Chapter 1: From Afar

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Ling sat quietly in the back of the crowded lecture hall, her attention slipping away from the professor's droning voice as she focused instead on the flickering screen of her laptop. Her classmates around her were frantically typing notes, but Ling's fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. Her mind wasn't on the intricacies of human anatomy or the endless stream of medical terminology—it was on a far more captivating subject.

It had started innocently enough, like any other passing interest. Ling had stumbled upon a low-budget drama while taking a rare break from her grueling studies. Exhausted and looking for a distraction, she found herself mesmerized by the lead actress—Orm. There was something about her, something magnetic that drew Ling in and refused to let go. Orm's presence on screen was like a breath of fresh air, a light in the monotony of Ling's life as a medical student.

Days turned into weeks, and what began as a casual interest blossomed into something deeper. Ling found herself seeking out every show, every interview, and every snippet of Orm she could find. Between endless hours of studying and hospital rotations, Orm became Ling's escape, her secret obsession. It was as if Orm's energy, her vibrant personality, and her infectious smile had the power to pull Ling out of the darkest corners of her mind.

Ling was well aware that her fascination bordered on obsession. She knew it wasn't normal to be so captivated by someone she had never met, but Orm had become a constant in her life, a source of comfort in the chaos. Orm's success and growing popularity only fueled Ling's admiration, making her feel both proud and strangely possessive. Ling knew it was irrational, but she couldn't help it—Orm was hers, even if only in her mind.

As the months passed, Ling's admiration for Orm deepened. The late nights spent cramming for exams and the exhausting shifts at the hospital seemed a little more bearable knowing that there was something—or rather, someone—waiting for her at the end of the day. Watching Orm's rise to fame felt personal, as if she were sharing in Orm's journey, even from the shadows. But the more she watched, the more Ling's emotions tangled into something more complex than simple admiration.

One evening, after a particularly grueling day at the hospital, Ling returned to her small apartment. The place was modest, barely furnished with the essentials, but it was her sanctuary. She kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch, her body heavy with exhaustion. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of her computer screen as she pulled it onto her lap and opened her browser.

A new clip of Orm had been uploaded—a segment from a late-night talk show where Orm was the featured guest. Ling clicked on it immediately, her weariness fading as she watched Orm's face light up the screen. There she was, full of life and laughter, her smile as radiant as ever. Ling's heart swelled with an odd mix of emotions—joy at seeing Orm so happy, but also a longing that she couldn't quite name.

As Orm laughed and joked with the host, Ling found herself smiling along with her. It was almost as if they were sharing the moment, even though Ling was watching from miles away, long after the show had aired. But the screen wasn't enough. Ling yearned for more than just this one-sided connection. She wanted to be closer to Orm, to see her up close, to know her beyond the roles she played on screen.

That night, as Ling lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about Orm. Her mind wandered to places it had never gone before, imagining scenarios where they might meet by chance, where Ling could introduce herself not as just another fan, but as someone who could be part of Orm's life. The thought made her heart race.

--Ling felt herself melting into Orm's embrace, the warmth of her touch spreading through her like a fire that ignited every nerve in her body. Orm's fingers traced delicate patterns along her skin, leaving a trail of tingling sensation in their wake. Ling's breath hitched as Orm's lips brushed against her neck, sending shivers down her spine. The world around them seemed to blur, fading into the background as Orm's presence consumed her completely.

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