someone just because they claimed to be her soulmate.

She returned home, trying to pack Lingling’s belongings so Junji could pick them up later. Orm hid a few of her favorite items to keep for herself: Lingling’s university hoodie, Orm’s favorite button-up blouse that Lingling always stole from her, and the crybaby plush.

When she heard a knock on the door, she was crying, unable to finish packing. The door opened to reveal Junji and Mario.

“Orm? You’re crying,” Junji said. It wasn’t a question—it was a statement.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t finish packing Ling’s things,” Orm sobbed.

“Why are you two so stubborn?” Junji hugged her. “Lingling is crying in Kalasin, and you’re crying here. You two just need to talk!”

“How am I supposed to talk to her? She blocked me on social media, doesn’t answer my calls...” Orm replied. “How can I say anything?”

“Fly to Kalasin!” Junji suggested.

“Why should I fly there? She doesn’t even want to talk to me, let alone see me,” Orm said, defeated.

“Do you love her?” Junji asked, sitting Orm down on the couch.

“Of course, I love her. Have you seen Lingling Kwong? She’s the most beautiful person in the world — inside and out,” Orm confessed. “I’ll get over her eventually.”

“No, honey, you won’t get over her,” Junji sighed. “Orm, Lingling Kwong is your soulmate. She was the last woman you kissed that night.”

And just like magic, a memory surfaced—she was kissing Lingling, her eyes open at first from shock, watching the world slowly bloom into color around her. She had closed her eyes when it became overwhelming, burying her hands in Lingling’s hair to pull her impossibly closer.

When she opened her eyes again, the world was screaming in color. The sight had made her already-nauseous stomach from the alcohol flip in protest.

Orm felt the same nausea return, right there in her apartment. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

“She’ll have to tell you that,” Junji replied. “Fly to Kalasin and find your soulmate, Orm.”

Chapter Text

Orm observed Kalasin through the windows of the Lyft taking her to the address Lingling had given her months earlier.

The city was alive with early morning activity. Orm had taken a flight in the middle of the night and chosen a car to complete the journey, arriving in Kalasin just after sunrise.

Lingling’s family home was in a friendly neighborhood, filled with charming houses with large backyards. Orm finally understood why her best friend had left her dogs behind when she moved to Bangkok and into their small apartment.

Orm felt her palms damp with sweat as she carried her suitcase to the front door. She pressed the doorbell, praying that everyone in the house was already awake.

In the few seconds it took for the door to open, Orm began to regret her decision to show up unannounced. Maybe she should have at least called Ling’s mother to ask if it was okay—or maybe she should have booked a place to stay in the city.

The door opened, pulling her away from her spiraling thoughts, revealing Lingling in pajamas, her face sleepy. Orm’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her best friend for the first time in nearly two weeks, overwhelmed by the feelings of love and loss that had altered their relationship.

“Orm? What are you doing here?” Lingling rubbed her eyes, her tone uncertain.

“I came for you. I miss you.” Orm couldn’t help herself—impulsively throwing her arms around Ling.

The brunette held her for a second, lost in confusion. When she realized that Orm was there for real, in her arms and not a dream, Lingling gently pushed her away.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Lingling said firmly.

“Ling? Please don’t do this to me,” Orm pleaded. “I broke up with Ying. I traveled for hours.”

“And why? What made you change your mind?” Lingling crossed her arms over her chest, trying to keep her hands from reaching out to Orm—and to protect her own heart.

“Junji told me the whole truth. That you’re my soulmate,” Orm confessed.

Lingling avoided her eyes, looking past her toward the street. Orm saw the tears filling her lower eyelids, but Lingling didn’t let them fall. “And then you came here just because of some silly obsession with ending up with your soulmate…”

“Of course not! I came because it’s you—bond or no bond!” Orm was on the verge of tears, too. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me feel so lost?”

“Because you weren’t looking for someone—you were looking for a perfect love story,” Lingling shouted back, her face now wet with tears that had finally begun to fall.

“Ling? Who’s there?” a voice called from upstairs, its owner just out of sight.

“It’s Orm, Mama,” Lingling said, steadying her voice as she wiped her tears.

“Hi, sweetie,” Ling’s mother greeted her warmly. She had met Orm during her previous visits to Bangkok. “Did you come to make peace with Ling?”

“I’m trying, Mama,” Orm said, looking at Ling with pleading eyes.

“Mama, can you prepare my brother’s room for Orm? Until she can reschedule her flight back,” Lingling said as she turned and climbed the stairs.

