A Spark in the Darkness || lingorm ff

An Invitation to Remember

The sun cast a warm glow over the campus as the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day's classes. Lingling gathered her things, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Orm bounced over, her usual energy radiating as she approached.

"Hey, Ling! What are you up to after class?" Orm asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Just heading home, I guess," Lingling replied, adjusting her glasses. "You know, the usual-procrastinating on my existential crisis."

Orm laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Why don't you come over to my place? My mom is making her famous pasta tonight! I promise it won't be an existential crisis-just an amazing culinary experience."

Lingling hesitated, a mix of excitement and nerves fluttering in her stomach. "Um, sure! That sounds fun!" she finally replied, a smile spreading across her face.

"Awesome! Let's go!" Orm grinned, grabbing Lingling's hand and leading her out of the classroom like a puppy dragging its owner to the park.

---

Arriving at Orm's house, Lingling was immediately welcomed by the aroma of garlic and tomatoes wafting through the air. Orm's mother, Mei, was busy in the kitchen, her hair tied up in a messy bun, flour dusting her apron.

"Orm! You're back! And you must be Lingling! It's so lovely to see you again!" Mei exclaimed, wrapping Lingling in a warm embrace that made her feel like a human burrito.

"Hi, Mrs. Tan! It's nice to see you too!" Lingling said, feeling both flattered and a bit shy under Mei's enthusiastic attention. She glanced at Orm, who was trying to stifle her laughter.

"What did you do? Become a baking model while I was gone?" Orm teased, eyeing the flour on her mother's nose.

"Ha-ha, very funny! I'm a woman of many talents, including making your favorite pasta!" Mei shot back, waving a wooden spoon like a sword.

As they set the table, Lingling couldn't help but admire the warm atmosphere in Orm's home. Family photos adorned the walls, each capturing moments filled with laughter and love. It struck her how different this felt compared to her own home, where warmth and connection often felt like an afterthought.

"Dinner's almost ready! Orm, why don't you show Lingling your latest project while I finish cooking?" Mei suggested, a smile dancing on her lips.

"Great idea! Follow me!" Orm said, leading Lingling to her room, which was a colorful chaos of paint splatters and half-finished projects. A giant poster of a cartoon mango wearing sunglasses hung on the wall.

"Welcome to my creative sanctuary! Or, as I like to call it, my creative disaster zone," Orm said with a grin. "I'm trying to come up with a marketing plan for a new ice cream flavor. What do you think about 'Mystical Mango Madness'?"

Lingling laughed, eyeing the poster. "That sounds like a flavor that could either be amazing or terrifying. I can already picture kids running around with bright green tongues after tasting it!"

Orm giggled. "Exactly! And imagine the marketing campaign-balloons, confetti, maybe even a mascot! I'll need your genius ideas to pull this off. We can have a dancing mango!"

Lingling raised an eyebrow, suppressing a chuckle. "A dancing mango? Is that your secret plan for world domination?"

"Yes! Step one: make everyone love mangoes. Step two: world domination!" Orm exclaimed dramatically, throwing her hands in the air like a movie villain.

---

Dinner was a delightful affair, filled with Mei's hearty laughter and the delicious smell of pasta. As they sat down to eat, Lingling felt a warmth blossoming in her chest. Orm's family dynamic was so different from her own, and she longed for that kind of connection.

"So, Lingling, what are your future plans? Any big dreams?" Mei asked, genuinely interested.

"Well, my parents are pushing me to take over the family business one day. But honestly, I just want to find something I'm passionate about. Not just spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations," Lingling admitted, her voice quieting at the thought.

Mei nodded, understanding. "That's important. I always tell Orm to follow her heart, even in business. Life's too short to spend it doing something you don't love."

Lingling smiled, feeling grateful for Mei's warm support. "Thank you, Mrs. Tan. It means a lot to hear that. I mean, if I have to take over my parents' business, at least I hope it's a bakery. That way, I can eat all the cupcakes!"

"You'd make a wonderful baker, Lingling! Your cupcakes could be world-famous!" Mei encouraged, and they all shared a laugh.

After dinner, they cleared the table and decided to watch a movie in Orm's room. Orm tossed a couple of snacks onto the bed as they settled in, her excitement palpable. "Get ready for the ultimate rom-com experience! If you cry, I will not be responsible for the emotional damage."

As the movie played, Orm kept stealing glances at Lingling, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Do you think we'll ever have a love story like that?" Orm asked, her tone teasing.

Lingling chuckled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Maybe if we find our own version of 'Mr. Perfect' or 'Ms. Right.' But knowing my luck, I'll probably end up with a talking mango instead."

Orm burst into laughter. "If you do, I'll be your marketing consultant! 'Get your own talking mango-funny, sweet, and never boring!'"

Lingling rolled her eyes playfully. "Just be careful; I have a reputation to uphold! I can't have my future talking mango stealing my thunder."

---

As the movie came to an end, Lingling realized it was getting late. "I should probably head home," she said reluctantly, not wanting the night to end.

"Oh, come on! Just a little longer? We're having so much fun!" Orm pleaded, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Okay, just a little bit longer," Lingling agreed, a smile breaking across her face. "But only if you promise not to let your mango take over the world."

"Deal!" Orm said, crossing her heart dramatically.

Finally, when Lingling did decide to leave, Orm walked her to the door. "I had such an amazing time tonight. You're welcome here anytime!" she said, her sincerity shining through.

Lingling's heart raced as she looked into Orm's eyes, feeling an unexpected warmth blossoming inside her. "Thanks, Orm. I had a great time too."

As Lingling stood at the door, about to say her goodbyes, Orm suddenly leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. "Goodbye, Lingling kwong! See you tomorrow!"

Before Lingling could react, Orm closed the door fast, leaving her standing there, cheeks flushed and heart racing.

Lingling couldn't help but smile as she walked home, the warmth from Orm's kiss lingering on her cheek and the laughter from the evening echoing in her heart. "I really need to stop thinking about mangoes," she muttered to herself, giggling as she strolled down the street

_to be continued _