Ink & Intentions (Lingorm)

1. Unexpected roommates

Ling stepped out of the law building, the weight of her textbooks pressing heavily against her side. It had been another long day of lectures and legal jargon, and she was more than ready to escape into the comfort of her small apartment. She glanced at her phone, frowning at the time. It was later than she'd intended to stay on campus, and she still had a stack of reading to tackle before tomorrow's class.

As she navigated through the bustling campus, she noticed Tan and Bow waiting for her by the student center. Their faces lit up as she approached.

"Ling! There you are!" Bow exclaimed, adjusting her backpack. "You have to hear what happened in class today."

Ling sighed, already bracing herself for another one of their animated stories. "Can it wait? I really need to get home and finish my readings."

Tan waved a dismissive hand. "Just five minutes, please! We promise it's worth it."

Reluctantly, Ling agreed, knowing her friends would make it hard to escape their chatter. As they walked, Ling found herself zoning in and out of their conversation, her mind drifting to her upcoming exams and the overwhelming pressure of her studies. The world of law was demanding, and she often felt like she was barely keeping her head above water.

Eventually, they made their way to the campus courtyard, where students were lounging on the grass, soaking up the late afternoon sun. Ling spotted a few familiar faces—friends and classmates who made the grind of college a bit more bearable. Just as she was about to settle in, her phone buzzed with a notification.

New Roommate: Orm Kornnaphat.

Her heart sank. Of all the possible outcomes of her apartment search, this was the last one she wanted to see. Orm was known around campus as the carefree arts student who seemed to float through life with an easy smile and an effortless charm. Ling couldn't stand how relaxed Orm was about everything, especially when it came to academics. They had clashed before in classes, where Orm's laid-back attitude often frustrated Ling's structured approach to life.

"Are you okay?" Bow asked, noticing Ling's sudden change in demeanor.

"Yeah, just... I have a new roommate," Ling replied, forcing a smile. "It's Orm."

"Whoa, really?" Tan raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by the idea. "You two are like oil and water."

"Exactly," Ling groaned. "We'll be living in the same apartment, and you know how she is—always late, always messy, probably always singing off-key."

Bow chuckled. "Maybe you could learn to loosen up a bit?"

"No thanks," Ling shot back. "I'm not the one who needs to find my zen."

"Can you even call it zen when it's all just chaos?" Tan teased, nudging her shoulder playfully. "You'll have to get used to it. Just think of it as an opportunity for personal growth."

"Yeah, personal growth that involves me constantly cleaning up after her," Ling replied, crossing her arms. "Great."

As they continued to chat, Ling's mind kept wandering back to her new roommate. What would it be like living with Orm? Would she be able to concentrate on her studies amidst the chaos?

"Hey, let's grab dinner!" Bow suggested, breaking Ling's train of thought. "We can figure out what to do about your living situation over food."

Ling hesitated. "I guess I could eat. But I really need to go home and—"

"Don't worry," Tan said, grinning mischievously. "You can vent about Orm over some ramen. Come on, it'll be fun!"

Relenting, Ling followed her friends to a nearby ramen shop, where they ordered steaming bowls of noodles and settled into a booth. The warm, savory aroma filled the air, and for a moment, she was able to forget about the looming uncertainty of her living arrangement.

"So, tell us more about Orm," Bow said, leaning forward with interest. "What's the deal with you two? You're always so... intense around each other."

Ling sighed, trying to gather her thoughts. "She's just so... free-spirited. I don't understand how she can be so nonchalant about everything! It's infuriating."

Tan laughed. "Sounds like you're already halfway to a rom-com plot."

"Ugh, don't even joke about it!" Ling replied, rolling her eyes. "I can't stand the idea of falling into some silly romantic comedy scenario with her."

"Well, if you end up being her nemesis-turned-lover, I expect to be the best man at your wedding," Bow joked.

Ling kicked her lightly under the table. "That's not happening. I just need to survive living with her. I can't deal with any distractions right now."

As the evening wore on and the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Ling felt a bit better, though the knot of anxiety remained. Would she really be able to coexist with Orm without pulling her hair out?

Later that night, Ling arrived back at her apartment, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. She pushed the door open, half-expecting chaos to greet her. Instead, it was quiet. Too quiet.

"Hello?" Ling called out, stepping inside cautiously. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag near the door, listening intently for any sign of her new roommate.

Just as she was about to explore, the bathroom door swung open, and there stood Orm, hair still damp from a shower, dressed in a loose-fitting shirt and comfortable pants.

"Oh, hey!" Orm said with a bright smile, completely unfazed. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon."

Ling crossed her arms, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. "You didn't think I'd come home after a long day of classes?"

Orm shrugged, her playful demeanor not wavering. "You law types are always so busy. I figured you'd be studying or something."

"Yeah, well, some of us actually have responsibilities," Ling shot back, trying to maintain her composure.

Orm raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Is that so? I can't wait to see how that plays out in real life."

Ling felt her frustration bubbling over. "What does that even mean?"

"It means you might need to chill a little, Ling," Orm teased, leaning against the doorframe with an easy grace. "But I guess it's too late for that now. We're stuck together."

"Stuck is right," Ling muttered under her breath, already regretting this arrangement.

"Hey, we can make this work!" Orm suggested, a playful smile spreading across her face. "Think of it as an experiment in living with the enemy. We can have a lot of fun... if you let me."

Ling met her gaze, unsure whether to be annoyed or intrigued. "Fun for you, maybe."

Orm chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. "You might surprise yourself. Besides, who knows? We could end up being best friends or something."

"Best friends? Hardly," Ling replied, rolling her eyes as she made her way to her room. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Can't wait!" Orm called after her, laughter in her voice.

Ling closed her bedroom door, leaning against it as she let out a deep breath. This was going to be a challenge, she thought. But as much as she wanted to deny it, part of her was intrigued by the chaos Orm seemed to represent. Maybe living with her wouldn't be entirely terrible after all.