WHISPERS OF LINGORM : A One-Shot Anthology - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

"Ling, are you ready?" Namtan asked, knocking on the door.
"Yes, Namtan, come in," Ling replied with a mix of excitement and calmness.
Namtan entered the room and smiled at the sight of Ling. She was wearing a breathtaking deep emerald green gown, its silk fabric shimmering under the light. The gown hugged her figure perfectly, with delicate golden embroidery tracing the hem and neckline. The elegant low back and thin straps added a touch of allure, while the flowing skirt brushed against the floor, making her look like royalty. Ling's face glowed with happiness, and the smile she wore was radiant—today was the day she would marry Orm, and nothing could spoil her joy.
"How do I look?" Ling asked
"Absolutely stunning," Namtan said, grinning. "Today, Orm won’t be able to take her eyes off you."
Ling blushed at the mention of Orm's name. "I'm so happy," she whispered to herself, her heart racing at the thought of the woman she loved.
"Let's go," Namtan said, "Freen's waiting outside, and you can't be late for your own wedding."
Ling smiled. "I’ll drive myself. You two go ahead. I need to pick something up for Orm. I'll meet you at the venue."
"Are you sure? We can accompany you" Namtan asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I am sure!" Ling replied confidently. "Go ahead. I'll be there in a bit."
Ling climbed into her car, her heart still fluttering with excitement. She was heading to pick up the custom-made necklace she had ordered for Orm. It was a delicate piece of jewelry—silver diamond with a sapphire pendant, symbolizing her love and commitment. The thought of presenting it to Orm filled her with joy.
As she drove through the winding coastal roads, the morning sun glinted off the ocean. As she drove, her mind replayed the memories of the past—the challenges, the doubts, and the moments of joy. She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. How far they had come, together.
Ling was just an ordinary girl. She wasn’t rich—coming from a middle-class family—but she was well-educated and had a steady job. She worked as a content strategist for a local marketing firm, managing digital campaigns and creating content strategies for clients. Despite her humble beginnings, she always stayed focused on improving herself, and she was always ready for a better opportunity.
Life was going smoothly until 2032 when fate brought her and Orm Kornnaphat Sethratanapong together. Orm was the heiress to one of Bangkok's most prestigious hotel chains. Their first meeting had been unexpected, occurring at a work event where Orm had been invited to give a speech about her family's hotel business. Ling was a guest there as part of a digital marketing project for the event. She had been tasked with capturing the event's highlights. Orm, noticing Ling’s skill and focus, had approached her. Their initial conversation was professional, but an undeniable connection formed. That conversation blossomed into a beautiful friendship, and soon after, their mutual understanding deepened into love.
Ling had fallen in love first, but she never confessed her feelings, hesitant due to her doubts about their differences in status. But when Orm finally confessed her love, Ling couldn’t hold back any longer. She reciprocated, but the path to their love wasn’t easy. Orm’s parents, who were staunch about maintaining their high societal standing, refused to accept Ling, seeing her middle-class background as a threat to their family’s reputation. But despite the odds, the couple fought for their love, overcoming all obstacles. And now, today, they were about to marry.
For a moment, everything seemed perfect. But that perfection was about to shatter in an instant.
A truck coming from the opposite direction suddenly swerved violently into her lane, its tires screeching as it lost control. Ling barely had time to react. She slammed on the brakes, but the car was already too close, and the vehicle was hurtling toward her at a terrifying speed.
In a desperate attempt to avoid the crash, Ling swerved to the right, but the other car's impact sent her vehicle spinning uncontrollably. The screech of metal against asphalt filled the air as Ling's car slammed into the guardrail, the force of the crash causing the vehicle to flip once, then twice, before it came to a violent halt against a concrete pillar.
The impact was catastrophic—Ling’s head crashed violently against the side window, her body jerked harshly with the force of the collision. The airbag failed to deploy in time, leaving her face slamming against the steering wheel, and everything went black.
Ling’s body was left motionless in the crumpled wreckage. Blood trickled from a deep gash on her forehead, and her head throbbed with an unbearable pain. Her neck and back were stiff, and her arms were pinned, immobile. A crushing silence followed as the car's engine sputtered and died, and Ling’s breath came in shallow gasps.
For a moment, she tried to move her fingers, to scream, but her body didn’t respond. Her vision was blurry, and the world around her was spinning. Her consciousness faded in and out as she fought to stay awake, her last thoughts filled with Orm and the life they had planned together.
