My Secret Letter

Chapter 10: Breaking Point

Ling woke up that morning with a sense of dread hanging over her. The weight of her actions was becoming unbearable, and despite the fun she'd had pretending to flirt with Jennie, the reality of her situation felt increasingly bleak. As she stared at the ceiling, she thought about Orm, about the way her heart raced every time she caught sight of her, and about the anger that had caused her to lash out.

At school, the atmosphere was tense. Ling walked into the cafeteria, where Orm sat with her best friends, Yeena, Mint, and Prikhing. The four of them were laughing and chatting, their eyes lighting up with amusement. But when Ling caught sight of Orm, that familiar warmth in her chest twisted into something darker—a mix of jealousy and longing.

Ling's stomach churned at the sight, but she forced herself to put on a brave face as she approached her friends, who were sitting at a table nearby. "Hey," she greeted Jennie with forced cheerfulness.

"Hey, Ling! Come sit with us!" Jennie exclaimed, waving her over. Ling nodded, but her eyes kept darting to Orm, who was clearly enjoying herself with her friends.

As the conversation flowed, Ling could feel the atmosphere growing heavier. She was acutely aware of Orm's laughter, which rang in her ears like a haunting melody. Just then, she noticed Orm glance over at her, a flash of hurt crossing her face before she turned back to her friends. That look drove a dagger into Ling's heart, igniting a flame of regret.

Suddenly, Ling spotted Jennie leaning closer, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "What's wrong with you today? You seem... distracted," she teased.

"Nothing," Ling snapped, perhaps too defensively. "I'm fine."

But just as Ling tried to refocus on the conversation with Jennie, she noticed Orm stand up abruptly, her eyes steely with determination. It seemed she had reached her limit. Ling's heart raced as she watched Orm storm over, her friends looking on with curiosity.

"Ling," Orm said, her voice firm but laced with vulnerability. "We need to talk."

Ling opened her mouth to protest, but the words didn't come. Instead, she shook her head, unwilling to face the emotional turmoil brewing inside her.

"Are you really going to ignore me?" Orm's voice rose, echoing in the bustling cafeteria. "You can't just act like this isn't happening!"

"Just let it go, Orm," Ling replied, her heart pounding with anxiety. "I'm not in the mood to fight."

But Orm wasn't having it. In one swift movement, she closed the distance between them, grabbing Ling by her collar and pulling her close. The cafeteria fell silent as their peers turned to witness the confrontation.

"Are you going to act like a child and ignore me," Orm demanded, her eyes fierce and penetrating, "or are we going to talk?"

Ling's breath hitched in her throat as she searched Orm's face. The intensity in Orm's gaze was a mix of anger and desperation, and in that moment, Ling felt the air between them shift. She could feel the weight of their unresolved issues crashing down on her, and the thrill of Orm's proximity ignited a fire in her.

"Let me go," Ling whispered, but the demand lacked conviction.

"No," Orm replied, her grip tightening. "Not until we figure this out. I'm tired of you pushing me away."

Ling's heart raced as she fought to regain her composure. "I'm scared, okay?" she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I fell for you, and I didn't know how to handle it."

Orm's expression softened slightly, but there was still hurt lingering in her eyes. "So you decided to hurt me instead?"

Ling swallowed hard, feeling the weight of guilt settle on her shoulders. "I didn't mean to—"

"Then stop playing games!" Orm shouted, her voice echoing in the silence of the cafeteria. "I deserve better than this. I deserve to know where I stand with you."

Before Ling could respond, Orm closed the gap between them again, capturing Ling's lips in a sudden, fierce kiss. It was passionate, filled with all the unresolved tension and emotion that had built up between them. The kiss felt like a jolt of electricity, awakening every dormant feeling Ling had tried to ignore.

But just as quickly as it had begun, Orm pulled away, her breath coming in short bursts. "You can't keep pushing me away while you flirt with Jennie," she said, her voice trembling with anger and hurt. "You need to decide what you want, Ling."

Ling stood frozen, her heart racing. She had wanted this, but now that it was happening, she felt more lost than ever. The lingering taste of Orm on her lips only added to the whirlwind of emotions.

"Orm, I—" Ling started, but Orm cut her off again.

"Figure it out," Orm said, her voice low but resolute, before she turned and walked away, leaving Ling standing there in a haze of confusion and regret.

Ling's heart sank as she watched Orm retreat, knowing she had to confront her own feelings head-on. She could no longer hide behind her bravado or act as if everything was fine. The kiss had changed everything, and she knew she needed to fight for Orm before it was too late.

As the chatter in the cafeteria resumed, Ling felt a sense of clarity wash over her. No more games. It was time to be honest with herself and with Orm, no matter how terrifying it might be.

Later that day, Ling found Orm sitting alone on a bench outside, staring at her phone with a distant expression. Gathering her courage, Ling approached her cautiously. "Orm," she began, her voice shaky. "I need to talk to you about the rumors. The one with Jennie... it's not true."

Orm looked up, her eyes meeting Ling's. "I know it's not true," she replied softly, a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm sorry for pushing you away like that. I let my insecurities get the better of me."

Ling felt a rush of relief wash over her. "I never meant for it to go this far. I've been acting like a fool," she confessed, her heart racing. "I was jealous, and I didn't handle it well."

Orm sighed, looking down at her hands. "And about Popor... we were never a thing. I thought you were done with me, so I tried to distract myself. But I've always been in love with you, Ling."

Those words hit Ling like a tidal wave, washing away the remnants of her fears. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Orm nodded, her gaze steady. "Always."

Ling took a deep breath, her heart swelling with hope. "I'm sorry for how I treated you. I was scared of how deep my feelings ran. Can we start over?"

Orm smiled, the tension between them finally lifting. "I'd like that."

As they shared a moment of understanding, Ling realized that love was never about the rumors or the jealousy; it was about the truth that lay between them. They had both stumbled, but in that moment, they had found a way back to each other.