Ink & Intentions (Lingorm)

8. New faces and familiar tension

The library was nearly silent, with only the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional rustling of pages breaking the stillness. Ling stretched, rolling her shoulders to ease the tension that had built up from hours of studying. She'd been deep in her law readings, almost losing track of time until a voice startled her.

"Ling, right?" The voice was smooth, friendly, and slightly amused.

She looked up, blinking in surprise to see Wisanu, a guy from her law class, standing by her table. Tall, with a casual confidence and a friendly, easygoing smile, he looked at her with a mix of curiosity and warmth.

"Yeah, that's me," Ling replied, giving him a small smile. "Wisanu?"

"That's right," he said, setting down his books with a grin. "Saw you working over here by yourself. Mind if I join?"

Ling shrugged, hiding a smile as he took the chair across from her. She'd noticed Wisanu a few times before—mostly in classes or during group discussions—and he'd always seemed friendly but kept a respectful distance. Now, with him sitting across from her, she was struck by how genuinely easygoing he was, the kind of person who seemed like he had everything under control.

They studied side by side, occasionally swapping notes and discussing cases. The rhythm felt effortless, their voices low but relaxed.

"Glad to know I'm not the only one finding this course brutal," Wisanu said with a laugh, running a hand through his hair.

"Oh, absolutely. Some of these cases feel like they're written in code," Ling replied, laughing along.

He leaned back, watching her with interest. "So what brought you to law, anyway?"

Ling hesitated. It wasn't a question she got often, but there was something sincere in Wisanu's gaze that invited honesty. "I guess... I like that it's challenging. And I want to make a difference, even if that sounds idealistic."

"Doesn't sound idealistic at all," Wisanu replied, nodding thoughtfully. "Sounds like you actually care about what you're doing."

Ling smiled, appreciating his sincerity. "And what about you? Why law?"

Wisanu's expression softened. "It's partly family tradition. But it's also what you said—I want to do something that matters."

They continued to talk as they worked, drifting between study topics and lighter conversation. Ling learned he was the oldest of three, came from a family of lawyers, and secretly wished he could write fiction someday.

Their conversation was so easy, so unforced, that when his phone buzzed and he had to leave, Ling felt a tiny pang of disappointment. "I'll see you in class?" he asked as he gathered his books, flashing her an open, friendly smile.

"Yeah, definitely," she replied, nodding.

As he left, she realized she was smiling to herself—an easy, comfortable smile. But when she returned to the dorm that evening, her smile quickly faded as she came face-to-face with Orm, who was lounging on the couch, idly flipping through her sketchbook.

"Studying late, huh?" Orm asked, arching an eyebrow. Her tone was light, but her gaze was sharp, like she was trying to read between the lines.

Ling set her bag down, shrugging in an attempt to keep things casual. "Yeah, the library was pretty empty tonight, so I stayed longer than I planned."

Orm's lips curled into a smirk. "Empty, except for a certain Wisanu?"

Ling's cheeks warmed involuntarily. "We were just studying, that's all."

"Interesting," Orm murmured, closing her sketchbook with a slow, deliberate snap. "You seem pretty... relaxed for someone who just tackled a mountain of legal readings."

Ling crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow in challenge. "I don't see why it matters. I'm allowed to have friends, you know."

"Of course." Orm's gaze was unwavering, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. "Just didn't know you were so... open to study partners."

Ling huffed, feeling both irritated and oddly flustered. "Not everything has to be about you, Orm."

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Orm's face before she plastered on a smile. "Maybe not. But tell me, what exactly is it about him? He seems... a bit tame for your taste."

Ling felt a mixture of irritation and something else—something uncomfortably close to jealousy, though she wasn't quite sure why. "He's nice, alright? Not everyone has to be this wild, free spirit like some people I know."

Orm shrugged, feigning disinterest, though her eyes told another story. "Nice is good. Safe, even."

Ling bit her lip, unsure if she wanted to rise to Orm's bait. "Wisanu's ambitious. He's driven, responsible... everything a future lawyer should be."

Orm chuckled, leaning back on the couch. "Sounds like he'd make a great study guide."

Ling rolled her eyes, frustrated but also strangely flustered. "You don't know him like I do."

Orm's gaze sharpened. "Well, I'd love to hear more about this guy who has you smiling like that." She leaned forward, her tone suddenly more intense, her eyes locked onto Ling's. "So, Ling, tell me... what else do you like about him?"

The air between them grew thick, and Ling swallowed, feeling her heart skip a beat under Orm's steady gaze. She opened her mouth to respond, but found herself at a loss, unsure if she could—or wanted to—put her feelings for Wisanu into words.

Finally, she exhaled, deciding to steer the conversation away. "Why do you care so much?"

Orm shrugged, but her fingers tapped rhythmically on the arm of the couch. "Just curious. It's not every day you bring someone new up."

Ling scoffed. "And what if I did start spending more time with him?"

Orm's expression flickered just slightly, barely noticeable. She leaned forward, her face close enough that Ling could see the intensity in her eyes. "Then he'd better be worth it."

Ling's breath hitched, and she forced herself to break the eye contact, looking anywhere but Orm's face. "You're acting weird."

"Maybe," Orm replied, her voice soft but unreadable. "But I think you're acting weirder."

The tension between them was almost unbearable, heavy and lingering. It wasn't until Orm finally leaned back, stretching her arms over her head with a mischievous grin, that Ling felt she could breathe again.

"So," Orm continued lightly, changing the subject. "Are you and Mr. Responsible studying again soon?"

Ling hesitated, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and guilt. "I... I think so. He mentioned maybe studying together next week."

Orm hummed in response, seemingly unfazed, but her eyes held a glint of something darker. "Well, I hope you have fun with that."

Ling sensed the edge to Orm's words but chose not to press. She got up, mumbling a quick "goodnight" before retreating to her room. Once inside, she sat on her bed, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach. Part of her wanted to brush off everything that had just happened as meaningless teasing, but a tiny voice in her head wouldn't let it go.

She climbed into bed, pulling her blanket close, telling herself that Orm's reaction was nothing. Orm was her roommate, her sometimes-annoying friend—anything else was just a figment of her imagination.