Hearts Collide (Lingorm)

Chapter 19

Orm sat spinning in Ling's chair, absentmindedly playing with her phone as she waited. It had been a while since she last visited Ling at the hospital. Ever since Faye restricted her from showing up at Ling's workplace, these surprise visits had become rare. She missed doing things like this—surprising Ling when she least expected it.

As she spun around for the hundredth time, the door opened. Orm's face lit up, expecting to see her girlfriend walk through the door, but her excitement quickly faded when she saw someone else. It was Freen.

Creepy Freen, Orm thought instantly, a sense of unease creeping up her spine.

Trying to shake off the discomfort, Orm spoke up awkwardly, "Lingling's not here right now." She hoped that was enough to hint for Freen to leave.

But the opposite happened. Freen stepped inside, shutting the door behind her. Orm frowned, why close the door?

Freen gave a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes. "It's fine, I'm just glad to see you," she said, her tone soft but unsettling.

Orm shifted in the chair, her body tense. "Uh-huh," she muttered, unsure of what else to say.

Freen crossed the room and leaned against the desk. "How's everything? University going well?"

"Good," Orm answered shortly, not offering any more information. She wasn't in the mood for small talk, especially not with Freen.

Freen rubbed the back of her neck, looking oddly nervous. "How about we go grab a coffee or some ice cream? There's a place nearby."

Orm's eyes widened. is she... asking me out? This felt wrong—deeply wrong. Freen was married for God's sake! What the hell was this?

"I—uh—maybe we can wait for Ling to finish," Orm stammered, trying to navigate her way out of the situation without being rude.

But Freen cut her off, leaning in slightly. "Is it possible to go just the two of us?"

The phrasing itself sent alarm bells ringing in Orm's head. She narrowed her eyes, looking Freen up and down, questioning everything. "What's up with you?" Orm asked, her voice steady but sharp. "The creepy looks, the attention. You think I haven't noticed? At dinner, you watch me, and you don't even give a damn that your wife is sitting right next to you, neither to your best friend"

Freen blinked, clearly hurt by the accusation, her expression shifting from confidence to defensiveness.

Orm stood up from the chair, her posture rigid. "You're creeping me out, Freen." She spat the words, her voice laced with disgust. "I'm leaving."

Freen, panicking now, reached out and grabbed Orm's arm, her grip tight but desperate. "Orm, wait. Just talk to me. Please," she pleaded, her voice shaking.