Chapter 3

The sobs wracked Orm's body, her arms tight around Ling as if she were a life raft in a storm. It had been five minutes, maybe more, of this clinging embrace. Ling, initially allowing it with a grimace of sympathy, was now bordering on irritation. The meticulously planned operation, the one she'd spent orchestrating, was teetering on the edge of collapse because of this... display.

Sighing, Ling gently, but firmly, pushed Orm away. "Umm... I'm sorry to interrupt this... grief, but I really need to get going. I have some important things to do." She made a move to leave, but Orm, her eyes red and swollen, grabbed her hand, her grip surprisingly strong.

"What now?" Orm's voice was strained, thick with unshed tears.

Ling hesitated, a flicker of impatience crossing her face. This wasn't the time for emotional breakdowns. "Did you... Did you meet her last time?" Orm's fingers tightened, a silent plea.

"No." Ling's voice was clipped, efficient. She forced herself to soften it. "No, I didn't. But I found out some things. Things that make me think she wasn't just... some random accident. I don't believe that anymore." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Mei was trying to save someone she called 'Tanya.' Someone "R" was keeping in that place."

The color drained from Orm's face. Her eyes widened in shock. "Tanya? The former employee of Tan? They said she resigned because she died, too. They told everyone she and her parents were in a car accident and they all passed away. But... but now there's behind it." Her voice trembled, barely a whisper.

"Yeah," Ling confirmed, a cold dread settling in her stomach. "And I don't know where Mei's body is. Maybe they burned it, threw it somewhere...we might never find it. We have to accept that." The last sentence was said with a clinical detachment that belied the turmoil inside her.

Orm's composure crumbled again. Tears welled up, threatening to overflow. She lunged forward, pulling Ling into another hug, this time tighter, more desperate. "I... I can't believe what they did to her," she choked out, her voice muffled against Ling's shoulder.

Ling stiffened, immediately pulling back. She was done with this. "Look, can you please stop hugging me? We are practically strangers, yet you're so clingy." The annoyance in her voice was palpable, the carefully constructed facade of sympathy finally cracking.

Orm flinched, the accusation landing like a blow. "Why don't you have any empathy for her?" she asked, her voice filled with hurt and confusion.

Ling sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "Really? You think I came all this way, risked everything, just for a social call? I'm here to make them pay for what they did to my sister. And maybe to her close friend too." She glared at Orm, her patience worn thin. "Ugh... Miss, stop hugging me so much. We're not close." She finally managed to untangle herself from Orm's grasp.

Orm slowly wiped the tears from her face, her gaze fixed on Ling. "I'm glad you look like just her," she said, her voice soft, almost wistful.

Ling raised an eyebrow, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "Yeah... that's because we're twins, duh." The sarcasm was a shield, a way to keep the raw emotion at bay. This wasn't about shared grief or sisterly solidarity. This was about justice, about revenge, and she couldn't afford to get bogged down in anyone's feelings. Not even her own.

The clatter of dropped papers echoed in the otherwise quiet office lobby. "Oh goodness, are you okay Orm?" Kate rushed over, her face etched with concern. Ling, standing slightly behind, observed the scene with a detached curiosity. This woman, the one Kate called Orm, was a stranger to her, yet she was the focal point of this unexpected drama.

Orm nodded, a small, reassuring smile playing on her lips. "I'm fine."

Kate, however, didn't seem convinced. Her gaze shifted, lingering on Ling. "Mei, it's been a while..." Kate's words trailed off, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and something Ling couldn't quite decipher. Orm, meanwhile, snuggled into Ling's side, her arm looping around Ling's waist.

"Yes, Mei was working so hard...I thought she's gone so I cried," Orm said with a touch of theatricality, pressing a quick kiss on Ling's cheek. Ling, completely out of her element, stiffened slightly, her face registering a mixture of surprise and awkward amusement.

"Umm...yeah, I had to deal with my other work..." Ling replied, playing along, trying to figure how to navigate this bizarre situation. She was pretending to be 'Mei.' She looked at Orm, then back to Kate, trying to keep a neutral expression.

A sarcastic smile touched Kate's lips. "Oh what a shame, I thought you're going to be busy forever but I have to go to work now..." Kate turned and walked away, heels clicking on the polished floor, leaving Ling and Orm alone.

Immediately, Orm pulled Ling towards the restroom, and once inside, Ling pulled her into a stall, ensuring some privacy. "Oh, now you're telling everyone I'm Mei, that's great," Ling said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Orm sighed. "I thought you were here to bring justice for Mei, isn't it?"

"It is," Ling confirmed, her eyes narrowing, "I just have to beat the CEO and all of them with my own hands."

