Whispers in the Dark [LingOrm]

"You can't keep me from you"

Ling's pov

I trudged into my house, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me. My head throbbed with a dull ache, my back ached from the uncomfortable couch, but worst of all, my heart felt heavy, as though it was burdened with a sadness I couldn't shake. I had spent the night at my office, waiting for Orm, only to realize she had forgotten about me. The realization stung, but what hurt even more was the way I had told her to live her life, only for her to take it to heart so thoroughly that she didn't even consider I might still need her. I tried to tell myself that I wasn't hurt, but deep down, I knew that was a lie.

As I stormed into my house, I felt Orm's presence close behind me. I wanted to be angry, to lash out and tell her how much she had hurt me, but instead, I found myself feeling tired, too tired to fight, too tired to even express the swirling emotions inside me.

"Come on, don't be mad," Orm said, her voice gentle as she followed me into the living room. "You told me to live my life."

"I'm not mad at you," I lied, my voice muffled by the pillow I had pressed against my face. "I'm just tired because I slept badly." It wasn't a complete lie—the couch I had slept on was far from comfortable, but it wasn't the real reason for my exhaustion. I was tired because I had waited for her, hoping she would show up, only to be disappointed once again.

"Can I sleep too?" Orm asked, her voice gentle and tinged with concern.

"Yes, the guest room is downstairs," I replied, my words coming out in a low, tired mumble as I kept my face buried in the pillow, not wanting to face her.

"Got it," she said, but instead of leaving, I felt the bed shift as she climbed in beside me, her warmth seeping into my side.

"This isn't downstairs," I said, turning my head to look at her, my voice carrying a hint of exasperation.

"You said I could sleep downstairs, but I'm not going to sleep, so I'm staying here," she replied with a stubborn determination that I knew all too well.

"Urgh, what do you want from me?" I asked, rolling my eyes as I turned back to the pillow, my words harsher than I intended. "Sorry, why are you here?"

"I'm checking on my grumpy and tired girlfriend," she said, her tone light and teasing, but her words made my heart skip a beat.

"First, I'm not yours, neither your girlfriend," I snapped, trying to put some distance between us. "Secondly, I'm fine."

"Anyway, I'm going to be here till you sleep, wife," she said, refusing to be deterred by my outburst. Her persistence was both infuriating and comforting, a combination that made it impossible for me to stay mad at her.

I wanted to argue, to tell her to leave, but the truth was, I didn't want to be alone. Not now, not after everything that had happened. So, instead of pushing her away, I let myself drift off to sleep, her presence beside me bringing a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time.

My sleep was restless, filled with strange dreams that left me feeling unsettled. One dream, in particular, stood out—a vivid memory of what Orm had once told me about her ex-boyfriend, how he had tried to manipulate her into staying with him by threatening to harm himself. The thought of anyone hurting Orm, even in a dream, filled me with a protective anger that I couldn't shake, and when I woke up, I found tears streaming down my face.

The tears caught me off guard, and I quickly wiped them away, embarrassed by my sudden display of emotion. But the sadness lingered, a deep ache in my chest that wouldn't go away.

As I lay there, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream, a delicious smell wafted through the air, drawing me out of bed. Orm was cooking—I could tell by the familiar aroma of her food. The thought of her in the kitchen, preparing something for me, made me feel a strange mix of emotions. I was touched by her thoughtfulness, but at the same time, I felt a pang of guilt. I had been so harsh with her earlier, and now she was doing something so kind.