Echoes of a Heartbeat [LingOrm]

Whispers Of The Heart

Ling's pov

"Ling," Tom's voice broke through the silence of my room as he gently entered. "Hey, come eat a little bit," he coaxed, his tone soft and caring, a food tray balanced carefully in his hands.

"Why eat if it won't bring her back?" I asked, my voice flat as I continued to stare blankly at the ceiling. The weight of my actions crushed me, and the emptiness inside felt unbearable.

Tom sighed, setting the tray down on my bedside table as he approached. "Because you need to go talk to her," he urged, trying to reach through the fog that surrounded me.

"She isn't coming for me, is she?" I whispered, though I already knew the answer. My heart ached with the certainty of it.

He shook his head, a look of sympathy in his eyes. "You can't blame her, Ling. You told her you didn't love her."

"But I only did that so Mom wouldn't be angrier at her!" My voice cracked with the pain of that truth, and Tom nodded, understanding my twisted logic.

"Then tell her that," he said gently.

"How? If I approach her, she'll just throw rocks at me," I muttered, finally taking a sip of the soup he brought me. The salty warmth filled my senses, but it did little to soothe the hollow ache inside.

"She's just protecting herself, Ling," Tom reminded me, his voice patient and encouraging. "Try showing her you love her through your actions. Help her, be there for her."

"Is she going to class?" I asked, my voice tinged with sadness and hope, as if the answer would somehow guide me.

Tom nodded, a small smile on his lips. "She is. I think she's waiting for you to apologize, like you did the other times. She's always trying to pass by your class, just to catch a glimpse of you."

My heart fluttered at his words, a tiny flicker of hope igniting in the darkness. But it was quickly overshadowed by fear that this time, she wouldn't forgive me, that I'd lost her for good.

......

Orm's pov

"Orm! It's yours!" I heard View shout as the game continued. Her voice barely registered in my mind, my focus elsewhere despite my best efforts. I had to concentrate, had to give my best for the team, but my eyes kept drifting to the bleachers.

The place was packed, filled with cheering fans and supportive faces. But the one face I longed to see wasn't there. My heart twisted painfully. Did she really hate me that much?

...

After the game, I retreated to the dressing room, trying to push away the hurt that gnawed at my chest. Yoko stormed in, her expression a mix of anger and concern.

"Hey, Orm! What happened?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

"Nothing," I replied, feigning nonchalance as I busied myself with my gear.

"You two fought again, right?" Yoko pressed, her eyes narrowing as she studied me.

"Hm, no. There's no 'two' to fight," I said, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"What do you mean? Stop being philosophical!" Yoko snapped, frustration clear in her tone.

"We broke up," I said, the words slipping out as I shrugged, trying to seem unaffected.

"Wait, what?" Her voice was laced with shock. "And you're okay with it?"

"If that's what she wanted," I replied, my voice as steady as I could manage, but inside, I was anything but.

"She what?!" Yoko's disbelief echoed through the room.

....

Narrator's pov

A relentless knocking filled the air, each thud growing louder, more impatient.

"FUCK! OPEN IT, KWONG!" Yoko's voice shouted from the other side of the door.

Ling, barely able to muster the strength, opened the door. She looked like a shadow of herself—pale, thin, exhausted, with puffy eyes that told the story of endless tears.

"Why did you break up with Orm, asshole?!" Yoko screamed at her, shoving Ling lightly. But the impact was too much for Ling's weakened state. She hadn't eaten more than a single bowl of soup all day, lying to Tom about taking care of herself. As her body gave out, she fainted, collapsing in front of Yoko.

"Kwong! Wake up! I'm talking to you!" Yoko's voice was frantic now, but when she got no response from Ling, her panic surged. "Shit... Kwong!" Desperation filled her as she fumbled for her phone, quickly dialing for an ambulance.

.....

At the hospital

"So, are you a relative of Lingling Kwong?" the doctor asked, his tone professional but with a hint of concern.

"I'm her brother, sir. Is my sister okay?" Tom asked, his voice strained with worry, though he tried to maintain a facade of calm.

"She's stable now," the doctor reassured him. "But she was severely dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from extreme exhaustion. Is everything okay at home?"

Tom hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I wish it were, but... our mom came home last week, and let's just say Ling's life hasn't been the best since then. Can I please see my sister?" he asked cautiously, the desperation clear in his voice.

"Of course. Follow me," the doctor said, leading Tom down the sterile hallway to Ling's room. "I think the other visitor hasn't left yet," he added, and Tom's heart skipped a beat at the thought of their mother being inside the room.

But as he entered, he found Orm sitting by Ling's bedside, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Ling's hand.

"Shh... she's still sleeping," Orm whispered, her voice hoarse from crying.

"Have you been here long?" Tom asked, though he already knew the answer.

"No, I just arrived," Orm lied, but Tom could see through it. The doctor's words echoed in his mind, confirming that she hadn't left Ling's side.

"Was she like this because of me?" Orm's voice trembled as a tear slid down her cheek.

"No, it's not your fault. It's... Mom's," Tom replied, his voice thick with emotion. Orm nodded, knowing Tom wouldn't tell her anything more.

...

They sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts as they waited for Ling to wake up.

"Orm, I'll be going now, okay?" Tom said quietly, not wanting to leave, but knowing he needed to.

"No problem. I'll go soon," Orm replied, finally letting go of Ling's hand as Tom left the room.

Just as Orm was about to stand, she felt a faint grip on her hand.

"N-Nong Orm..." Ling's voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to stop Orm in her tracks. Ling's hand tightened around hers as she struggled to speak. "I love you," she whispered, her strength fading as she slipped back into sleep.

Orm's heart ached as she looked down at Ling, a tear escaping her eye. "I know, babe," she whispered back, her voice filled with sorrow. She gently kissed Ling's hand before making her way out of the room, the weight of everything crushing her.