Résonance: a LingOrm's Story

Chapter 28: The Confession

Ling sat on the edge of her bed, her phone resting in her hands, staring at Orm's contact for what felt like an eternity. Her heart raced, and for once, it wasn't a business deal or a difficult decision weighing on her—it was something far more personal, far more vulnerable. She had made up her mind, but the final step was always the hardest.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed Orm's number.

On the other end, Orm's voice was as cheerful as ever, but there was a hint of confusion. "P'Ling? What's up?"

Ling paused for a moment, steadying herself. "Orm, can we meet tonight? It's... it's important. I need to talk to you."

A slight worry crept into Orm's tone. "Did something happen? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ling reassured her, though she could hear the unsteady note in her own voice. "I'll explain when I see you. I'll pick you up in an hour."

The call ended, leaving Orm in a state of confusion. Her mind immediately jumped to worst-case scenarios—what if something had happened with Ling's injury, or with her business? She paced around her dorm, anxiously waiting for the hour to pass.

Ling, on the other hand, found herself gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles as she drove to Orm's dorm. She had rehearsed her words over and over, but nothing seemed right. How do you tell someone that they've become the most important person in your life? How do you confess feelings you've hidden for so long?

When Ling arrived at Orm's dorm, she barely had time to take a breath before Orm appeared, looking worried and slightly frazzled.

"P'Ling, what's going on?" Orm asked as she slid into the passenger seat, glancing at Ling's serious expression.

Ling didn't answer right away. Instead, she started driving toward the park nearby, her thoughts running wild. She could feel Orm's gaze on her, curious but also a little anxious.

They pulled into the park's lot, and Ling turned off the engine. The silence between them stretched, thick with unspoken words.

"P'Ling, seriously, what's going on? You're scaring me a little," Orm said, trying to read her face.

Ling finally met Orm's eyes, taking a deep breath. "Let's go for a walk. I need to talk to you."

They got out of the car and strolled along the path, the cool evening air brushing against their skin. Ling's heart was pounding in her chest, but she forced herself to speak.

"Orm... there's something I've been meaning to say for a while now. I just didn't know how to say it," Ling started, her voice soft but firm.

Orm looked at her with concern. "What is it? You're really making me nervous."

Ling let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "I'm not trying to. It's just... this is harder than I thought."

They walked a bit further, the soft glow of the park lights casting long shadows along the path. Finally, Ling stopped and turned to face Orm fully. Her eyes searched Orm's face, and for a moment, she could feel her carefully constructed walls crumbling.

"You've changed my world, Orm," Ling said, her voice steady now. "I didn't realize it at first, but everything started to feel different after I met you. Better. More alive. I've always been so composed, so in control of everything around me, but with you... I don't want to control anything. I just want to be with you."

Orm blinked, her heart hammering in her chest. "P'Ling, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Ling continued, stepping closer, "that I care about you more than I've ever cared about anyone. You make me feel things I've never felt before. And I don't want to keep pretending that I don't."

Orm's breath caught in her throat. "P'Ling..."

"I love you, Orm," Ling said softly, the words hanging in the air between them. "I love you, and I want you to be my girlfriend. Officially."

There it was—the confession that Ling had held back for so long, laid bare in the quiet of the night.

Orm's eyes widened, her heart skipping several beats. She had suspected that Ling felt something for her, but hearing those words made her world tilt.

"You..." Orm stammered, her cheeks flushing. "You really feel that way about me?"

Ling smiled, a small, genuine smile that softened her usual composed demeanor. "I do. I know we haven't known each other for that long, but what we've been through—it's enough. I know who you are, and I know what you mean to me."

Orm stared at Ling, her heart racing so fast she thought it might burst. A surge of emotions welled up inside her—joy, nervousness, disbelief. But above all, she felt warmth. A warmth that spread through her entire body, filling her with a happiness she hadn't known she could feel.

Without thinking, Orm whispered, "I... I love you too, P'Ling."

Ling's heart swelled at those words, and before either of them could second-guess themselves, she leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss. It wasn't rushed or desperate, but slow and warm. Ling's hand gently cupped Orm's cheek, and Orm, despite her initial shock, responded in kind. It was Orm's first kiss, and though she had no experience, she felt like it was exactly as it should be—gentle, tender, and yet somehow hot, igniting something deep within her.

When they finally pulled apart, Orm's face was flushed, her heart still racing.

"Wow," she whispered, a small smile spreading across her lips.

Ling smiled back, brushing a strand of hair from Orm's face. "I've wanted to do that for a while."

Orm laughed softly, the tension between them melting away. "I'm glad you did."

They stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, the world around them fading into the background.

Ling took Orm's hand, intertwining their fingers. "So... is that a yes?"

Orm grinned, squeezing Ling's hand. "Yes. Of course, yes."

They walked back to the car hand in hand, the weight of unspoken feelings finally lifted. It wasn't the most dramatic or romantic confession, but it was them—honest, simple, and real.

And as they drove back, Orm couldn't help but smile to herself, her heart still fluttering. She had never expected her world to change so much in such a short time, but now, with Ling by her side, it felt like everything was exactly as it should be.