Only us [LingOrm]

1

Past

Orm's pov

I was organizing my things in my locker, trying to focus on the mundane task at hand. The day had been exhausting, filled with classes that dragged on endlessly, and I just wanted to get home and unwind. But as I was about to close my locker, I heard a loud bang, startling me. A guy, one of those overly confident types who always thinks he can get whatever he wants, was leaning against the locker beside mine, his eyes locked onto me with a smirk that made my skin crawl.

"Hey, cutie," he drawled, his voice dripping with sleaze. "What about we go to my dorm?"

I felt a shiver of disgust run down my spine, but I kept my cool, refusing to give him the reaction he was looking for. "Sorry, I'm not interested," I said curtly, slamming my locker shut and turning to walk away.

But he wasn't going to let it go that easily. As I hurried down the hall, I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my head. I quickened my pace, eager to put as much distance between us as possible.

The sun had already dipped below the horizon by the time I left the campus. I hadn't planned on staying so late, but with so much to catch up on, I lost track of time. Now, as I walked down the quiet, deserted road, I regretted not bringing my umbrella. The sky was heavy with dark clouds, and within minutes, the rain began to fall in sheets, drenching me in seconds.

I tried to hurry home, but the rain made the road slick and treacherous. My shoes splashed through puddles, soaking my feet, and my clothes clung to me, cold and uncomfortable. I was so focused on getting home that I didn't notice the figure approaching until it was too late.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" a voice slurred, and I felt a rough hand grab my arm, yanking me to a stop. I looked up, my heart leaping into my throat. It was the same guy from earlier, and he wasn't alone. A group of his friends stood behind him, their leering faces lit by the flickering street lamp.

"Come on, let's go to my place," he sneered, his grip tightening painfully on my arm. "It's raining, and I can heat you up."

"Ew, no!" I exclaimed, trying to pull away, but his friends moved in, surrounding me.

"Ew?" He mimicked in a mocking tone, his smile widening into something more sinister. "Let's see if that's gonna be your next word."

Panic surged through me as they closed in. I yanked my arm free, stumbling backward, but the rain-slicked road betrayed me, and I fell to the ground with a splash. The impact jarred my bones, and for a moment, I was too stunned to move.

The guys loomed over me, their laughter mingling with the sound of the rain. It was like something out of a nightmare. My mind raced, desperate for a way out, but I was frozen in fear. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else.

Just as the first guy leaned down, ready to grab me again, something flew through the air, hitting him square in the head. He stumbled back with a curse, clutching his head, and I realized it was a backpack. My eyes darted to where it had come from, and through the rain, I saw her.

She emerged from the shadows, a tall, imposing figure dressed entirely in black, her hair pulled back in a no-nonsense ponytail. She held an umbrella in one hand, and despite the darkness, I could see the fire in her eyes as she stepped forward.

"Who the hell are you?" the guy growled, clearly irritated at the interruption.

She didn't answer. Instead, she moved with a fluid grace, dodging his attempt to strike her. In a matter of seconds, she had him on the ground, writhing in pain. The other guys hesitated, clearly unnerved by how easily she had taken him down.

"Get lost," she commanded, her voice cold and steady.

They didn't need to be told twice. Scrambling to their feet, they took off down the road, leaving their friend behind. He managed to stagger up and follow them, casting one last hateful look over his shoulder before disappearing into the night.

I was still sitting in the pavement, too shocked to move. The woman approached me, kneeling down to shield me from the rain with her umbrella. Her expression softened as she looked at me, and for the first time, I noticed how beautiful she was. There was a quiet strength in her eyes, and something about her made me feel safe.

"You're a girl," she said gently, her voice a stark contrast to the one she had used earlier. "Why are you out so late?"

"I just started at a tutoring school nearby," I replied, my voice trembling. "And... I couldn't find my scooter."

She nodded, understanding. "I'll help you find it," she said, standing up and extending her hand to me. "Come."

I took her hand, feeling the warmth and strength in her grip, and she pulled me to my feet. "Thank you so much," I said, managing a shaky smile. "My name is Orm."

"I'm Ling," she replied, and there was a hint of a smile in her voice as she introduced herself.

We walked together, her umbrella protecting us from the relentless rain. I was still shivering, my clothes soaked through, and she must have noticed because she stopped and opened her backpack. We ducked under the awning of a nearby building, and she handed me a hoodie.

"Here, put this on," she said, turning her back to give me some privacy.

I quickly stripped off my wet shirt and pulled on the hoodie. It was warm and soft, and it smelled like her—a comforting, clean scent that made me feel safe. When I was dressed, I gently tapped her shoulder to let her know.

"Warmer?" she asked, turning to face me.

"Yes, thank you," I said, my heart fluttering at the way she smiled at me.

She spotted my scooter then, hidden behind some cardboard boxes in an alley. "Is that yours?"

"Yes," I said, relief flooding me. "They must have hidden it there."

I tried to pull it free, but it was wedged tightly. Without a word, Ling handed me the umbrella. She stepped forward and, with surprising ease, lifted the scooter out from the boxes.

"Can I drive you home?" I offered, wanting to repay her somehow. "It's the least I can do for all your help."

But she shook her head. "You don't need to. I'll drive you home, and then I'll go home."

She got on the scooter and gestured for me to join her. I hesitated for a moment before climbing on behind her, one hand resting on her waist, the other holding the umbrella over us. She drove carefully, mindful of the wet road, and I felt an unexpected sense of peace wash over me.

When we reached my house, I got off and brought the scooter inside. She turned to leave, her umbrella already up. "Thank you again," I called after her, not wanting her to go.

She paused, looking back at me with a smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Take care, Orm."

With that, she walked away, disappearing into the rain-soaked night. I watched her go, a strange sense of loss settling over me. I didn't even know her, but something about her felt so familiar, so right. I didn't see her again after that night, but she remained in my thoughts, like a tattoo etched into my mind.