My Princess - LINGORM

16

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of my bedroom, casting a warm glow across the room. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind a whirlpool of thoughts that refused to settle. It was a typical day, but today felt different—like a weight had settled in my chest, urging me to confront the emotions I had been trying to ignore.

I rolled over, glancing at the clock. It was already late, and I had a tutoring session with Orm later that afternoon. But instead of feeling my usual irritation at her entitled attitude, I found myself thinking about her smile—the way her eyes sparkled when she finally grasped a concept after I had explained it for what felt like the hundredth time. There was something oddly satisfying about watching her piece it all together, and I felt a flutter of pride.

"Get a grip, Ling," I muttered to myself, pushing myself up into a sitting position. My mind was racing with thoughts of Orm. The way she carried herself, the confidence that radiated from her, even when she was struggling with economics. And then there was her laughter—a sound that seemed to resonate in my mind, echoing long after she had left.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. "It's just a student-teacher thing," I told myself, but the words felt hollow. I had worked with plenty of students before, and none had ever affected me this way.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I tried to push my thoughts of Orm aside. I poured myself a cup of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the image of her out of my mind. She was beautiful in a way that made my heart race, her features striking and unique. It was as if she had been designed to catch attention, and I found myself captivated.

After downing my coffee, I plopped down on the couch, my laptop open in front of me. I needed to focus on work—on lesson plans, grading papers, anything to keep my mind off Orm. But no matter what I tried, I was distracted. I kept glancing at my phone, half-expecting a message from her, even though I knew that was unlikely.

And then it hit me—this longing, this ridiculous desire to be near her, to hear her voice, and to see that expression of determination on her face as she struggled through the problems I presented to her. Oh no, I thought, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I was falling in love.

The realization sent a jolt through me, and I leaned back against the couch, my heart racing. This wasn't supposed to happen. I was a professional. I didn't mix my personal feelings with my work, and yet here I was, daydreaming about my student.

What was wrong with me? I had prided myself on being detached and focused, and yet I found myself spiraling into thoughts of Orm. Her laughter echoed in my mind, her playful sarcasm taunting me. I bit my lip, a mix of frustration and confusion swirling within me.

"Stop it," I chastised myself. "This is ridiculous. She's just a student. You can't fall in love with her." But my heart seemed to disagree, and the more I tried to shove those feelings aside, the more they pushed back.

I spent the next hour trying to work, but my mind kept drifting back to Orm. I recalled our last session together, her frown of concentration, the way she leaned closer when I explained the concepts. There was an intimacy in that moment that I hadn't fully appreciated at the time, and I craved more of it. I wanted to know her better, to understand the person behind the princess facade.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. How could I possibly focus on teaching her when all I could think about was how attracted I was to her? It was maddening.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her again, her pretty features and those expressive eyes that held so much emotion. The realization that I was falling for her sent another wave of heat through me. I couldn't deny it anymore. I was smitten.

As the afternoon approached and I prepared for our tutoring session, a mix of excitement and anxiety coursed through me. I needed to maintain my professional demeanor, but deep down, I was terrified of what this budding attraction could mean. What if she sensed my feelings? What if it changed everything?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I had to focus on the tutoring, on helping her improve. That was my priority, wasn't it?

I arrived at her penthouse, my heart pounding in my chest as I knocked on the door. The moment it opened, I was struck by the sight of her—standing there in casual clothes, her hair slightly tousled, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Hey, ready for another session?" she asked, her voice bright.

"Yeah, let's get started," I replied, forcing my tone to remain neutral despite the warmth flooding my cheeks.

As we settled into our routine, I tried to concentrate on the material, but my mind kept drifting back to my feelings. I noticed how her brow furrowed in concentration, how she bit her lip when she was deep in thought. It was mesmerizing.

"Ling, you there?" Orm's voice pulled me from my reverie.

"Yeah, sorry," I said, shaking my head to clear the fog. "Let's go over the next topic."

But even as I spoke, I could feel the weight of my feelings pressing down on me. Each time she leaned in, our faces close, I struggled to keep my composure. I was falling, and the realization terrified me.

How could I fall for someone I was supposed to keep at arm's length? The attraction was undeniable, but it felt so wrong. Yet, deep down, I couldn't help but hope for a future where those feelings could be reciprocated. As the session went on, I realized that the line between student and teacher was blurring, and I wasn't sure how to navigate the territory.

All I knew was that I wanted to explore this feeling, even if it scared me. But first, I needed to figure out how to keep my head in the game and not let my heart get in the way. I just hoped I could manage both without losing myself in the process.