Against the Wind || LingOrm [ Under Revision ]

CHAPTER 14

Lingling drove back to their house, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as she saw her dad deep in conversation with his secretary.  At least, she wouldn't be getting a beating tonight.  Her dad glanced at her, his expression a mixture of annoyance and indifference, before returning to his conversation.  Lingling overheard them discussing a plan to give high school students a monthly allowance, funded by her father.  But Lingling knew better.  She knew her dad was simply using his money to buy supporters, a sad reality of the political world.

"Lingling," her mother called out from the kitchen, where she was preparing snacks for her husband and his secretary.

"Mom," Lingling replied, relieved to see her mother unharmed and seemingly happy.

"Did you have dinner?" her mom asked as Lingling grabbed a cold water from the refrigerator.  Her mother's happiness was a bit suspicious, but it was a welcome change from the silent tears she had been shedding because of her father.

"Yes, Mom. I- uh, I actually have something to tell you... can we talk... like in my room?" Lingling asked shyly, her voice barely a whisper.  Dew looked at her daughter in confusion.  This was the first time she had seen Lingling act so unsure of herself.

"What?!" Dew exclaimed, surprised when Lingling revealed that she had just asked someone out, even though the answer was still pending.  "But... aren't you and Win still a thing?"

"Mom... you know he didn't even love me at all," Lingling said flatly.

Dew looked into her daughter's eyes, seeing a newfound clarity and determination.  "Are you sure you're not just lonely?  I mean, you're my daughter, and I'll accept whoever you want to be, but you need to think about yourself properly, or you might end up hurting her in the end."

Lingling looked at her mom, then down at her fingers, nervously twisting them.  "I've already thought about it, even before I had the courage to take a step forward tonight.  I even know the risks, because I might actually lose her like I lost Ying before.  It's just that... I don't know where it started, but I woke up, and I know I don't want us to be just best friends anymore...  That's when I saw her cry last night.  No matter how much I told myself I was fine to hold her and be there for her as a best friend, there are just things I wanted to do for her that best friends can't."

"So, it's that Sethratanapong girl?" Dew said, realizing who Lingling was talking about.  Lingling's eyes widened, realizing she had spilled the beans.  "Don't worry, I understand," Dew added, clearing her throat before taking her daughter's hand and caressing it gently.  "Tell me more about her..."

Lingling's heart warmed, and she found herself smiling widely as she talked about the girl she wanted to be with.  "She's like a book, Mom, beautiful and interesting.  But when you start reading her, you realize how beautifully made she is, even though she has a lot of imperfections."

Dew watched as her daughter blushed and grinned, her eyes sparkling with love and excitement.  She saw a stark difference in Lingling's demeanor compared to when she talked about Win.  With Win, there was still love, but it was different.  Now, Lingling spoke with passion, admiration, love, motivation, and support.

"To say she completes me is an understatement.  I thought before that I wanted to be saved because the world is too cruel to me, but then she came, and I realized that all I want is to be found and seen.  No one can save me, but someone can be there to help me save myself from drowning.  She helped me fight against the wind."

Dew wiped the tears that streamed down her daughter's face.  She finally understood how important Orm was to Lingling.

"These are happy tears," Lingling said, making them both laugh.