The Girl Who Stole My First Kiss

Chapter Thirteen - Truth

Orm

The bus echoed with the carefree melody of "Birds of Feather" as my friends belted it out, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. Lingling, with her eyes that held galaxies within, was singing too, the lyrics a cruel reflection of my own fractured reality. A lump formed in my throat, choking back the urge to join them. I buried myself in my phone, a flimsy shield against the onslaught of emotions.

"Hey, you okay?" Lingling's voice, laced with concern, broke through my self-imposed isolation. I forced a nod, unable to tear my gaze from her captivating eyes. An ache bloomed in my chest, a constant reminder of the love I held for her.

Prigkhing, a beacon of sunshine after a storm, was already waiting at my apartment. Lingling couldn't take me home – June had mentioned Lingling and her mother needing to talk. Relief washed over me, a fleeting emotion quickly replaced by the worry etched on Prigkhing's face.

The warmth of her embrace enveloped me, a silent understanding passing between us. No words were needed, just the comfort of shared sorrow. Her whispered "I missed you" against my ear sent a bittersweet jolt through me.

"I missed you too," I replied, the weight of the unspoken hanging heavy in the air.

With a playful jab, Prigkhing broke the silence. "Ugh, I can still smell Lingling on you! Must've been a clingy night, huh?" she teased, a hint of jealousy softening her voice. It was a feeble attempt at normalcy, and despite the absurdity, I managed a weak smile.

But the lightheartedness was short-lived. The truth, a venomous serpent, coiled in my gut. It was time to face it.

"How'd it go?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, already knowing the answer.

Prigkhing pulled out her iPad, a grim expression replacing her playful one. "This is what I found." My heart hammered against my ribs as she showed me CCTV footage of Lingling's mother house. Diana, the supposed friend, was a frequent visitor. The guard confirmed her story – medication for Lingling's mother. But my gut churned.

The stress medication on Lingling's mother's table that night – it screamed illegality. In a desperate bid for answers, I'd taken a bottle, entrusting Prigkhing with the task of getting it tested. Now, the weight of the results sat heavy on both of us.

"Don't you think Lingling deserves to know?" Prigkhing's voice resonated with concern, echoing the very question tearing me apart.

The thought of shattering Lingling's fragile world with this cruel truth was unbearable. I had witnessed the light in her eyes extinguish with her mother's passing. Each day felt like a slow, agonizing death, and I was powerless to stop it. Fear, a chilling serpent, coiled around my heart.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I met Prigkhing's gaze. "She'll get hurt anyway," she sighed, a heavy truth.

Looking up at the ceiling, I felt utterly helpless. "Life… it feels so unfair," I choked out. "She doesn't deserve this pain. I saw it, Prigkhing. The light in her eyes… it just… faded when her mom died. It's like she's been dying a little bit every day, just existing. I'm scared. Scared of what's coming, scared of seeing her break again."

My voice cracked, the words a mere fraction of the despair gnawing at my soul. All I could do was watch, a silent witness to the cruel hand of fate that had befallen the woman I loved. When would she finally find the happiness she so desperately deserved?

After our practices I flashed a usual gummy smile to Lingling as I excused myself to the restroom, relief washing over me that Diana was not here. The last thing I needed was to see that face.