Chapter Text
O N E
Orm woke to the sound of her alarm blaring in her ear.
She squinted as sunlight slipped through the gaps in her blinds, her eyes slow to adjust.
The first thing she noticed was the empty space beside her—the sheets long gone cold.
Of course she wouldn’t be there. What had she been expecting?
Orm let out a quiet sigh. Right. She shouldn’t be disappointed anymore. She reached over to the bedside table and picked up her phone.
7:00 AM.
No new messages.
She told herself she should be used to it by now—going to bed with someone and waking up alone. For the past three years, it had always been like this.
Her friends kept telling her to try something new, to date someone else. But for some reason, Orm wouldn’t. Or maybe… couldn’t.
Because this was Freen.
Freen, her best friend since high school.
Freen, her first love. Her worst one, too.
“Whatever,” Orm muttered.
She pushed herself out of bed and headed for the shower. She had more important things to deal with today.
Orm arrived at the firm at exactly 8:30 AM. The meeting wasn’t until nine, which gave her a full thirty minutes to prepare.
Her heels clicked against the marble floors, sharp and steady—a sound her subordinates had come to recognize. Heads turned as she passed. One by one, they greeted her, offering polite wai as she moved through the office.
Orm acknowledged each greeting with a small smile and a nod, her pace never slowing. She wasn’t just another architect—she was Gridspace’s head architect, leading one of the top-performing firms in all of Bangkok.
By the time Orm stepped into the conference room, she already had her game face on. Laptop tucked under one arm, coffee in hand, expression steady. Love, one the firm’s best engineers, was already there, flipping through a stack of printed plans.
“You’re late,” she said without looking up.
“Excuse you, I am actually perfectly early for this meeting.” Orm replied, setting her things down. “You’re just anxious.”
Love huffed. “Client’s important, you know.” She said as she began twirling her pen between her fingers.
“They all are.” Orm answered without a beat, flashing Love a smirk.
Before she could argue, the glass door slid open again. Their legal representative, Film, walked in, phone still in her hand, her expression tight in a way that immediately set Orm and Love on edge.
“That look doesn’t mean anything good.” Orm said.
Film snorted, “That’s because it isn’t.” She said, and then giving Orm a pointed look.
“We have a problem.”
Love groaned. “Oh no. How bad is it this time?”
Film exhaled, like she’d already had to say this too many times. “It's the contractor.”
Orm’s grip tightened slightly around her coffee cup, her gaze suddenly sharp. “What about them?”
Film circled the table, and stopped right next to Orm. “They’re under investigation. Apparently, they got their asses busted in financial misconduct. Misappropriated funds, shell accounts, and all that. And-” She paused as she shook her head, handing her phone over to Orm. “It’s bad. And it just broke this morning.”
For a second, the room went quiet. Orm stared at the article in front of her.
“You’re kidding,” Love said.
“I wish I was.”
Orm set her coffee down a little too carefully. “Is it confirmed?”
“Yes. We’ve already verified it. Big news outlets have already gotten their noses in it. You know the rest.” Film glanced between them. “If we move forward with them, we’re taking on a legal risk. A big one.”
Love ran a hand through her hair. “Oh, brilliant. What are we going to do now? The client’s expecting a full proposal today. With them included.” The frustration in her voice was evident.
And whatever Love was feeling, Orm felt it too. If not, a hundred times worse.
Orm clicked her tongue. Damn those money-grubbing sharks. The project was already enough to handle. Did they really have to make it even more of a hassle than it needed to be?
“Then we drop them.” Orm said.
Love looked at her incredulously. “Just like that?”
Orm nodded. “Just like that.”
“With the nearing deadline?”
“With the nearing deadline.”
Orm and Love shared a heavy silence before Film cut through the silence.
“Exactly. We need to pull out before this gets tied to us.” Film agreed.
Love let out a frustrated breath. “So what, we just scrap everything? Weeks of planning—gone?”
“Of course not,” Orm said, sharper than she meant to. Then, calmer: “There's nothing else we can do at this point but to adjust.”
Both of them looked at her.
“We tell the client there’s been a change in circumstances,” she continued. “Keep it clean, keep it professional. We don’t name details unless we have to. Then we offer alternatives.”
