Falling For You

Chapter 5: Confessions Interrupted

The next morning, Ling sat in her office, her thoughts a tangled mess. The bright sunlight streamed through the large windows, but the warmth outside did little to ease the storm brewing inside her. She had been tossing and turning all night, wrestling with the confusing whirlwind of emotions she felt toward Orm. She had always managed to keep her feelings under wraps, pretending that everything was fine—that it was just rivalry, a game of wits between them. But now, something was different.

Ling ran her fingers through her hair in frustration, leaning back in her chair as she stared at the ceiling. What was it that she truly felt? Was it guilt for how things were in the past? Or was it something deeper, something more dangerous?

Still lost in thought, she grabbed her phone and hesitated for a moment before deciding to text her cousin, Prigkhing, someone she knew she could talk to. They were close, practically sisters, and Prigkhing had always been the one to give her honest advice.

A few minutes later, Prigkhing walked into her office, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Hey, cuz. What's up?" she asked, casually leaning against Ling's desk. "You don't usually call me this early."

Ling sighed, fiddling with a pen in her hand. "I... I needed to talk to you about something."

Prigkhing gave her a knowing look, sensing the seriousness in Ling's voice. "Alright, spill. What's got you all twisted up?"

Ling hesitated, then finally spoke, her words slow and deliberate. "What if I told you I... like someone? Someone I've known since childhood?"

Prigkhing's eyes lit up with amusement. "Oooh, Ling's got a crush. This is news! Who's the lucky person?, Don't tell me it's P'Gap na!.."

Ling exhaled deeply. "What? No, It's not that simple, okay. It's... Orm."

Prigkhing's smile faded, her eyes widening in surprise. "Orm? The one you used to..." She paused, searching for the right words. "You used to bully her, right?"

Ling nodded, her expression troubled. "I didn't mean to—I never really wanted to hurt her. It was always our cousins, especially Ratee and Ploy. But Orm never knew that I was the one who fixed everything, that I wasn't part of their cruelty. She thinks I'm just like them."

Prigkhing frowned, her usual playful demeanor replaced by something more thoughtful. "Ling... does she still think you hate her?"

"I don't know," Ling admitted, rubbing her temples. "She's confused, and I don't blame her. I've been sending mixed signals, acting like we're rivals while."

 "while all I really want is to—" She cut herself off, shaking her head.

"To what?" Prigkhing pressed.

"To be with her," Ling confessed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But she hates me, and I can't blame her."

Prigkhing gave her a sympathetic smile. "You've got to tell her how you feel. All this back-and-forth, the games, the rivalry—it's only going to make things worse."

Ling looked down, unsure of herself. "What if she rejects me? What if she thinks I'm only doing this to win some twisted game?"

Prigkhing placed a reassuring hand on Ling's shoulder. "Then you'll deal with it. But you can't keep this bottled up forever. If you really care about her, you've got to be honest. Trust me."

Ling nodded, feeling a bit lighter. She knew Prigkhing was right. She had to tell Orm how she felt, even if it meant risking everything.

Later that morning, Ling arrived at the school, her heart pounding in her chest. The hallways were filled with students, teachers, and the usual hustle and bustle, but Ling's mind was focused on one thing: finding Orm.