hourglass stories of me and you

IV

As the tribute ended and the lights slowly came back on, Lingling felt the fluttering sensation in her chest intensify. She had spent so much time convincing herself that what she felt for Orm needed to stay buried. She had told herself that their careers were more important, that Orm deserved to meet other people. But now, as those hidden moments played back in her mind, she realized just how much she had been holding back.

Orm had looked at her with affection—with something deeper—so many times, and Lingling had been too scared to see it. Maybe, all this time, Orm had been patiently waiting for her to see what had always been there.

As the lights brightened, Lingling turned to Orm, her heart pounding in her chest. Orm was still staring at the now-blank screen, her lips pressed together in a thin line. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of all those hidden moments, all those years of unspoken feelings, hung between them like a heavy curtain. But this time, Lingling didn't want to let it stay unsaid.

Orm glanced away, biting her lip, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her black dress. Lingling knew that look too well—it was the same look Orm had given her that night in Macau, right before she had almost confessed. The memories of that night flooded back, sharper than ever. She had been so close, so ready to finally tell Orm everything. But she didn't.

Life was short. Too short to keep holding back. Too short to let more chances slip away.

This time, Lingling wasn't going to let fear stop her.

--

As they left the funeral together, walking side by side for the first time in what felt like years, their hands brushing lightly against each other's as they walked down the street. Neither of them pulled away. It was a small gesture, but to Lingling, it felt like the beginning of something new. Something that they had both been waiting for.

"Life's... short, isn't it?" Orm murmured, her voice so quiet that Lingling almost didn't hear her.

Lingling blinked, startled by the sudden vulnerability in Orm's words. She nodded slowly, her throat tight. "Yeah. It is."

Orm glanced up at her, something raw flickering in her eyes. "Do you ever think about how...we never really talk anymore?" Her voice cracked just slightly on the last word, and Lingling felt her heart twist. There it was. The truth, finally said out loud.

Lingling swallowed hard, trying to push down the lump in her throat. "I do think about it," she admitted. "I think about it a lot, actually."

Orm's eyes lingered on her, searching, waiting. "Why didn't we?"

There were a hundred reasons Lingling could have given. Their busy schedules. Their careers. The media. But none of those were the real reason, and they both knew it.

"I was afraid," Lingling said, her voice barely above a whisper. The confession slipped out before she could stop it.

Orm frowned, confused. "Afraid of what?"

"Of...what would happen if I said everything I wanted to say." Lingling's words hung in the air between them, heavy and filled with all the things she had never said.

Orm stared at her for a long moment, her eyes wide, her lips parted in surprise. She seemed to be searching for the right words, but none came.

Lingling took a slow breath, willing herself to be brave for once. "There's something I've been thinking about lately," she began, her voice quiet but steady. "Something we promised a long time ago, and I think maybe...it's time we finally did it."

Orm tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "What do you mean?"

"The Omakase dinner," Lingling said, managing a small, tentative smile. "Remember? We promised we'd go."

For a moment, Orm just stared at her, clearly taken off guard. But then, slowly, a soft smile spread across her lips—the first bright smile Lingling had seen from her in what felt like forever.

Lingling took a step closer, her heart pounding in her chest. "I still want to. If you do."

Orm's eyes sparkled, "Lingling Kwonggggg," Orm playfully said. "I want to."

Orm smiled gently, a warmth in her eyes. "Do you think P'Ploy would be happy to know we're finally going on that Omakase date?"

Lingling laughed softly, a hint of fondness in her voice. "She'd probably be rolling her eyes at us and cheering at the same time. Took us long enough, right?"

Orm nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah. She'd want us to be happy."

For a moment, they just stood there, side by side, sharing in the grief that still lingered, Lingling reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against Orm's until they intertwined, offering comfort, warmth, and something more.

"I wish she could have seen this."

Orm's eyes glistened as she nodded. "She knew. I think she always knew."

"Let's not waste any more time," Lingling whispered, her voice trembling but sincere.

Orm squeezed her hand, her smile bittersweet. "No more wasted time."

With their hands clasped together, they watched the sun dip below the horizon. Life was fleeting, and they both knew it too well now. With a deep breath, they turned away from the sunset and kept walking, holding on to each other, ready to face whatever was to come.

--

The end