“Alternatives,” Love repeated. “You mean… find another contractor?”
“Yes.” Orm said, crossing her legs. “And fast.”
Love crossed her arms. “You do know that’s not exactly a small task you're asking for, right?”
“Yeah well, the universe certainly isn’t making things easier for everyone right now, does it?” Orm replied, coming off more nonchalant than intended, which earned her an unimpressed look from both Love and Film.
Orm sighed. “Okay, look,” she says as she straightens up. “It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Orm said. “It just has to be solid enough to keep the project moving.”
Love gave a short laugh. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Orm said pointedly. “But standing here panicking isn’t helping either.”
Another brief silence settled in, heavier this time, but focused.
Finally, Film nodded. “Alright. I’ll coordinate with procurement, see who we can vet quickly.”
“I’ll rework the technical scope,” Love added, already reaching for her plans again.
Orm picked up her phone, already scrolling through contacts. “I’ll handle the client.”
She paused for a second, staring at the blank notifications screen—still empty.
I don’t know why you’re still even hoping. Orm thinks to herself. Then she locked it and slipped it into her pocket.
“Let’s move,” she said.
So much for a normal day.
Later that day, with the sky settling into a quiet wash of sepia…
Orm sank into her office chair, finally allowing herself a moment to breathe. The adrenaline of the morning had long worn off, replaced by the slow, throbbing exhaustion that came from thinking ten steps ahead while the world insisted on falling apart beneath her feet.
She rubbed her temples.
Why had problems ever been invented? Who thought it was great to have a problem at all? Contractor problems. Client management. Redrafting the entire scope. And on top of that—
A soft buzz rattled her phone on the table.
Prigkhing: Babe. Emergency.
Ying: We’re kidnapping you.
Charlotte: Wear something cute. We’re not taking no for an answer.
Orm blinked. “…What?”
Her fingers rapidly tapped across the screen of her phone to key in her reply.
Orm: Can’t tonight. Company problems.
It hasn’t even been a minute when a reply came.
Charlotte: Company as in.. Firm problems or company as in.. situationship problem?
Because, you know, I can think of another problem that starts with the letter ‘F.’
“Unbelievable.” Orm mutters to herself.
Before she could type a reply, another message came in.
Prigkhing: WOW okay, straight into it, I see.
Charlotte: On a more serious note, there’s actually somebody I want you to meet.
So, I’d love it if you could come, Ormie.
Orm scoffs.
Orm: Over drinks? If this is another attempt to throw me into the blind dating scheme, I don’t want any of it.
Ying: We promise it’s not a blind date set-up. Meet us at our usual at 8PM, babe.
Orm: Fine.
The hum of Bangkok traffic had melted into its nightly rhythm by the time Orm stepped into their usual bar. It was a low-lit, familiar refuge tucked between a florist and a tattoo studio. Warm bass thrummed through the floor, glasses clinked, and someone’s laughter rang across the room.
And right near their corner booth,
“There she is!” Prigkhing announced like she’d discovered a missing house pet. “Our depressed little architect.”
“I’m not depressed,” Orm said flatly.
Ying squinted at her like she was solving a forensic case. “Mmm. Dark eye bags. Soulless posture. The energy of someone who wants to walk into traffic.” She nodded, dead serious. “Yup. Classic Freen-related distress.”
“Oh, great,” Charlotte chimed in. “What’d she do this time? Forget your birthday? Leave in the middle of the night again? Breathe incorrectly?”
Orm groaned. “Guys. Oh my god.”
Prigkhing gasped. “She said guys. That’s the tone of someone suffering.”
“I’m not suffering,” Orm insisted.
“Lies,” Ying said. “Your aura is wilting.”
Orm glared at all three of them before sliding into the seat next to Ying.
Charlotte leaned forward, voice dropping like a therapist trying to coax out trauma. “Sweetheart, you know you can tell us.”
Orm stared at them. Then sighed—a long, heavy, soul-deep sigh.
“It’s not Freen.”
They froze.
Then—
Prigkhing scoffed. “Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England.”
Ying raised a brow. “Try again.”