As the world around her grew darker, her body slipping into unconsciousness, she realized she couldn’t hold on any longer. The crash had been worse than she could have imagined—the pain, the shock, the utter stillness that followed.
The moment she lost consciousness, it felt like everything she had worked for, everything she loved, was slipping away from her.
Orm stood before the mirror, her eyes fixed on her reflection as she adjusted the lace straps of her wedding gown. The dress was exquisite—white silk that hugged her figure perfectly, with delicate floral embroidery cascading down the train. It was the kind of gown she had once imagined wearing, but standing there now, she felt a quiet mix of anticipation and nervous energy.
"You’re glowing, you know that, right?" Becky said, leaning casually against the doorframe with an encouraging grin.
Orm smiled faintly, though her fingers still fidgeted with the delicate fabric. "Do I really look okay? I mean… everything’s perfect, right?"
"Okay?" Becky raised an eyebrow. "Orm, you look like you stepped out of a dream. Ling won’t even know what hit her."
That brought a small laugh out of Orm, and she finally relaxed, just a little. The room buzzed with a comforting calm. The teasing remarks about “Mrs.Kwong” from earlier echoed in her mind, and she couldn’t help but smile. Today wasn’t just her wedding day; it was the day she and Ling had fought so hard for—a love that had weathered every storm.
But just as she adjusted her veil, her phone buzzed on the vanity, cutting through the moment. Becky picked it up and handed it to her. "Unknown number," she said, shrugging.
Orm hesitated, a strange feeling flickering in her chest, but she brushed it off. Taking the call, she brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Is this Orm Kornnaphat Sethratanapong?" A voice, steady but official, responded.
"Yes, speaking, Who is this?"
"This is Officer Kittisak from the Phuket Police Department. We’ve had an accident, and the individual involved, Lingling Kwong—had your number saved as an emergency contact in their phone. The phone was almost dead when it was found, but before it powered off, we were able to retrieve the contact and her license from the car. We’ve already rushed her to the hospital," the officer explained, his voice clear and professional.
Orm’s world seemed to pause. "Ling... an accident? What happened?" she managed to whisper, a cold chill running down her spine.
The officer’s tone remained calm, but there was a quiet urgency in his words. "The car she was in collided on the way here. We don’t have much details, but she has been taken to the hospital for treatment. We suggest you come immediately. I’ll provide the hospital address." He quickly relayed the details of the hospital, emphasizing the need to hurry.
Orm stood frozen for a moment, her hand trembling as the phone slipped from her grip. It fell to the floor with a soft thud, but she didn’t hear it. Her mind was racing, trying to process the officer’s words, but all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart.
"Ling..." Orm whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. She looked up, her face pale as panic began to overtake her.
Her best friend, Becky, rushed over, immediately sensing something was terribly wrong. "Orm? What is it? What happened?"
"I... I need to go. Ling’s been in an accident," Orm managed to say, her words almost incoherent as the shock hit her all at once. She stumbled, her knees weak as her world spun.
Becky’s face drained of color. "What? Where is she? What happened?"
"She’s at the hospital... I need to get there now," Orm said, voice breaking. She quickly moved toward the door, but her legs felt like they were made of lead. Her thoughts were a blur, and all she could focus on was getting to Ling.
Before she could make it outside, Ling’s parents arrived, their faces filled with concern as they immediately rushed toward Orm, seeing her distress.
"Orm, what’s wrong? What happened?" Ling’s mother asked, her voice filled with alarm.
Orm could barely speak. Her chest tightened, and her words were nearly drowned by the tears that began to fall. "Ling... she’s been in an accident. The police... they called..." Orm trailed off, unable to form more sentences.
Ling’s father, his face pale, took Orm’s hands in, his grip firm but gentle. "Where is she? What hospital is she at?" he asked urgently, his voice laced with concern.
Orm wiped her eyes, trying to steady herself. "The police said she’s been taken to the hospital. The officer said they rushed her there after the accident... but I don’t know any more details. We need to go. We need to get to her."
Without a word, Ling’s parents nodded, their faces a mixture of fear and determination. They immediately moved toward the cars, and Orm, still trembling, followed them, her heart pounding in her chest.
