Against the Wind || LingOrm [ Under Revision ]

CHAPTER 5

Lingling left the Liberal Arts building and headed to the gymnasium to oversee the cheerleading auditions. As she played with the tiny Labubu doll, she saw Ying and her friends walking ahead. Avoiding eye contact, Lingling pretended not to notice them.

Overhearing Ying's friends discussing their crush on Orm, Lingling felt a pang of possessiveness. She shook her head to dismiss the thought and focused on the upcoming auditions.

When she arrived at the gymnasium, many students were trying out for the cheerleading team. Lingling noticed that some of them were only interested in joining to be closer to her. This wasn't unusual, as many people had tried to impress her in the past. However, the only person who had truly impressed her was her boyfriend, Win, who was currently missing.

"Where's Win?" she asked Becky, one of her best dancers.

"He said he'll be back. He just needs to see someone," Becky replied, turning her attention to the auditioners.

Lingling frowned, confused about what could have taken Win away. As she waited, her phone buzzed with a missed call. She bit her lip and sat down, her mood darkening.

The auditions proceeded with a tense atmosphere as Lingling's harsh comments and intense scrutiny left the auditioners feeling nervous. Her cheerleaders were worried that Win had ruined her mood. They knew that Lingling wasn't usually so harsh, and her behavior suggested that something was wrong.

As the auditions drew to a close, Lingling noticed a new student named Prigkhing. For some reason, the cheerleaders felt that Lingling was paying extra attention to Prigkhing. Lingling's gaze was intense, even before Prigkhing began dancing.

"Begin," Lingling said firmly, her voice causing even Becky to gulp.

Prigkhing finished dancing, her face flushed with sweat. Lingling's sharp eyes seemed to bore into her.

"We're looking for cheerleaders, not just good dancers. Becky, show her how it's done," Lingling said. Becky was surprised but followed her captain's order. The auditioners were impressed by Becky's performance, and even Prigkhing was amazed.

As Becky caught her breath, Lingling stood up excitedly and went to the right side of the room. She saw a tall, fair-skinned woman wearing masculine clothing and glasses. The woman was attractive, but Lingling had never seen her before.

"Who is she?" Becky asked Yoko, the gossiper in their group.

"She must be the talk of the campus. I heard people calling her 'Nong Orm,' and she's really good," Yoko replied.

"Oh," Becky said as she watched Lingling leave without saying goodbye. She wanted to scold Lingling but knew better than to speak out.

"Are you sure it's okay to leave them there? If you're busy, I can just go home alone," Orm said shyly, worried that she was bothering Lingling.

"They can manage without me. I'll take you home," Lingling said. "Give me your bag."

"Why?" Orm asked, confused.

"I know you're tired and your bag is heavy. Let me hold it so you can rest," Lingling replied, unaware of the impact her words would have on Orm.

"But you're tired too. Let me hold it myself," Orm said.

"N'Orm," Lingling said softly, her warning tone causing Orm to pout and hand her the bag. Orm wasn't used to receiving help and felt a little embarrassed.

As they left the parking lot, Lingling sighed, thinking about her boyfriend.

"Are you okay? You've been frowning since I saw you," Orm said, noticing Lingling's mood.