Orm's eyes widened. "Ling, it's not that easy. You don't have to do this by yourself. You should tell or report to the police, ask lawyers..."

Ling scoffed, a wave of disbelief washing over her. "As if that's a problem-solving idea? Then Mei should be alive now, saved! But alright, I agree to be Mei, temporarily, as long as justice is served."

Orm's shoulders relaxed, a small smile returning. "At first, let me tell you, at least, Mei is always cheerful, happy, loves eating dumplings, bananas, and wearing glasses."

"Alright, thanks for the info." Ling paused, extending her hand. "What's your name?"

"Orm."

"Just Orm, nice..."

"It's Kornnaphat Sethratanapong. They call me Orm," she said clearly. Ling stared at her, then laughed, the sound echoing slightly off the stall walls.

"It's a long name, and yet I'm supposed to call you 'honey baby,'" Ling said sarcastically, a playful glint in her eyes.

"You're supposed to compliment me, Baobao, love, babe, not honey baby. They get suspicious," Orm corrected, her cheeks flushing slightly.

They left the stall, the easy banter creating a sense of shared purpose. Orm explained that she was assigned to guard the CEO's office, and this time, she would bring Ling with her. As they walked towards the CEO's floor, Ling couldn't help but wonder how far this strange, unexpected partnership, born from deceit and a thirst for justice, would take them. The journey had just begun, and the path ahead seemed both dangerous and exhilarating. Ling felt a thrill, a sense of purpose igniting within her, and realized: this wasn't about impersonating someone; this was about finding justice for a lost soul and, perhaps, finding herself in the process.

Tan was meticulously stacking the last of his papers, the crisp edges aligning with the precision he demanded in all aspects of his life. He glanced at his two female bodyguards, Orm and Ling, stationed near the door. Orm, as usual, was engrossed in her phone, probably scrolling through social media, while Ling seemed to be studying the wall with an almost unnerving intensity. The thought of switching to male bodyguards had been growing in his mind, the incessant chatter and distractions from his current team grating on his nerves.

He stood abruptly, the sudden movement causing his chair to scrape against the polished floor. His eyes widened, disbelief warring with a strange, unwelcome hope. There, standing in front of him, wasn't Ling, but Mei. Or, at least, someone who looked exactly like her. Mei, who was dead, according to his sources.

"Mei?" he blurted out, his voice a mix of shock and disbelief. "You're back? But... I told you to work with my other clients now. I was planning to go to the Bravo Security Agency, to get male bodyguards. I couldn't stand Orm and other girls working with me. They had nothing to do but talking while I'm in the meeting."

Ling, or Mei, or whoever she was, sighed dramatically, a gesture that was so distinctly Mei it made Tan's throat tighten. "It's not bad to come back here, Mr. CEO."

Tan's initial shock began to morph into anger. "Since you didn't follow what I told you, I will complain to your agency. The both of you." He reached for his phone, but Ling moved with surprising speed, her fingers wrapping around his wrist, stopping him. Orm, with her usual lack of awareness, looked from Ling to Tan, worry creasing her brow.

"What's wrong now that I'm back?" Ling said, a hint of playful defiance in her voice. "I want to work, and I have plans with Orm." She then reached out and affectionately grabbed Orm's arm, giving it a squeeze and a wink, all before looking back at Tan.

Tan felt a strange combination of anger and confusion. He pointed to the door. "Orm, could you leave us for a moment? I want to talk to Mei in private."

Orm silently slipped out of the room, her eyes wide with unease. Once they were alone, Tan turned to Ling, the veneer of professionalism slipping. "My men told me you're dead. You died in a car accident..." He couldn't bring himself to say how he really knew about Mei's death— the information delivered by the same shadowy man he'd employed to deal with her supposed carelessness.

Ling's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability replacing the previous teasing. "Is that so?" she said, her voice almost a whisper. "Look, I was in a car accident, but I survived and never told anyone about it because I was afraid to lose the one I love."

Tan raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Really? Suddenly changing your mind after what happened? I mean, after the careless thing you did." He hated that he kept bringing up her mistakes.

A flicker of something—confusion, maybe even a hint of fear—crossed Ling's face. "What? I can't remember what happened after the accident..."

Tan chuckled, a short, humorless sound. Mei, or Ling as she should now probably be called, was studying him with an unnerving intensity, her eyes darting around his face, clearly trying to put something together.

"Oh, really? Like you're playing amnesia with me? Are you playing games with me?" Tan asked, his tone sharp.

"If I could, but I am doing my job," Ling said, her voice losing the teasing edge and dropping into a professional tone, though her gaze stayed locked on his. "I was not going to help anyone until you said so from now on...I was trying to remember what happened. A little mild injury, the doctor said. The past is now confusing me."

