My Brother's Girlfriend [LingOrm]

22

 Ling's pov

I woke up late today, feeling completely drained from the events of the previous day. When I opened my eyes, the space next to me was empty and cold—Win had already left. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was 10 AM. I usually leave by 8, but exhaustion had caught up to me.

Sighing, I forced myself out of bed and quickly dressed, grabbing my car keys on the way out. As I drove to my office, the sinking feeling that I was already behind for the day gnawed at me.

When I stepped out of the elevator, my receptionist greeted me with a playful smile. "I thought you weren't coming in today," she teased.

I laughed, the tension in my chest loosening. "Looking for a free day?" I shot back.

She chuckled as I walked past her and entered my office. The moment I stepped inside, though, my heart skipped a beat. Sitting on my desk was a bouquet of my favorite flowers, vibrant and familiar. Their scent filled the room, immediately lifting my mood.

Curious, I approached the bouquet and noticed a small letter nestled within. I picked it up and unfolded the paper.

'Hi, I was on my way to work when I saw a florist and remembered these are your favorites. I tried to give them to you, but you weren't in your office. Call me when you get this. -Orm'

I couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face. Without thinking, I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of the bouquet, quickly sending it to my friends' group chat.

**00k**: Guys, look what I just received.

**00k**: -photo of the bouquet-

**Milk**: From Win?

**00k**: From Orm.

**Freen**: Whattt???? No way.

**Faye**: I knew you two would be fine.

I felt a sense of satisfaction as I dropped that little bomb in the chat. They'd all been on my case about Orm and me, but now, maybe they'd see things were... different.

I quickly dialed Orm's number. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Hm?" came her distracted voice.

"Can you look at the caller ID for once?" I teased, smiling.

"LING!" she exclaimed, followed by a loud thud. I could picture her lounging on her couch, now falling over in surprise.

"Thanks for the flowers," I said softly, warmth creeping into my chest.

"You're welcome, baby," she responded in that teasing tone she used to fluster me. "Are you going to lunch with Win?"

"Probably," I said casually.

"When's he coming?" she asked.

"Around 1 PM."

"Good," she said, and then, just like that, she hung up.

I stared at my phone, bemused by the abrupt end to our conversation. With a shrug, I put my phone down and turned my attention back to work, but the smile lingered.

...

It was around noon when my office door suddenly swung open. I looked up to see Orm standing there, a playful grin on her face.

"Let's have lunch?" she suggested, stepping inside.

"I knew you'd do that," I replied, trying to sound unimpressed, though I couldn't hide the smile forming on my lips.

"Happy to see me?" she asked, moving closer, clearly seeing through my act.

I quickly hid my smile. "Just saying I guessed right."

"Hm," she hummed, lifting my chin so I had no choice but to meet her gaze. "You can smile. I know you're happy."

"If you kiss me now, I'm not going," I warned as she leaned even closer.

"Fine, let's go," she said, stepping back, waiting for me to get up.

I rolled my eyes at her antics but stood up, grabbing my bag. We left the office together, and Orm, ever the show-off, opened the car door for me with a dramatic flourish, making me laugh. She always did little things like that to make me smile, and despite myself, it worked.

...

The ride to the restaurant was filled with light-hearted conversation. We joked about old memories, shared some laughs, and even Orm's usual teasing about me and Win didn't sting as much as before. It was easy, comfortable—just like it used to be.

After lunch, we wandered through the mall, Orm's arm looped through mine as she rested her head on my shoulder. A quiet contentment spread through me, a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time.

We stopped in front of a jewelry store, and Orm pointed at the engagement rings on display. "I'll buy one of those for you when we marry," she said, a teasing yet serious glint in her eye.

"Got it, sweet talker," I replied, patting her head. She always knew how to get under my skin.

As we continued walking, Orm suddenly stopped. "Ling, I'm tired," she admitted, looking up at me with sleepy eyes.

"Sleepy?" I asked, and she nodded shyly.

"Let's go," I said, taking her hand and leading her toward the parking garage. This time, I took her keys and slipped into the driver's seat. She started to protest, but I cut her off.

"I'll drive you home."

"You don't need to; I'm not that tired," she argued, but I knew better.

"Orm, you're always tired, but if you're saying it out loud, you must be exhausted," I said, glancing over at her. As we stopped at a red light, I took off my coat and draped it over her.

"Rest," I murmured, and she smiled, settling into her seat.

When we got to her apartment, Orm practically collapsed onto her bed, sighing dramatically as she flopped onto the mattress.

"Finally, my bed," she mumbled, rolling from side to side like a kid savoring their favorite blanket.

I couldn't help but laugh at her antics. She looked so at peace, her usual tough exterior melting away in the softness of her own space. As I approached the bed, Orm extended her arms toward me, her expression soft, inviting.

"Come," she said, her voice drowsy and sweet.

"Hm?" I asked, a bit taken aback.

"Come sleep with me. We already slept together on the couch, so let's just rest in bed this time," she whispered, her words heavy with exhaustion.

I hesitated, but only for a moment. Her vulnerability was hard to resist, and the truth was, I wanted to be near her. Finally, I relented, slipping off my shoes and lying down beside her. The bed was warm, soft, and as I settled in, I realized just how much I didn't want to leave—her or this moment.

As we lay there in silence, the world outside seemed to disappear, leaving just the two of us in this small, tranquil space. Orm's breathing began to slow as she drifted off to sleep, her head resting against my shoulder. I could feel her warmth, her presence grounding me in a way that nothing else had in a long time.

I watched her for a moment, her face peaceful and unguarded in sleep. How had we gotten here, from rivals to this strange, tender companionship? There was still so much unspoken between us, but lying beside her now, it didn't feel so complicated. It felt... right.

I closed my eyes, letting the steady rhythm of her breathing lull me into a sense of calm. Despite everything, despite the chaos swirling in our lives, in this quiet moment, everything felt perfectly still.

And as sleep began to claim me, one thought floated through my mind: no matter what happened next, this was a moment I'd never forget.

//////

Ling's Group Chat is Back!!!!