My Brother's Girlfriend [LingOrm]

21

 Orm's pov

We arrived at the party, and the music hit me first—pulsing through the floor and vibrating in my chest. The lights flickered in sync with the heavy beat, and I could already see people swaying to the rhythm, their faces flushed with excitement.

Yoko wasted no time, grabbing my hand and dragging me through the crowd. "Come on, we're heading to the VIP area," she called over her shoulder, flashing me a mischievous grin.

As we reached the VIP section, I spotted some of my friends already there, laughing and sipping drinks. The energy of the party felt contagious. My earlier thoughts of Ling, the confusion and sadness that usually lingered in the back of my mind, began to fade with every beat of the music. Tonight was about fun, about letting go, even if just for a few hours.

Yoko handed me a drink, and I didn't hesitate. The cool liquid burned a little as it went down, but it felt good, refreshing. Soon, I was laughing along with my friends, swaying to the rhythm, the world outside this party beginning to blur. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't weighed down by thoughts of Ling.

We all moved to the dance floor, and I found myself surrounded by friends, their energy lifting me. I was dancing, moving without care, when a familiar face came into view. Ying, one of Ling's friends, approached me with a big smile.

"Ying, hey!" I greeted her warmly, trying not to let the sight of someone from Ling's circle dampen my mood.

"Orm! What are you doing here?" she asked, laughing. "Finally moved on from Ling?"

Her question made my heart skip a beat, but I was determined not to let it ruin my night. I plastered on a smile, not wanting to talk about Ling. Not here, not tonight. "Not exactly," I replied with a shrug. "But I don't want to talk about her right now. Let's just have fun."

Ying grinned and nodded, clearly happy to let the subject drop. We laughed, clinking our glasses together, and continued dancing. The conversation about Ling faded into the background as we lost ourselves in the music. The lights flashed in colorful patterns above us, casting fleeting shadows over the dance floor. The bass vibrated through my body, making it impossible to focus on anything but the moment.

I felt good—better than I had in weeks. My friends were here, by my side, always ready to lift me up. Even in my darkest moments, they knew how to bring me back to life. For a little while, I forgot about everything. Ling, the complications, the pain... they all vanished as I let go, laughing and spinning with my friends in the sea of partygoers.

Maybe tonight I didn't need to worry about what came next. Maybe tonight was just about living in the now.

.....

The next morning greeted me with a hangover that felt like a sledgehammer to my skull. My head throbbed, each pulse syncing with the regret I felt from drinking too much the night before. The dim light filtering through the blinds felt like daggers, stabbing my eyes every time I blinked. I groaned, pulling the covers over my head, but the pounding in my head refused to let up. I should've known better. Yoko had dragged me out, insisting I needed a break, and for a while, it had worked. But now, I was paying the price.

With a grunt, I forced myself out of bed. My limbs felt heavy, and the world spun slightly as I stood up. "Never again," I muttered to myself, rubbing my temples as I staggered towards the bathroom. The cold water from the sink was a welcome relief, if only temporary, as I splashed it on my face. Yoko had gone home with Faye last night, leaving me alone in my apartment to nurse my throbbing headache.

It was Thursday, which meant I had to drag myself to work. The thought of sitting in the office all day with this hangover made me groan again, but I didn't have a choice. I got dressed slowly, every movement reminding me of how much I regretted drinking. As I finished getting ready, I glanced at the clock. I had just enough time to grab a coffee before heading out.