Her gaze was a little too much, Tan thought. He crossed his arms and finally met her stare directly. "Promise me, if you keep this secret between us, I won't let you leave and complain to your agency. You know who you talk to. This time, be careful with your actions, Mei. From now on, stop meddling with what to do and just do your fucking job!"

A slow, almost satisfied smile spread across Mei's face, the familiar crinkles appearing around her eyes. "Got it, boss."

Tan watched her, a knot of suspicion twisting in his gut. Something wasn't adding up, but the threat of more unwanted female body guards was pushing him. He had a feeling this was going to be a very interesting period of his life. The familiarity of Mei was definitely playing a role in his decision, though. The games have begun.

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions churning within Ling. Tan's dismissal still stung, a cold dismissal veiled in fabricated concern for Mei's supposed accident. The lie, so blatant and cowardly, fueled Ling's determination. She needed answers, and Tan's fear was a compass pointing her in the right direction.

Leaving the main office, Ling headed towards the vending machine, the rhythmic clack of her heels echoing in the quiet hallway. She desperately needed something to ground her, a simple, familiar comfort in the face of mounting complexities. The metallic tang of the vending machine and the crinkle of the chip bag did little to soothe her. She was about to pop a chip into her mouth when a soft voice startled her.

"So what he told you?" Orm's question cut through Ling's thoughts, her presence a silent, unexpected arrival. Orm stood there, arms crossed, her expression a mask of calm curiosity. Ling hadn't even noticed her follow.

"It seems he's still scared of me," Ling said, her voice a mixture of frustration and bitterness. "He thinks I'll tell everyone, so he's acting like Mei was in an accident. Even when it was...something else. He's just so afraid to reveal what it is."

Orm nodded, her gaze unwavering. "How can your plan start then?"

Ling sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down. "I guess I have to visit Mei's apartment again. Look for more clues. And... maybe just stay there. I miss her presence, maybe it would be good to drink alone." The thought of Mei's apartment, her space, brought a pang of sadness. It felt like a tangible connection to the mystery she was trying to unravel.

Ling turned to leave, a sense of purpose, however fragile, guiding her steps. But Orm stopped her, her hand gently resting on Ling's arm. "You can't leave like that. Now that they think you're Mei, you have to be here until the end of the day. Sometimes they let us know if we have an early day off or something. It's like a freelancing job we have."

Ling frowned, "Freelance?"

"Yeah," Orm explained, "It's like you're temporarily working for him. We have a contract, and after the contract is done, we go back to our agency, look for another client. That's how it goes."

The pieces clicked in Ling's mind. This wasn't a typical employment situation. This explained the odd lack of a formal work environment. "Oh dear," she murmured, a hint of disbelief in her tone. "Why would you choose being a bodyguard? You could be a model, a vlogger, a waitress..."

Orm's lips twitched into a sly smile. "Why? Because you underestimate some women bodyguards like me." Her voice held a hint of sarcasm that was both playful and challenging.

Ling chuckled, shaking her head. "No, of course not. Women can be strong in whatever careers they choose. It's just... you look like a model."

Orm's smile widened, a trace of genuine flattery softening her features. "Oh, is that so? Thanks."

As Orm smiled, something shifted in Ling's focus. Her gaze lingered, drawn to Orm's figure, to the way her pants hugged her legs. A sudden, unexpected wave of desire washed over her, a fleeting but undeniable urge. She quickly directed her gaze elsewhere, trying to bury the inappropriate thought.

Orm snapped her fingers in front of Ling's eyes, effectively breaking the spell. "Stop being so distracted. We should get working now..."

Ling nodded, a slight blush rising on her cheeks. She took another chip, the salty taste a poor substitute for the strange longing she had just experienced. They turned away from the vending machine, walking side-by-side towards the room where the other agents were working, the hum of phone calls and keyboards their new soundtrack.

Ling shifted her weight from one foot to the other, the concrete floor feeling particularly hard beneath her boots. An hour. An entire hour had passed, and all she'd done was stand there, a human statue. Orm, beside her, was the picture of stoic professionalism, scanning the area with the practiced ease that only came from years of experience. Ling, however, felt like she was slowly turning into moss.

"Wow, this is how my job would be exciting, huh," she said, the sarcasm dripping from each word. She half-turned, itching to stretch her legs, to do anything other than just... exist in this particular spot.

Orm's gaze snapped to her, a subtle warning in his eyes. "This is how your job works, remember?" she said, her voice calm, but with an edge of finality.

