Fight For You

Chapter 12: The Aftermath

Ling leaned against the cool wall of the gym, her heart still racing from the confrontation with Mint and the revelation about last night. Orm stood across from her, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Ling wanted to reach out, to close the gap and reassure Orm, but she felt frozen in place, uncertain of how to bridge the chasm that had formed.

"Ling," Orm said, her voice steady but laced with hurt, "I need to understand what happened. This is... it's a lot to take in."

Ling nodded, her throat tight. "I know. I never wanted to hurt you. I thought it was you, Orm. I swear. I was so drunk, I didn't realize until it was too late."

"Do you... do you like her?" Orm's question hit Ling like a punch. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. The truth was complicated. The attraction she felt toward Mint had always been there, a spark that sometimes ignited into flames, but it had never compared to what she felt for Orm.

"No," Ling finally managed. "I mean, I've never seen Mint like that before. It was just... it was a mistake. You're the one I want. You're the one I can't stop thinking about."

Orm's eyes searched Ling's face, her expression torn between anger and vulnerability. "Then why didn't you tell me? Why did it take Mint showing up for me to find out about your night?"

Ling felt a wave of guilt wash over her. "I was scared. I didn't know how to explain it without making it worse. I thought we were building something real, and I didn't want to ruin it."

"But you did ruin it, Ling," Orm said, her voice softening but still firm. "You let someone else in, and now I can't help but wonder what else you're hiding."

"I'm not hiding anything else, I swear," Ling pleaded, stepping forward. "Please just give me a chance to prove it to you. I'll do whatever it takes."

Orm hesitated, her gaze flickering to the floor before meeting Ling's eyes again. "I want to believe you, but it's hard. I need time to process this. I can't just forget what Mint said."

Ling felt her heart sink. "I understand. Just don't give up on me, okay? I'm willing to fight for us."

"Fight?" Orm scoffed, crossing her arms. "You think this is a fight? This is my heart we're talking about, Ling. It's not some game you can win."

"I know that! I'm not treating it like a game," Ling said, frustration bubbling up again. "I just want to fix this."

Orm looked away, her silence speaking volumes. Ling could see the internal struggle reflected on her face, and it broke her heart.

As if sensing the need for distraction, a loud cheer erupted from the other side of the gym. The training group had started to gather for a sparring match, and Ling felt a surge of frustration that she couldn't focus on anything else.

"Let's just train," Orm said suddenly, her tone shifting as she stepped away from Ling. "It'll help clear our heads."

Ling nodded, feeling a sense of relief mixed with anxiety. Training had always been their escape, a way to channel their emotions into something productive. They moved to the center of the gym, and the familiar routine helped ease the tension—at least for a moment.

As they sparred, Ling felt herself losing focus again. Each strike she threw felt heavier with the weight of their conversation. Orm matched her movements, but there was an edge to her style, a defensive posture that wasn't there before. Ling couldn't shake the feeling that the rift between them had deepened.

"Come on, Ling! Focus!" Orm shouted, blocking a punch and countering with a swift kick that caught Ling off guard.

"Okay, okay!" Ling laughed, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. But even as she fought, her mind was racing. Mint's words echoed in her head, taunting her, but more than that, the reality of Orm's hurt was too fresh to ignore.

After what felt like hours of sparring, they finally took a break, panting heavily. Ling wiped the sweat from her brow, glancing over at Orm, who was sitting on the mat, her head in her hands.

"Hey," Ling said softly, moving to sit beside her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to go down like that. I really care about you."

Orm looked up, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I know you do, but it's hard to forget what happened. I don't want to feel like I'm competing for your affection, Ling."

"You're not competing! I promise," Ling said urgently, grabbing Orm's hand. "I want you, Orm. I don't want anyone else. I just need you to believe me."

The warmth of their contact seemed to ease some of the tension, but Orm's expression was still pained. "It's just going to take time. I need to see that you're serious about us. That you're not going to let anyone else in."

"I will," Ling promised, her heart racing. "I'll show you, every day if I have to."

Before Orm could respond, the door swung open, and in walked a couple of trainers along with Mint. Ling's stomach twisted as Mint's smirk met her gaze. "Well, well, if it isn't the lovebirds," she teased, clearly enjoying the chaos she had created.

Orm stood abruptly, her face hardening again as she glared at Mint. "What do you want?"

Mint shrugged, her casual demeanor infuriating Ling. "Just came to see if you both want to join in the sparring match. But I see you two are too busy making up."

Ling opened her mouth to retort, but Orm beat her to it. "We don't want anything to do with you, Mint. Leave us alone."

Mint's eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer. "Come on, don't be like that. I'm just here to remind you how much fun we had the other night, Ling."

Ling felt heat rush to her cheeks, and she shot Orm an apologetic glance. "You know what? I'm done with this," she said firmly, turning to Mint. "You don't get to come in here and make me feel bad for something I didn't even mean to happen."

Mint rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart."

Orm stepped in front of Ling, the protective instinct rising to the surface. "You need to back off, Mint. This isn't about you."

Mint laughed, clearly unfazed by Orm's glare. "Oh, I think it is. Ling seems to have a hard time deciding who she really wants. Maybe you should think about that before you get too attached."

Ling's heart raced, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "I'm not undecided! I know who I want, and it's Orm. I'm done with this nonsense."

Mint held up her hands, feigning innocence. "Okay, okay, I'll leave you two alone for now. But just remember—sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected places."

With that, Mint sauntered out of the gym, leaving Ling and Orm in a heavy silence.

"I hate this," Ling said, breaking the quiet. "I hate that she's in our lives, stirring up trouble."

Orm sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Me too. But we can't let her get to us. We need to focus on what we have."

Ling nodded, determination rising within her. "You're right. Let's put all this behind us and focus on our training. Together."

Orm smiled, the warmth returning to her eyes. "Together."

As they resumed training, Ling felt a renewed sense of hope. The road ahead was still uncertain, but she was willing to fight for Orm and the love they had begun to build. Mint may have stirred the pot, but Ling knew deep down that her heart belonged to Orm, and she would do whatever it took to prove it.