Echoes of a Heartbeat [LingOrm]

"I Lost Myself When I Lost You"

Ling's pov

I sat on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The fight with Orm replayed in my mind on a loop, each sharp word and cold glance etched into my thoughts. I felt a mixture of anger and regret, the weight of our discussion settling heavily on my chest. I knew I'd overreacted, but at the moment, it felt like the only way to protect myself.

A soft knock on my bedroom door interrupted my thoughts. I glanced over, half expecting it to be Orm, though I knew that was unlikely. The door creaked open, and Tom's familiar face appeared in the gap.

"Hey, Ling," Tom said gently, stepping into the room. He had a way of sensing when something was wrong, and today was no different.

"Hey, Tom," I replied, my voice flat. I didn't have the energy to hide my emotions from him.

Tom sat down on the edge of my bed, his expression serious but kind. "I heard you and Orm had a fight."

I just sighed, sitting up and pulling my knees to my chest. "Yeah... It got pretty bad."

"What happened?" Tom asked, his tone inviting me to open up without pressuring me.

I hesitated, unsure of how to put my feelings into words. "She saw me with Win yesterday and got jealous. We argued, and... I don't know, I just couldn't handle it. So I walked away."

Tom nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds like there's a lot going on between you two right now. But walking away probably isn't going to help."

"I know," I admitted, with frustration evident in my voice. "I just... I felt like she didn't trust me. And then I got defensive, and it all got out of control."

Tom leaned forward, his gaze gentle but firm. "Ling, you care about Orm, and she cares about you. But relationships aren't always easy. Sometimes, misunderstandings happen, and they hurt. But the important thing is how you deal with them."

 I have to be honest,I was shocked by his understanding and his advice,considering his history. It almost made me believe about the friendly kiss that girl gave him

I looked down at my hands, my mind swirling with doubts and fears. "I don't want to lose her, Tom. But I don't know how to fix this."

"Start by talking to her," Tom suggested. "Really talk. Explain how you're feeling, and listen to how she's feeling. You both need to hear each other out."

I nodded slowly, taking in his words. "I'll try."

Tom smiled, patting my shoulder. "That's all you can do. And remember, I'm here if you need to talk more."

"Thanks, Tom," i said, feeling a little better knowing Tom was by my side.

...........

Narrator's pov

The next day at school, Ling felt a sense of determination building within her. She had to make things right with Orm. Tom was right—they needed to talk, to clear the air between them. Ling knew that if she didn't act soon, the distance between them would only grow.

She spent most of the morning searching for Orm, hoping to catch her between classes. The school halls were bustling with students, but Orm was nowhere to be found. Finally, during lunch, Ling spotted her in the courtyard, talking with View.

Ling's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't shake the memories of their fight, and seeing Orm with View—who had always seemed a bit too close for comfort—brought a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over her.

'No, don't jump to conclusions,' Ling told herself, taking a deep breath. She needed to approach this calmly, to apologize and explain. But as she drew closer, the scene in front of her twisted into something far more painful.

Orm was laughing at something View had said, her face lit up with the kind of smile that used to be reserved just for Ling. View leaned in, her hand brushing against Orm's arm, and suddenly, all of Ling's insecurities and fears flared up like a firestorm.

The rational part of her knew it was probably nothing, but the hurt and betrayal she'd felt the day before clouded her judgment. Without thinking, Ling stormed over to them, her emotions boiling over.

"What the hell is this?" Ling snapped, her voice laced with anger as she glared at Orm and View. Both girls turned to her, startled by her sudden appearance.

"Ling, what are you doing?" Orm asked, her confusion quickly shifting to concern.

"What am I doing?" Ling echoed, her voice rising. "What are YOU doing, Orm? You accused me of cheating yesterday, and now I find you here, all cozy with View?"

Orm's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger. "Are you serious right now? Ling, this isn't what it looks like."

"Oh, really?" Ling shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because it looks like you're doing exactly what you accused me of."

View, sensing the escalating tension, took a step back. "Guys, maybe we should all just calm down—"

"This isn't your business, View," Ling snapped, her patience wearing thin. "This is between me and Orm."

View's expression hardened, but she said nothing, respecting Ling's anger even if she didn't agree with it.

Orm stepped forward, her tone firm but pained. "Ling, nothing is going on between me and View. We were just talking."

"Just talking?" Ling repeated, her voice breaking slightly. "You don't understand how this feels, Orm. You jumped to conclusions about me and Win, and now I see you with her, and I—" She trailed off, struggling to find the words for the turmoil inside her.

"Ling, I'm sorry," Orm said, her voice softening. "I shouldn't have accused you yesterday. I was jealous, but it doesn't mean I don't trust you. I just... I was scared of losing you."

Ling's anger faltered, her heart aching at the sight of Orm's pained expression. But the hurt from their fight still lingered, and seeing Orm with View had only made it worse. "I need time, Orm," Ling said finally, her voice quiet and strained. "I can't do this right now."

Orm's face fell, but she nodded, understanding Ling's need for space even if it hurt her. "Okay... take the time you need. But please, don't shut me out."

Ling didn't respond, turning away before Orm could see the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She walked away, her heart heavy with the weight of their broken connection, unsure if time would heal their wounds or if it would only drive them further apart.