Whispers in the Dark [LingOrm]

I'm so tired of this waiting game, why don't you just come back to me?

Ling's pov

I walked into Engfa's bar, intending to have a casual chat with my friend, but I was startled when I saw Win behind the counter.

"Ling! Good to see you again," Win greeted me with a wide smile.

"Win, I didn't know you worked as a bartender," I replied, surprised.

"Actually, I don't, but it's like a part-time thing. I'm still getting used to it," he explained with a shrug.

I sat down at the bar, even though I wasn't drinking since I was still feeling under the weather. We spent the afternoon catching up, sharing news from the time we'd been apart, and discussing a wide range of topics. It was a friendly and light-hearted afternoon, something I hadn't realized I needed.

...

When I returned home that evening, a strange emptiness greeted me as I walked through the door. I could feel it in the air—she wasn't here anymore. The weight of that realization settled heavily in my chest, but I tried to shake it off as I got myself ready for bed.

...

The next day, feeling better, I threw myself into work. I was focused, determined to put everything else out of my mind. But my concentration was interrupted by a knock at the door, and then it opened.

"Win?" I asked, surprised to see him.

"Hey, I was wondering if we could have lunch together?" he asked, a bit shyly.

"Yeah, maybe," I replied in a friendly tone.

But before he could leave, the door swung open again, and this time it was Orm. She paused when she saw Win, her expression unreadable.

"Oh, sorry," she said, her tone stiff.

"No worries, I'm leaving already," Win said quickly, sensing the tension. "See you at lunch, Ling," he added before walking out.

As soon as he was gone, Orm's gaze hardened. "Going on a date with your ex?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Don't forget you are also my ex," I shot back, trying to focus on my work.

"Good," she said, her voice sharp. "Then if you're going to play like that, let's see who falls first."

"I'm not playing," I replied, finally looking up at her.

"Good," she repeated, her anger evident. "So let's just see who crumbles first," she said before storming out.

...

Orm wasn't joking. She disappeared after that day, completely vanishing from my life. The only updates I got about her were through Engfa, who mentioned that Orm had been coming to the club every night. I knew she was doing it on purpose, knowing that Engfa would relay the information to me. It was a game, and I was done playing. So, I decided to end it once and for all and headed to Engfa's club.

As I entered, I immediately spotted Orm on the dance floor. Before she could get too close to anyone, I marched over and grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the crowd and out of the club.

"Are you crazy?!" she demanded, yanking her hand back as soon as we were outside.

"Are you crazy?" I shot back, my anger flaring. "Coming to this club just because I had lunch with Win for one single day? What the hell are you doing? Weren't you trying to 'get me back' or whatever? Let me tell you, it isn't working."

Her eyes darkened, and for a moment, she didn't say anything. Then, with a bitter edge to her voice, she said, "Well, if you weren't falling for me and were just into your ex, then maybe I should move on."

"You're also my ex, Orm," I reminded her coldly. "I'm not falling for him. I was starting to feel okay with you again, but thanks for teaching me not to trust you." I turned on my heel, heading for my car, but she reached out and grabbed my hand.

"Wait," she said, her tone softer, almost desperate. "I'm sorry. I just didn't want to mess up whatever you have with him."

"Are you drunk?" I asked, concerned by her sudden change in demeanor.

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "Were you really starting to get along with me again?" A small smirk appeared on her lips, though her eyes were searching mine for reassurance.

"Kind of," I admitted, feeling embarrassed by the confession.

"If that's the case, can we stop this game?" she asked, her voice almost pleading.

"I told you it wasn't a game," I said firmly.

"Then can you drop the pretending and kiss me already?" She pulled me closer by my waist, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

I hesitated for a moment, but then I gave in, leaning forward and pressing my lips against hers in a soft kiss. The familiar warmth spread through me, and for a moment, all the confusion and anger melted away. I had missed this. I had missed *her*.

When we pulled apart, she was grinning. "Sweet talker," I muttered, feeling my cheeks flush.

"Your sweet talker," she added with a smirk, her confidence returning.

"Wow, you didn't lie—you're not drunk," I said, trying to change the subject. I could tell from the way her lips had tasted—no hint of alcohol, just her.

"Why would I lie to you, my love?" she said, her voice soft as she released my waist and took my hand instead, leading me toward our cars.

As we walked side by side, a comfortable silence settled between us. The tension from earlier had dissolved, replaced by a sense of calm and familiarity. Maybe things weren't perfect, but in that moment, I realized that despite everything, we always seemed to find our way back to each other.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.