Résonance: a LingOrm's Story

Chapter 2: The Growing Bond

Ling Ling's mornings at the café had evolved into a cherished routine. The warm hues and comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee provided a welcome respite from her demanding work life. Each visit to the café was a small escape, infusing her days with a positive start and a touch of warmth.

On one crisp morning, the café buzzed with a calm energy. Ling Ling entered to the familiar chime of the doorbell and Orm's bright smile behind the counter. Orm had come to recognize Ling Ling's arrival time, and their interactions had grown into a pleasant routine.

As Ling Ling waited for her iced Americano and sandwich, she decided to break the ice. "I realized we never properly introduced ourselves. I'm Ling," she said, extending a friendly smile.

Orm's eyes lit up with recognition. "Nice to meet you, Ling! I'm Orm. You don't look like a student, what you do for living?"

Ling Ling's smile grew. "I recently started a small travel agency. It keeps me busy, but I love it."

Orm nodded enthusiastically. "That's really cool! I'm a university student majoring in Finance. I work part-time here at the café to save up for some extra expenses. It's a nice change of pace from my studies."

Orm hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Should I address you as P'Ling? I mean, since you're a business owner and all..."

Ling Ling smiled at the gesture of respect. "Yes, you can call me P'Ling. I appreciate it."

Orm's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded. "Okay, P'Ling it is."

The café was quiet that day, and as they chatted, Orm suddenly found herself struggling with a new coffee machine. The machine emitted a loud clunking noise and refused to start. Orm's frustration was palpable as she fiddled with the settings, her brow furrowed.

Ling Ling, observing from her table, noticed Orm's growing panic. She stood up and approached the counter. "Is everything alright?" Ling Ling asked, her voice calm and reassuring.

Orm looked up, her face flushed with stress. "The machine isn't working, and I'm not sure what's wrong. It's making this weird noise, and I'm a bit panicked."

Ling Ling smiled gently. "Let me give it a try. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can make all the difference." She stepped behind the counter and began examining the machine with practiced ease.

Orm watched as Ling Ling worked, her initial panic slowly subsiding. "Thank you for helping," Orm said softly. "I was starting to worry we'd have to close the café early."

Ling Ling gave her a reassuring smile. "No problem. Let's see if we can figure this out together." She adjusted a few settings and listened to the machine carefully. After a few moments, she identified the problem and made a quick adjustment.

The machine hummed back to life, and Orm's eyes widened in relief. "Wow, you really saved the day. I was getting so stressed out," Orm said, her gratitude evident.

Ling Ling chuckled softly. "I'm glad I could help. Sometimes it just takes a little patience and a fresh perspective."

Orm's tension visibly eased as she watched the machine work smoothly again. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this. I was really starting to panic."

Ling Ling gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry about it. We all have those moments. It's part of the job."

Orm's smile widened as she glanced at Ling Ling with newfound admiration. "Thank you, P'Ling. You've been a big help. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Ling Ling felt a flutter in her heart, attributing it to Orm's gratitude and charm rather than any deeper feelings. As they continued to chat, Ling Ling found herself enjoying Orm's company even more.

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Meanwhile, Ling Ling's work life was becoming increasingly stressful. The demands of her small business left her juggling tasks with only a few staff members to assist. Sleepless nights had taken a toll on her appearance, and she struggled to maintain her usual composure. The absence of her morning coffee stop at the café had added to her frustration, amplifying her sense of isolation and stress.

One morning, Ling Ling finally managed to return to the café. She ordered her usual two cups of coffee, an unusual choice that caught Orm's attention. Ling Ling's face was tense, and the weight of her stress was evident. Orm, noticing Ling Ling's weary look and the unusual order, wondered if something more was going on.

As Orm prepared the coffee, she decided to offer a small gesture of kindness. After setting the two cups on Ling Ling's table, Orm brought out a small chocolate cake and placed it beside the coffees with a warm smile. "I thought you might enjoy this. It's just a little something to brighten your day," Orm said, hoping to lift Ling Ling's spirits.

Ling Ling hesitated but appreciated the gesture. Taking a bite, she found the cake surprisingly comforting. The act of kindness, combined with the familiar café setting, helped ease some of her tension.

Just then, Ying, Ling Ling's friend and a well-known model, walked into the café. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Ling eating cake, a rare sight for someone who usually avoided sweets. She was even more surprised to see Ling chatting with Orm, something Ling rarely did with strangers.

Ying approached with a mix of concern and curiosity, sipping the coffee Ling Ling had ordered earlier. "Ling, you're eating chocolate cake? I've never seen you indulge in something like this before. And I saw you talking with that girl earlier," Ying said, her eyes wide with surprise. "You usually don't chat much with strangers. What's going on? Did something happen? Is everything okay?"

Ling Ling looked up, slightly embarrassed. "Yes, she's been really kind. I've been having a tough week, and this was a nice gesture," she said, glancing toward Orm, who was busy behind the counter. "Her name is Orm."

Ying's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't help but bombard Ling Ling with more questions. "So, you're eating cake and talking with that girl? Did she do something special? I've never seen you this relaxed with someone you just met. And she seems to be looking your way all the time. Are you two...?"

Ling Ling chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Ying, you have a lot of energy this morning, despite staying up late for modeling work. I'm fine, really. Orm's just been a bit of a bright spot in my week."

Ying, still brimming with energy and questions, nodded, though she didn't fully let go of her curiosity. "Alright, if you say so. But you have to tell me more about this Orm and what's been happening."

Ling Ling gave Ying a small, thoughtful smile before finishing her cake. The unanswered questions lingered as Ying walked with Ling Ling to bid goodbye to Orm. Ying had a lot of questions swirling in her mind. She knew her friend very well; Ling was a sweet and caring person, but only to those closest to her. Ling usually kept a certain distance when encountering strangers. But today, what Ying saw was different.

Orm, still processing the shock of seeing such a famous model so close, watched as Ling Ling and Ying interacted. She noticed how Ying's tone was caring and how Ling Ling appeared more relaxed with her friend. Orm wondered about their relationship and why Ying, a famous model, seemed so important to Ling Ling.

Ling Ling's demeanor softened as she spoke with Ying, revealing a side of her that Orm hadn't seen before. Orm was intrigued by the close and caring dynamic between Ling Ling and Ying, and she was curious to learn more about the intriguing woman who had started to mean so much to her.

As Ling Ling left the café that day, she reflected on the growing bond with Orm and the unexpected kindness she had received. The café had become a place where she felt understood and cared for, and she looked forward to their continued interactions. For Orm, Ling Ling's presence had become an important part of her daily routine, and she was eager to uncover more about the intriguing woman who had captured her attention.

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Author's note:

There you go. I wanted to put Ying as Ling friends since we don't have much of their interaction in TSOU.