Ling groaned internally, her annoyance bubbling to the surface. "You are here to work, yes, but I'm not here to entertain this job," she retorted, gesturing with an impatient hand. "You guys are so old school. Tell me where I can watch the cameras; at least give me something to do. There are so many here."

Orm's brows furrowed slightly. "Are you out of your mind? You got here and wanted to look for the CCTV control room immediately? We just started!"

Ling sighed, the air escaping her lungs in a frustrated whoosh. "Ugh, fine. I guess it won't be an easy task." She knew she needed to prove herself, but the stagnant boredom was already grating on her nerves.

Just then, a figure hurried towards them, her heels clicking sharply on the concrete. It was Prim, her face a mixture of stress and exasperation, with a small boy trailing behind her. Tam, Prim's son, looked a little sleepy but also excited, clutching a small, worn-out teddy bear.

"Goodness, you're here," Prim said, her voice tight. "You have to take care of Tam, both of you. I need you to take him to karate class today, I have absolutely no time for that, because I have work to do. And Mei," Prim added, her tone shifting to exasperated frustration, "next time respond to my calls!"

"Umm... I know, but my phone is broken, and I will buy a new phone," Ling replied immediately, mimicking Mei's hesitant tone perfectly. She couldn't help the small smirk that played on her lips.

Orm chuckled softly. "Alright boss, we can handle it," she said, her voice a gentle reassurance. Tam, hearing Orm's voice, abandoned his teddy bear and wrapped her arms tightly around Orm's leg.

"You're so clingy, little man, even when I'm not your mother," Orm said, ruffling Tam's hair with a fondness that surprised even Ling.

"Don't forget your jobs, girls!" Prim warned them before hurrying away, leaving Ling and Orm standing there with a small, energetic boy with them.

Ling sighed again, resigned to her fate. Being a bodyguard apparently also meant being an impromptu babysitter. "Ugh... another boring karate class," Tam complained, dragging his feet a little.

Ling smirked, sensing his frustration. "We had no choice but to take you there," she said, trying to sound a little less bored. "But tell us, where is your karate class?"

"Okay," Tam replied, his face lightening a little at the thought of his class.

The three of them headed towards the parking lot, Ling sliding into the driver's seat, Orm squeezing into the passenger side, and Tam clambering into the back. As Ling started the engine, she caught Orm's eye in the rearview mirror. He raised an eyebrow, a silent communication passing between them - this job was definitely going to be challenging, and not in the way she'd expected.

As she pulled away from the warehouse, Ling wondered how her first day of "exciting" bodyguard duty would unfold. One thing was for sure, it was off to an unexpected start, and she had the odd feeling that it was just going to get weirder.

Ling, a young woman with a mischievous smile and piercing eyes, leaned against the wall of the unassuming karate school. Her eyes were drawn to the figure of Tam, a new student, as he focused intently on the task before him. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he tried to break the thin strip of wood with a precise chop, his knuckles white with the effort. The instructor, a stern man with a thick mustache, barked out orders, his voice echoing through the room.

"Is that all they've got?" Ling mused to herself, watching Tam's strained face. "It's like trying to chop a watermelon with a spoon." She took a sip of water from the plastic cup in her hand, the condensation slipping through her fingers and trickling down her wrist. Her gaze flicked to Orm, her friend, who was watching the scene with a mix of fascination and skepticism.

Orm, noticing Ling's amusement, couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess you're used to tougher challenges?"

Ling's smirk grew wider, her eyes gleaming with a hint of challenge. "You have no idea." She took another sip of her water, this time more deliberately. With a playful glint in her eye, she allowed the liquid to spill over the rim of the cup and down her chin, the cool droplets landing on the crotch of her sweatpants. She gasped exaggeratedly, feigning surprise as the water darkened the fabric.

Orm's eyes widened, and she immediately jumped to her feet, a tissue already in hand. "Oh no, Ling, your pants!" she exclaimed, rushing over. But as she reached out to help, she realized she'd made a mistake. The fabric of Ling's pants was indeed damp, but not just from the water. The unmistakable bulge beneath it made Orm's cheeks flush and her heart race. She stumbled back, her own hand flying to her mouth in shock.

"Is everything okay?" the instructor called out, noticing the commotion.

"It's nothing, just an accident," Ling replied with a wink at Orm, who was still frozen in place, her eyes glued to the wet spot.

Orm stuttered an apology and quickly turned away, her mind racing. She felt a strange mix of embarrassment and arousal that she hadn't experienced before. She rushed into the bathroom, the sound of the karate class fading as she shut the door behind her. Leaning against the cool tile wall, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She could feel her own arousal growing, the dampness between her legs mirroring Ling's. She looked down at the water stain on the floor and realized what had happened. Ling had done it on purpose.