Charlotte patted her shoulder sympathetically. “Denial? Very Freen-coded of you.”
Orm closed her eyes. “I’m seriously going to walk out of this bar.”
“Yeah, and get run over by traffic?” Ying said. “Perfect! Freen will visit you in the hospital. Forced proximity. Emotional confession arc.”
“Oh my god,” Orm muttered.
Finally, she sat up and glared at them—half-hearted at best. “It’s. Not. Freen. It’s work.”
Prigkhing blinked. “Work?”
Here friends have every right to bein disbelief. After all, it was rare for Orm to worry about her work.
“Yes. Work.”
Ying frowned. “So.. you’re stressed because of… work?”
“Yes.”
Charlotte hesitated. “Like… actual work-work? Not ‘Freen did something again’ work?”
“YES,” Orm snapped, throwing her hands up.
A beat passed. Then the three exchanged looks like they were witnessing a historically significant plot twist.
Prigkhing leaned in. “Okay, explain. Because this is the first time in history Freen is not the problem.”
Orm pinched the bridge of her nose. “The contractor we hired got caught in a financial misconduct case. They’re now under investigation, so naturally, we had to drop them. The client presentation is tomorrow, and we need a new one fast.”
“Oof,” Ying winced. “That is ugly.”
“Ugly, expensive, and time-sensitive,” Charlotte added. “A lethal combination.”
Prigkhing placed both hands on Orm’s shoulders. “Sweetie. Baby. Angel. Light of our lives. You should’ve led with that instead of making us emotionally prepare for another Freen disaster.”
Ying pointed at Orm. “But also, statistically speaking, it was a very reasonable assumption.”
Charlotte nodded. “Seventy percent of Orm-related distress is Freen.”
“Seventy?” Ying snorted. “Try ninety.”
Orm groaned. “I hate all of you.”
“No you don’t,” Prigkhing said cheerfully, tugging her out of her seat. “Now come on. Drinks.”
“I hope my dad comes and takes me in my sleep tonight.”
All three stared at her.
Because… Orm’s dad is in heaven. Meaning: he'd be taking her out of the world.
“Nope,” Ying cut in quickly. “Absolutely not. You have us.”
“And cocktails,” Charlotte added. “Very strong cocktails.”
Prigkhing winked. “And who knows? Maybe tonight the universe will give you someone not named Freen to think about.”
Orm rolled her eyes, defeated. “So? Where’s this someone you wanted me to meet, Char?”
Charlotte’s smirk softened into something warmer. “She’s in the restroom. She should be back any-”
A voice chimed beside Orm.
“Sorry, I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
Charlotte brightened instantly. “Oh! Orm, this is Engfa—my date tonight.”
Orm turned and met a pair of warm brown eyes. The woman, Engfa, offered a sweet smile as she reached out a hand.
“Nice to finally meet the legendary Orm.” Engfa said as they shook hands.
“Legendary?” Orm raised a brow.
“Charlotte talks,” Engfa said lightly, entering the booth and settling next to Charlotte. “A lot.”
Prigkhing snorted. “Mostly about your inability to stop working.”
Ying shot Orm a pointed look. “And how she refuses to let go of—”
“Don’t,” Orm warned.
Ying lifted her hands. “…her contractor problems.”
At that, Engfa gave Orm a look of sympathy. Contractor problems are always so messy, and she knows that because (1) She's a lawyer and (2) She represents her best friend's contracting firm.
Charlotte nudged Engfa. “Speaking of which-tell her.”
Engfa crossed one leg over the other, eyes bright. “I actually have a friend who works with one of the reputable contracting firms in Bangkok. Great reputation, clean books, fast turnaround. If you’re scrambling for options, I can introduce you.”
Orm blinked, caught off guard.
Prigkhing raised a brow. “See? Not everything starts with ‘F’. Some solutions start with ‘E’.”
Ying grinned. “Though Freen still starts with—”
“Ying.”
Ying smiled sweetly. “Just checking if your blood pressure is still functional.”
Prigkhing clinked her glass. “Alright, children. Drinks first, teasing later.”
Orm exhaled, tension finally easing. She could only pray that tonight wasn’t doomed after all.