As they drove to the hospital, Orm couldn’t shake the image of Ling, unconscious or hurt, and it felt as though the world around her had come to a halt. Her thoughts raced, but she couldn’t focus on anything except the hospital—she needed to see Ling, to make sure she was okay.
The weight of the situation pressed down on her chest, and every second felt like an eternity.
Once they reached the hospital, they rushed inside, but the atmosphere was thick with tension. Nurses and doctors were moving quickly, Orm’s stomach turned as she scanned the area, looking for any sign of Ling.
Her eyes darted to the reception desk, where the staff were speaking to a police officer. He turned and noticed Orm approaching. "Officer" she whispered
"You’re here for LingLing Kwong?" he asked gently, but there was uncertainty in his eyes.
Orm nodded, her throat tight. "How is she? Is she okay?" Her voice cracked as she fought to keep herself together.
"I’m afraid... we’re still waiting for the full assessment. She’s in critical condition, but they’re doing everything they can," the officer said, his voice professional but sympathetic.
Ling’s parents moved closer to the officer, seeking any details they could get. Orm remained silent, standing frozen in the hallway, her mind spinning. She could barely breathe, her heart aching with every passing second.
The officer continued, "The car accident involved a collision with a truck. The details are still being processed, but the vehicle Ling was in was heavily damaged. Only the emergency contact was retrieved from her phone before it powered off."
The officer paused, offering a quiet apology. "We’re doing everything we can, but please, be patient. We’ll let you know as soon as we have more information."
Orm’s body felt numb, tears flowing relentlessly. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms. She couldn’t even bear the thought of losing ling, her love,her companion, her everything.
But right now all she could do was wait, her thoughts a swirl of fear and desperation. She prayed, silently, that Ling would make it through.
The hospital waiting room was a mosaic of despair. Orm sat crumpled in her chair, her once-pristine wedding dress now a disheveled reminder of a day that was meant to symbolize joy. Her sobs came in broken gasps, her hands trembling as Becky knelt beside her, whispering words of comfort that felt hollow amidst the chaos.
Ling’s parents sat in a corner, her mother clutching her father’s arm as tears streaked her face. Orm’s parents had arrived too, their expressions etched with shock and worry. Namtaan and Fareen stood nearby, their usual lively demeanor replaced by solemn silence, while Film, rubbed her temples, her own anguish barely concealed.
When the doctor finally stepped into the room, every head turned, the anticipation suffocating. He approached cautiously, his face grave, clipboard in hand.
"Are you all here for Miss Kwong?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with empathy.
Orm surged to her feet, her knees buckling slightly before Becky caught her arm. "How is she? Is she... okay?" Orm’s voice cracked, her eyes swollen from crying.
The doctor inhaled deeply, his professionalism faltering for a moment. "Miss Kwong sustained a severe traumatic brain injury during the collision. The force of impact caused significant intracranial swelling, and she’s currently barerly managing her vitals. Despite our intervention, she’s slipped into a coma."
The words landed like a hammer, shattering the fragile hope that had clung to the room. Orm’s legs gave out, and Becky barely managed to lower her into the chair. Ling’s mother broke into uncontrollable sobs, her husband’s arms tightening around her as though he could shield her from the pain.
Namtaan took a shaky step forward. "A... a coma? What does that mean for her? Will she wake up?"
The doctor’s gaze softened, though his expression remained somber. "Comas are unpredictable. Her Glasgow Coma Scale score is low, indicating a deep state of unconsciousness. We’ve reduced the brain swelling for now, but... it’s uncertain when or if she’ll regain consciousness. The next 48 hours are critical."
Orm’s breath hitched as the room spun around her. "No... no, she’ll wake up," she whispered, her voice trembling with desperation. "She has to. She promised she’d be with me."
The doctor nodded empathetically. "We’ll do everything we can. She’s in the ICU now, and you’ll be able to visit her shortly."
The darkness was consuming, yet faint flickers of light danced in the distance—fragile and fleeting. Ling’s thoughts were scattered, disjointed, as though she was swimming through a thick, suffocating fog.
Orm’s laughter echoed faintly, a distant melody Ling tried to grasp. Her mind reached out, but her body wouldn’t respond. Shadows loomed around her, shapeless and unyielding, whispering words she couldn’t comprehend.
A faint warmth enveloped her, and for a brief moment, she thought she heard Orm’s voice calling her name.
"Ling......."