Ink & Intentions (Lingorm)

12. Jealousy?

Ling had barely settled into her seat in the bustling campus café when Bow and Tan showed up, trays laden with iced coffees and pastries.

"Ling! We finally caught you between study sessions," Bow laughed, sliding a caramel latte her way.

Ling accepted it gratefully, flashing her friends a tired smile. "You have no idea. My brain is already fried, and midterms haven't even hit yet."

Tan gave her a sympathetic pat on the back. "You need a serious break."

As they chatted, Ling glanced over the crowd and spotted a familiar figure at the corner table—a tall, effortlessly stylish girl with a warm, lively presence, deep in conversation with someone Ling couldn't quite make out. That someone, she soon realized, was Orm.

"Oh, isn't that Orm over there?" Bow noticed, craning her neck.

Ling followed her gaze, her stomach doing a strange flip as she took in the scene. Orm was laughing, leaning close to the girl, whose hand rested casually on Orm's arm. They looked comfortable, as if they'd known each other forever.

"Oh, that's Ying," Tan piped up, noticing Ling's questioning look. "She and Orm go way back. I think they were roommates in freshman year?"

"Really close," Bow added, smirking. "Some people even say there was a thing between them."

Ling raised her eyebrows, feeling an odd pinch in her chest. "A... thing?"

"Nothing official," Bow replied, shrugging. "But you know how it is—some friendships get a little blurry."

Ling sipped her coffee, hoping to hide her sudden interest in the conversation. The thought of Orm with anyone, let alone someone as vibrant and confident as Ying, unsettled her in a way she couldn't explain. She tried to brush it off, but when Orm caught her gaze across the café, her heart skipped a beat.

"Oh hey, guys!" Orm called, waving as she and Ying made their way over. "Mind if we join?"

"Absolutely not," Tan grinned, sliding over to make space. Orm settled in beside Ling, while Ying took the chair across, giving Ling a friendly nod.

"So, Ling, I finally get to meet the girl Orm's always talking about," Ying said with a warm smile. Her tone was light, but her eyes had a spark of curiosity.

Ling felt herself blush, glancing sideways at Orm. "Always talking about? I don't think I'm that interesting."

Orm scoffed, grinning. "Please. You're single-handedly the most entertaining person I know."

Ying laughed, raising an eyebrow at Orm. "High praise from you."

Ling forced a smile, trying to keep her expression neutral as Ying leaned over and playfully ruffled Orm's hair, laughing as Orm swatted her hand away. Their ease with each other was clear—like they shared a language no one else could understand. And that familiarity, for reasons Ling didn't want to admit, felt like a splinter in her mind.

As the conversation picked up, Ling found herself mostly listening, trying to make sense of this odd jealousy creeping into her thoughts. Orm and Ying exchanged stories from their first year—mischief in the dorms, late-night movie marathons, and shared classes—and Ling felt an undeniable pang of envy.

"So, Ling," Ying said suddenly, breaking Ling's thoughts, "do you ever help Orm with her art projects?"

Ling shrugged, smiling faintly. "Not exactly. I'm not much of an artist."

"Oh, please," Orm chimed in, smirking. "You're not hopeless. You helped me with that canvas last week, remember?"

Ying's eyes glinted with curiosity as she glanced between them. "Wait—Orm let you near one of her precious canvases? That's practically sacred territory!"

Ling laughed, feeling the tension in her chest ease a little. "Well, I guess I'm just that special."

Orm chuckled, giving her a sly smile. "Or maybe I'm a terrible judge of character."

The table dissolved into laughter, and Ling felt a rush of warmth at Orm's teasing, even as she noticed Ying watching them with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile.

Before long, Ying leaned over to Orm with a grin. "Hey, are we still on for that movie night this weekend?"

"Of course," Orm replied, nudging Ying's shoulder. "Wouldn't miss it."

Ying tilted her head, looking directly at Ling. "You should come along, Ling. It'll be fun—a double date, maybe?"

Ling blinked, caught off guard. "Double date?"

"Yeah!" Ying replied, winking. "Orm and I on one side, you and... Wisanu, was it?"

At the mention of Wisanu, Ling felt herself flush. She'd forgotten that Orm knew about their study dates, and Ying's suggestion somehow made it feel more serious than it was.

"Oh, I don't think Wisanu would—" she started, but Orm interrupted with a teasing grin.

"Oh, I'm sure Wisanu would jump at the chance. Right, Ling?"

Ling opened her mouth to protest, but Tan and Bow's laughter stopped her, and soon the whole table was swept up in plans for the weekend.

That evening, back at their dorm, Ling tossed her keys onto her desk, feeling strangely wound up from the day's events. Orm had barely closed the door behind them before she glanced over, an amused smirk tugging at her lips.

"Was that a hint of jealousy I saw back there?" Orm teased, leaning against the door frame.

Ling scoffed, trying to keep her expression light. "Jealous? Over what?"

Orm shrugged, clearly enjoying herself. "I don't know, Ling. You looked pretty serious when Ying and I started talking about our movie plans."

"Maybe I just wanted to make sure she wasn't leading you astray," Ling shot back, rolling her eyes with a huff.

Orm laughed, crossing her arms. "Sure, sure. So you wouldn't care if I spent more time with Ying?"

Ling hesitated, caught between honesty and pride. "Why should I? You're free to spend time with whoever you want."

Orm's expression softened, her teasing dropping for a moment. "I know that. But you seemed... different today. That's all."

Ling glanced away, her cheeks warm. She didn't know how to answer without giving away too much.

"Well," Orm murmured, moving a little closer, "if you ever feel like I'm ignoring you, you could just say so. It'd be easier than pretending you don't care."

Ling swallowed, feeling the intensity in Orm's gaze, the way her voice softened. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words were tangled, her emotions a mess she didn't know how to untangle yet.

"Good night, Ling," Orm whispered, her voice laced with a quiet, unspoken understanding that left Ling feeling strangely vulnerable.

And as Orm slipped into her room, Ling lay awake for a long time, questioning why her heart seemed to beat a little faster every time Orm was near.