“Forgive my daughter. I don’t know what happened between you two, but she came home devastated,” Ling’s mother said, guiding Orm to the couch. “She told me you two are soulmates—just like me and her father.”

Orm nodded, tears still spilling from her eyes. “I didn’t know. And I believed someone else when they claimed to be my soulmate.”

“Oh, honey, it’s not just about the bond—it’s about the person too,” the older woman said, gently wiping Orm’s face.

“I think I was too focused on that,” Orm admitted. “When Ying showed up, saying she was my soulmate the day after I got together with Ling, I thought it was the universe telling me I’d made the wrong choice.”

“You need to trust your heart more than the universe, honey,” Ling’s mother said, pulling her gently to her feet. “Come, I’ll take you to rest. You must be tired after your journey. Lingling will come around eventually.”

Orm nodded. She had already traveled so far, trying to fix things. For now, there was nothing more to do but rest—and I hope that Ling will be more willing to talk when she wakes up.

-o-

Lingling Kwong didn’t know what to do. Orm was there for her, just as she had wished over the past few days. She had dreamed of Orm showing up at her door, declaring that she was in love with her.

But when it happened, all Lingling could feel was the pain she had been carrying. Orm wasn’t there because she loved her—she was there because of their soulmate bond. Lingling felt betrayed by Junji, who had revealed her secret to Orm. And she missed the woman like something had been ripped from her chest with no pain relief.

After hours of tossing and turning in bed, hiding in her room to avoid seeing Orm, she couldn’t take it anymore. She changed her clothes and decided to go for a run in the park to clear her head.

Charsiu and Tofu happily joined her on the morning jog. For a while, she forgot how messy her life had become since she kissed Orm at the bar. The sun was warm, and the breeze brought a bit of clarity.

Orm was already there, and Lingling needed to decide what she was going to do. It wasn’t like she could forget her. On top of being in love with her, Orm was also her soulmate. Every time she looked at the blue of the sky, the green of the grass, the red of the roses—Lingling was reminded that Orm was forever bonded to her.

She could try to talk. Maybe ask for some space and reconnect in a few months—or years. But her heart burned at the thought of living any longer without Orm.

Returning home, Lingling still didn’t know what to do. Stepping into the kitchen to let the dogs into the backyard, she was surprised to find Orm helping her mother with breakfast.

“Good morning, Lingling Kwong,” Orm said, offering a hesitant smile.

“Morning,” Lingling murmured, after a pointed look from her mother.

The dogs gathered around Orm, wagging their tails excitedly at the visitor.

“Hi, boys,” Orm said, kneeling to pet them and receiving wet licks all over her face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”

Orm giggled, making Lingling smile softly at the interaction.

“Ling, take the dogs outside. It’s time to eat,” her mother said.

“Okay, Mama.” Lingling called the dogs, who trotted after her once Orm stood up.

The meal was eaten in silence. Lingling could feel Orm’s eyes on her, observing her every move, but she chose to ignore it. After finishing her plate, she returned to her room for a long shower and to change clothes.

When she came back to the living room, it was empty. The backyard door was open. She decided to check on the dogs.

Orm was sitting on the ground with Tofu in her lap and Charsiu was cuddled beside her. She was talking to them and hadn’t noticed Lingling’s presence.

“You know, I didn’t even know your mother liked women,” Orm said to the dogs. Charsiu barked, as if disagreeing with her. “Well, Charsiu, she never talked to me about it before. And most people are still straight.”

Lingling had to bite her lip to suppress a laugh. She realized that during all the time they had lived together, she had only dated men—it made sense that Orm had assumed she was straight.

“I think… she’s my favorite thing that makes me happy,” Orm continued. “Not so much right now, but I was stupid to believe someone else could be my soulmate. No one else can make me feel the way she does.”

Lingling remained silent, barely breathing. Tofu whined, and Orm took it as agreement.

“Yeah… I’ve been in love with her from the beginning. I think it was love at first sight? She’s always made my heart flutter—and everything else. Maybe I acted on it too late.”

“Really?” Lingling stepped outside, startling Orm. “You’ve been in love with me all this time?”

“Ling!” Orm stood up too quickly, making the dogs complain.

“Answer me,” Lingling said softly.

“It’s the cliché, isn’t it? Falling in love with your straight best friend,” Orm said with a wet laugh.

“But I’m not straight,” Lingling replied.

“Now I know,” Orm smiled. “I’ve been in love with you since we met at that freshman event. I loved you when we moved in together. I still love you. My feelings haven’t changed, but I only realized it was more than friendship a few months ago.”

“That night, in our place…” Lingling began, wanting to clarify every doubt.

