Résonance: a LingOrm's Story

Chapter 12: Unspoken Feeling

Orm stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over the message she had sent Ling days ago. No reply. Not even the simple acknowledgment of having seen the message. It wasn't like P'Ling to go silent like this. They had been messaging each other regularly, even when Ling was abroad. But now, after a week of nothing, Orm couldn't shake the growing knot of unease in her chest.

She tried to replay the last time they had spoken. It was the day Ling had picked her up from the dorm to help with her paper. Everything had seemed fine. They had shared quiet moments, talked, and then Ying had joined them for a pleasant chat. There was no indication that anything was wrong.

But now... something was off.

Orm bit her lip and opened her messages with Ying. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should bother Ying, who was likely busy with her modeling work. But she needed answers. Maybe Ying knew something. Maybe Ling was just overwhelmed with work or had some sort of family issue back in Hong Kong. Orm could deal with any explanation, but the silence was suffocating.

She quickly typed a message: P'Ying, have you spoken to P'Ling recently? Is she back from her trip? I haven't heard from her in a few days, and I'm starting to worry...

After sending the message, Orm put her phone down and tried to distract herself with her university assignments, but her mind kept drifting back to Ling. She couldn't focus, the unease growing with each passing minute. A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a reply from Ying.

Yeah, Ling's back in Thailand. We caught up briefly, but she's been really busy with work. Maybe that's why she hasn't replied? Don't worry too much, Orm. She'll get back to you soon!

Ying's words were comforting but didn't completely ease the tension in Orm's chest. Something didn't sit right with her. She needed to see Ling, to make sure everything was okay. She couldn't just sit around waiting for a message that might never come.

Later that day, Orm made up her mind. She was going to visit Ling's office. She knew it was a bit of a bold move, but maybe seeing Ling in person would clear the air. Maybe she was overthinking things, and Ling was just too swamped to keep up with messages.

So, after her classes ended, Orm took a bus to the district where Ling's travel agency was located. As she neared the building, her heart raced. She didn't plan to walk in and confront Ling directly. She didn't even know if Ling would be there. Instead, she positioned herself near a small café across the street where she could see the entrance to the agency.

The hours ticked by slowly. Orm sipped her drink, trying to keep herself calm. But with each passing moment, the anxiety built. What if Ling wasn't even at the office today? What if something had happened to her? What if... she was avoiding Orm? The last thought made her stomach twist painfully.

By the time the sun began to set, Orm had seen no sign of Ling. She was disappointed but also more worried than ever. She decided to call it a day and head back to her dorm. Maybe Ling was just tied up with something. She'd try again another time.

That evening, back at the dorm, Prig noticed Orm's distracted behavior. Orm had been pacing around their small room, biting her nails, clearly deep in thought.

"What's going on with you, Orm? You've been acting weird lately," Prig said, raising an eyebrow as she sat on her bed, folding laundry.

Orm sighed, her shoulders slumping as she sat down on her own bed. "I don't know... it's P'Ling. She hasn't replied to my messages in days, and I'm starting to worry something's wrong."

Prig frowned. "P'Ling? That's not like her. Have you tried calling?"

"No, I didn't want to bother her if she's busy. But I went to her office today, just to see if I could catch a glimpse of her, and... nothing. I waited for hours, and she never showed up."

Prig nodded slowly, sensing the unease in her friend's voice. "Maybe she's just swamped with work. You know how serious she is about her business."

Orm shook her head, still feeling unsettled. "Yeah, but it's not like her to ignore me like this. I feel like something's wrong, but I don't know what."

Prig gave Orm a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't stress about it too much. Maybe it's just a rough patch. P'Ling will come around. She really cares about you."

Orm smiled weakly, but Prig's words did little to dispel the knot of worry that had been building in her chest all day. She wanted to believe that everything was fine, but the silence from Ling felt like something more.

The following day, Orm's friends noticed her restless behavior as well. While they were lounging in the common area, one of the guys, a mutual friend, couldn't help but tease her.

"So, Orm, what's going on with you and Kim, huh?" he asked with a smirk.

Orm's head snapped up, startled by the question. "W-what? Nothing's going on with me and Kim," she stammered, feeling her face heat up.

Another friend chimed in, grinning mischievously. "Come on, we all saw you two after the hangout last week. You stayed behind with him while we all went ahead. Looked pretty cozy from where I was standing."

Orm felt her heart drop at the mention of that night. The memory of Kim's sudden confession made her stomach churn. She had been so caught off guard, and now her friends were making it worse with their teasing.

"It's not like that," she said firmly, trying to shut down the conversation.

But the teasing didn't stop. "So, you're not a couple now? Come on, Orm, spill the details!"

Prig, who had been sitting nearby, gave the others a sharp look. "Hey, cut it out. Orm's got enough on her mind without you guys making things awkward."

The group quieted down after that, but Orm still felt unsettled. She hadn't told anyone about Kim's confession — not Prig, not Ling. She hadn't even processed it herself. And now, on top of everything, Ling's silence was weighing heavily on her.

Orm took a deep breath and stood up, grabbing her bag. "I'm gonna head out for a bit," she said quietly, not wanting to linger in the teasing atmosphere.

Prig watched her go with a concerned expression. Something was definitely off with Orm, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it had to do with P'Ling. As Orm left the dorm, Prig made a mental note to check in with her later and figure out what was really going on.