Ink & Intentions (Lingorm)

2. Clashing Personalities

The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of Ling's room, casting stripes of light across her desk. She rolled over in bed, groaning at the sound of music blaring from the common area. The cheerful tune was accompanied by what sounded like pots and pans clattering—a cacophony of chaos that reminded her just how different she and her new roommate were.

"Just five more minutes," Ling mumbled, burying her head under her pillow. But the song only grew louder, a relentless reminder of Orm's carefree attitude.

Ling threw her pillow across the room and reluctantly got out of bed, knowing she wouldn't get any more sleep. After a quick shower, she dressed in her usual professional attire—tailored slacks and a fitted blouse. She glanced at the clock. 8:00 AM. Perfect. She had a class at 9:00, and she needed to get ready.

Emerging into the common area, Ling was immediately struck by the chaos. Orm stood in the kitchen, hair tied back in a messy bun, wearing an oversized T-shirt with a splotch of paint on it. The counter was littered with ingredients, and there was a half-burnt toast lying in the toaster.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" Orm chirped, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I made breakfast! Well, I tried to."

Ling looked at the burnt toast and the pan sizzling dangerously on the stove. "It looks like a disaster," she replied bluntly, crossing her arms. "You know breakfast is supposed to be edible, right?"

Orm rolled her eyes, unfazed. "Hey, art is about experimenting! You should try it sometime." She turned back to the pan, flipping an egg with flair. "Want to help?"

"Help?" Ling echoed incredulously. "I'd rather not set off a fire alarm before I even have my coffee. Besides, I have class soon, and I can't be late because of your 'artistic process.'"

Orm grinned, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh come on! Live a little! You might discover a new passion for culinary arts. Or, at the very least, you could learn how not to cook."

Ling shook her head, trying to ignore the flicker of amusement that crept in. "I have a passion, thank you very much. It's called law, and I'm going to need my focus for that."

"Law? Seriously?" Orm's laugh echoed through the kitchen, and Ling felt a wave of irritation wash over her. "What a boring way to live life. You need to loosen up, Ling. You're too uptight!"

"Uptight? I have goals," Ling shot back, her tone sharper than intended. "Not everyone can spend their days painting and singing."

Orm raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, so you think you're better than me because you're in law school? That's cute."

Ling felt her cheeks heat up. "It's not about being better. It's about being responsible. Not everyone can float through life like you."

"Float? I'm creating! It takes skill and talent to do what I do," Orm retorted, crossing her arms defiantly. "You just have to memorize laws and read boring textbooks. How exciting!"

Ling scoffed, feeling the frustration bubbling inside her. "You think your so-called talent gives you a free pass to be messy and disruptive? You're going to fail your classes if you keep this up!"

Orm rolled her eyes dramatically. "Right, because my life is in your hands, Miss Perfect. Just because you can't handle a little chaos doesn't mean I can't thrive in it!"

Ling took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "You can't thrive in chaos if you don't know how to clean it up. You're just making things harder for both of us."

Just then, a loud crash echoed from the kitchen as Orm's elbow knocked over a stack of paintbrushes, sending them rolling across the floor. Ling shot her a glare.

"See?" she said, pointing at the mess. "That's exactly what I'm talking about! You need to be more careful."

Orm crouched down to gather the brushes, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Yeah, because nothing says 'responsible adult' like getting angry over a few brushes. You're really going to love living with me, huh?"

Ling narrowed her eyes. "As if I had a choice. This was the only apartment available, remember?"

Orm stood up, brushing her hands off. "And maybe that's a sign you should embrace a little spontaneity in your life. You never know what might happen if you let go of your ridiculous need for control."

"Ridiculous need for control?" Ling echoed, her voice rising. "It's called having a plan! Some of us can't just wing it like you!"

Orm folded her arms, her grin never fading. "Plan all you want, but you might just find that life has other ideas. You'll thank me one day."

Ling scoffed. "Thanks for what? For ruining my mornings?"

"Hey! You could learn to appreciate the art of waking up!" Orm quipped, clearly enjoying their back-and-forth.

Ling shook her head in disbelief. "I don't need your 'art of waking up.' I need peace and quiet!"

"Good luck with that!" Orm shot back, grinning as she slid the eggs onto a plate. "Breakfast is ready, by the way. If you want some—"

Ling held up her hands in mock horror. "No thanks! I'll pass on your experimental cuisine. I'd rather not end up in a food coma."

Orm laughed, clearly unbothered by Ling's dismissal. "Suit yourself! More for me."

Ling sighed and turned to head back to her room, but Orm's voice stopped her again.

"Seriously though, Ling," Orm said, her tone a little softer. "You should try to enjoy life a bit more. You might even find that you can have fun and still be responsible."

Ling paused for a moment, then turned back. "And you should learn that being messy and carefree doesn't mean you're living life. It's just an excuse to avoid responsibility."

With that, Ling retreated to her room, leaving Orm behind in the chaotic kitchen. As she sat at her desk, books open but her mind elsewhere, she couldn't shake the feeling that her new roommate would be an endless source of frustration—and perhaps, just maybe, a little bit of excitement too.

She grimaced at the thought, determined to focus on her studies, but the chaotic energy of Orm lingered in the back of her mind, challenging her to rethink everything she believed about living life to the fullest. And as much as she hated to admit it, part of her was intrigued.