“I didn’t care about finding my soulmate anymore,” Orm said gently. “I had chosen you—even if you didn’t love me back. When I kissed you, it was supposed to be just a friendly kiss.”

“Right on my weak spot?” Lingling replied with a teasing smile.

“It was an accident,” Orm laughed, then turned serious. “I’m sorry for showing up dating another woman the next day. But you know I’m superstitious. When she said she was my soulmate… I thought I’d made the wrong choice.”

Lingling crossed her arms, her mood darkening.

“So I was a mistake?” she asked.

“No, you’re not,” Orm replied quickly. “You’re the best thing in my life. I’m sorry.”

“Orm, I don’t think this will work,” Lingling confessed. “It’s just… too messy.”

“Ling, of course we’ll work,” Orm said, stepping forward and taking Lingling’s hand in hers. “Think about it—we’ve basically been dating each other for months.”

Orm had a point. Lingling tilted her head. “I don’t remember the last time I slept a whole week in my bed alone—well, before you left. We had lunch together every day, even with different courses. We cuddled up to watch movies. I could list a hundred things. But Jie, the only thing that’s going to change now is that I finally get to kiss you the way I’ve always dreamed of.”

“You get to kiss me?” Lingling’s tone turned playful. Orm stepped forward, closing the space between them.

“Yes. Can I start right now?” Orm pleaded softly.

Lingling didn’t answer with words. She leaned in and closed the gap between their lips.

The kiss was sweet—a soft brush of lips full of love and regret for the past few weeks. Lingling pulled Orm closer by the waist, closing any distance between their bodies.

When they parted, Orm wrapped her arms around Lingling and rested her head on her shoulder. It felt like coming home.

“Can we pretend this was our first kiss?” Orm asked, nuzzling her nose into Lingling’s neck. “Not that messy, low-light, throwing-up-after kind of kiss.”

“You remembered?” Lingling asked, running her fingers through Orm’s hair and earning a contented sigh.

“Yes. I remember,” Orm confessed. “I’m ashamed.”

“It’s okay, baby. Our story is a little messy—but I love every second of it,” Lingling whispered.

-o-

Their drama with CH3 was a complete success, and both became very famous in Thailand.

The team accepted Lingling’s excuse for missing three weeks of work—the “worst cold ever,” complete with feverish delirium that had led her to text that she was quitting the project.

They kept their relationship private, explaining their closeness in interviews by citing their many years as roommates. Still, a ghost couple pairing called “LingOrm” exploded online, surpassing the popularity of any of the other Orm’s couple pairings.

Fans insisted their characters should end up together, more than any of the male leads. They argued their chemistry was unique and no other relationship had a story as beautiful as theirs.

Eventually, the pair were called to a meeting with Khun Dew, part of the channel’s executive board. The company was considering separating them into different projects—or worse, letting them go.

“Stay calm, baby,” Lingling said, holding Orm’s hand. At this point, neither cared much about hiding their affection—being discreet hadn’t worked anyway.

“If they fire us, it’s over, Jie,” Orm said gloomily. “No other big channel will hire us again.”

“We’ll figure it out. We have each other,” Lingling promised, and Orm held onto that comfort.

“Khun Dew will see you now,” Mam, one of the producers, called out.

They walked into the room hand-in-hand, finding Dew, Cherry, Mam, and two other women they didn’t recognize.

“Orm, Ling, it’s a pleasure,” Dew greeted as they settled into their seats.

“The pleasure is ours, Khun Dew,” Lingling murmured, and Orm nodded in agreement.

“I called you both here because we’ve noticed an unusual amount of online attention around you two, as a couple,” Dew said.

“We’re sorry, Khun Dew,” Orm apologized. “We tried to keep things quiet, but it got out of control.”

“I understand,” Dew smiled. “Still, the project was a success because of both of you. But we’ve also received accusations of queerbaiting, and that’s not the kind of image we want for the channel.”

“This is serious, Khun Dew, but how are we involved?” Lingling asked, confused.

“I want to offer you two a new project. A sapphic love story—with you two as the leads,” Dew explained, pointing to one of the women at the table. “Khun Nay will be directing. She’s worked on a sapphic drama before.”

“We’re in!” Orm blurted.

“Orm!” Lingling said, patting her girlfriend’s hand. “Let Khun Dew finish.”

“It’s okay,” Dew chuckled. “Of course, we’ll give you the script and time to think it over—but I’m glad to see you’re excited, Orm.”

“The project is called The Secret of Us,” Nay added with a smile. “And from what I’ve seen, you two are perfect for it.”

And the rest of the story?
You can imagine it.

THE END