A Spark in the Darkness || lingorm ff

A Morning of Monotony

Lingling awoke to the familiar sound of her alarm blaring, cutting through the silence of her empty house. She groaned, rolling over to shut it off before burying her face in her pillow. "Another day, another dollar," she muttered sarcastically to herself, wishing she could just stay in bed.

With a resigned sigh, she dragged herself out from under the covers, quickly adjusting her glasses. The morning light streamed through the window, illuminating her room-a chaotic mix of textbooks, clothes, and scattered papers. As she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, she thought, Who knew a person could look so tired before even starting the day?

Lingling shuffled to the kitchen, where she prepared her usual breakfast-cereal with a generous splash of milk, hoping to keep her spirits up. The silence was deafening, echoing in a way that made her feel small and insignificant. Her parents were still away on another business trip, leaving her to fend for herself, as usual.

Ah, the joys of independence, she mused sarcastically. At least I don't have to listen to their arguments about profits and losses. Instead, I get to enjoy the sweet sound of... nothing.

As she sat at the table, she noticed a sticky note on the fridge with her mother's handwriting: "Lingling, we're away for a few days. Don't forget to look after the house" It was signed with a heart. A heart? she thought, rolling her eyes. Like that makes everything okay. Meanwhile, I'm here playing house while they're off pretending to be a happy family somewhere else.

Lingling couldn't help but wonder about her parents. They were often absent, absorbed in their own worlds, and lately, she had a nagging suspicion that their relationship was more fragile than the glossy brochures they handed out at business meetings. It's like they're both having affairs, but instead of finding someone new, they're just cheating on each other with work, she thought dryly.

After finishing her breakfast and rinsing her bowl, Lingling headed to her room to get ready. Her morning routine was as monotonous as the rest of her life-brush teeth, wash face, throw on whatever clothes were clean, and finally, battle her hair into submission. If only there were an award for the most boring morning routine, she mused while attempting to tame her wild hair. I'd win gold every time.

After packing her bag, she glanced at the clock, realizing she was cutting it close. With one last look at her reflection, she muttered, "Let's do this!" before grabbing her keys and heading out the door.

The bus ride to college was filled with the usual assortment of grumpy morning commuters. Lingling sat quietly, staring out the window, feeling like she was in a world separate from everyone else. The joys of public transportation, she thought with a wry smile. Just me, my thoughts, and the ever-so-interesting scenery of the same old buildings.

When she finally arrived on campus, she rushed to her first class, sliding into her seat just as the professor began to lecture. She pulled out her notebook and prepared to take notes, but her attention was quickly diverted by the door swinging open.

In walked a whirlwind of energy-Orm, the new student from the party, was late. She burst into the classroom, her hair slightly tousled and a bright smile plastered across her face. "Sorry! I got lost trying to find the right building!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing with a playful charm.

The professor raised an eyebrow but waved it off with a smile, clearly charmed by her enthusiasm. "Just try to be on time next class, Ms. Orm," he said, gesturing for her to find a seat.

Orm scanned the room and her eyes lit up when they landed on Lingling. "There you are!" she called out, weaving her way through the desks, a lightness in her step. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Not at all," Lingling replied, feeling a flutter of unexpected excitement.

As Orm settled in next to her, she leaned over, her voice conspiratorial. "You'll never believe the chaos I had to navigate this morning! I thought I was going to be late for my first day of class, and that would have been a disaster!"

Lingling chuckled, her earlier loneliness momentarily forgotten. "Well, you made it just in time. And your entrance was pretty dramatic."

Orm grinned, winking at her. "I aim to impress! Maybe I should add 'Late Entry Expert' to my resume."

Their laughter echoed softly in the room, drawing a few curious glances from their classmates. Lingling felt a warmth blossom in her chest-a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time. As the lecture continued, she found herself stealing glances at Orm, who was taking notes with a focused intensity that was endearing.

Throughout the class, Orm occasionally leaned over to share funny comments or observations about the professor's teaching style, each time drawing Lingling further into a sense of camaraderie. Maybe this college thing isn't going to be so boring after all, Lingling thought, smiling to herself.

By the time class ended, Lingling felt lighter, her earlier thoughts about her parents and the dullness of her life fading into the background. Orm turned to her with a bright smile, "So, what's next on our adventure list?"

Lingling blinked, a bit taken aback. "Adventure list?"

"Absolutely! We need to plan something fun! How about ice cream after classes?" Orm suggested, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Lingling couldn't help but laugh. "Sure! That sounds great!"

As they walked out of the classroom together, Lingling felt a renewed sense of hope. For the first time in a long time, she was excited about what the day would bring. Maybe having Orm by her side would make college life a little less lonely and a lot more fun.

_to be continued _