Short Stories-Lingorm

BTS- Part 2

Ling and Orm’s relationship grew in secret, an unspoken understanding between them. They didn’t rush anything; it was always just one step at a time. They were careful, cautious, trying to keep their professional lives separate from their growing feelings off set. For the most part, they succeeded—until the fans started to take notice.

Chasing Stars had quickly become a hit. The chemistry between Ling and Orm on screen was undeniable, and fans couldn’t get enough of their pairing. Social media was flooded with posts, edits, and fan theories. Some even wondered if the on-screen romance had bled into reality. The shipping community was relentless, demanding more from the actresses—more interactions, more behind-the-scenes footage, more…skinship.

At first, Ling and Orm tried to laugh it off. It wasn’t uncommon for co-stars to be shipped together, and they both had been through it before. But this was different. The pressure was stronger, and every event, every interview, every interaction was dissected by the fans. And then came the requests.

“Ling, can you sit closer to Orn?”
“Orm, put your arm around her!”
“Just kiss already!”

During fan events, it felt like everyone was watching their every move, waiting for any hint of affection. And that’s when the tension between them started to grow.

They were at a panel for Chasing Stars, sitting side by side on stage, answering questions from fans. The energy in the room was electric, buzzing with excitement. A fan in the audience stepped up to the microphone.

“This question is for both Ling and Orm,” they said with a mischievous smile. “We all love your chemistry on screen. But we were wondering, can you give us a little fanservice? Maybe a hug or something?”

The room erupted into cheers and laughter, but Ling’s heart sank. Her eyes flicked to Emily, who was already looking back at her, a forced smile on her lips.

“Uh, we love that you guys are so passionate about the show,” Orm said, dodging the question with a laugh, “but we’re here for the characters, right? Let’s focus on them.”

The fan pressed on, “Oh, come on, just a little hug! We know you’re close off-screen too!”

Ling could feel the tension rolling off Orm in waves. It wasn’t the hug that bothered them—it was the expectations. Being told how to act, how to be close, like their real feelings were just for show. Ling’s stomach twisted with anxiety, knowing that every fan event was becoming harder to navigate.

After the panel, back in the quiet of the dressing room, Ling paced the floor, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

“This is getting out of hand,” she said, her voice strained. “They don’t even see us as people anymore. We’re just…characters to them. Props for their fantasies.”

Ling leaned against the vanity, her own frustration bubbling up. “I know. It’s like they think our feelings—everything between us—are just part of the show.”

“It makes me feel like I can’t be myself around you,” Orm admitted, stopping her pacing to look at Ling. “Like we have to constantly put up this wall between us, so they don’t see through it.”

Ling walked over to her, reaching out to gently touch her arm. “I hate it too. I hate that we have to pretend…or hide. But what can we do? If we push back, the rumors will just get worse.”

Orm sighed, pulling Ling into a tight hug, something they both desperately needed after the day’s events. “I don’t want them to dictate how we act with each other. I don’t want to feel scared to touch you when we’re out in public, like everything has to be a performance.”

Ling held her close, feeling the tension in Orm’s body slowly ease. “We can’t let them control us. But we need to figure out how to handle it…together.”

In the days that followed, the tension didn’t let up. Every interaction they had—whether on set or at events—was watched closely by fans. The smallest touch or glance was analyzed and debated online. It became suffocating.

One evening, after yet another round of interviews where they were bombarded with questions about their "chemistry," Ling finally snapped. She and Orm were sitting in Orm’s apartment, exhausted from the day, when Ling spoke up.

“I’m tired of this,” she said, her voice shaking. “I’m tired of pretending. Of holding back. Why does it feel like we have to choose between our careers and…this?”

EmOrn looked at her, her expression conflicted. “I know. But we can’t just come out and tell everyone. Not yet. You’ve seen how brutal the media can be. If we go public now, they’ll tear us apart.”

Ling knew she was right, but the weight of keeping their relationship hidden was wearing on her. “I just want to be with you. Without all the noise. Without the fans or the media or anyone else telling us how we should feel.”

Orm’s eyes softened, and she reached for Ling’s hand. “We’ll figure it out. I don’t want to lose this either. But maybe we don’t have to choose. We just need to set boundaries.”

Ling nodded, though she wasn’t entirely sure how they would manage it. “You’re right. We’ll start by doing things our way. No more fanservice, no more giving in to the pressure. We show what we’re comfortable with, and nothing more.”

Orm smiled, relief evident in her eyes. “Together, then?”

Ling squeezed her hand. “Together.”

As they sat there, hand in hand, the world outside continued to buzz with rumors and speculation. But for the first time, Ling and Orm felt a little more in control—determined to navigate their relationship on their terms, even if it meant going against the expectations of everyone else.

To be continued...