Echoes of a Heartbeat [LingOrm]

"Darling, you look perfect tonight"

Ling's pov

"I don't want to abandon youuu!" Orm cried out, her voice full of desperation as she clung to me like a child.

"Hey, calm down," I soothed, gently running my fingers through her hair. "You're not abandoning me; you're just going to visit your family."

"Same thing," she mumbled, her arms tightening around me. "Why can't you come with me?" Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in my shoulder.

"You know I can't," I sighed, feeling my resolve waver as I looked into her pleading eyes. "I have tons of assignments to finish."

"Okay, what's more important—your assignments or me?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for any sign that I might give in.

"Orm, you're the most important thing to me, but I just can't go this time," I replied, turning my gaze away to avoid her puppy-dog eyes.

"God, Orm, just let her go," Yoko said, entering the room with an exasperated look.

"Fine," Orm relented, a pout forming on her lips. "But can you still help me pack my things?"

"I've been helping you for the past hour," I reminded her, smiling softly at her stubbornness.

"Whatever, just help me," she said, her voice softening as she hugged me again. I couldn't help but nod.

.......

Orm's pov

I had to visit my parents because they needed me for some stupid event.

"Hey, Mom," I said as I stepped through the front door.

"Oh, my baby! You're already here!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a warm hug.

"Yeah, I'm just going to take my things to my room, okay?" I said, gently extracting myself from her embrace.

As I made my way upstairs, my thoughts drifted to my complicated relationship with my parents. I love my mom, but my dad... he's tough. He resisted my decision to study far from home, fearing for my safety. When my mom finally convinced him that I'd be living with Yoko, someone he trusted, he begrudgingly agreed. And as for whether they know about my sexuality? My mom sort of knows, but my dad... he ignores it so much that I think he's starting to forget.

I was kicked from my thoughts by a soft knock on the door.

"Orm," my mom called out gently, concern etched on her face as she entered. "Sweetie, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile. "Sorry if I seemed a bit off earlier; I'm just tired."

She nodded, her expression softening. "So, how's everything going over there?"

"Mom," I began, feeling a knot form in my stomach, "I need to be honest with you. I'm... kinda dating a girl."

"Kinda?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, she hasn't officially asked me yet," I explained, "but we've been together for a while now."

"Do you love her?" she asked, a warm smile spreading across her face as I nodded. "Oh, my baby's in love!" She pulled me into another hug.

"Wait, you're okay with it?" I asked, still in disbelief.

"Of course," she replied, stroking my hair. "I just want to see my daughter happy."

"Thanks, Mom," I whispered, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders as we pulled apart.

"Alright, my little lover girl," she teased, "get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."