My Princess - LINGORM

36

As soon as I entered Ling's house, I knew something was off. The air was heavier than usual, a kind of tension lingering that I could feel the second I stepped through the door. Ling sat on the couch, her posture rigid, her eyes cold and focused on me in a way I hadn't seen before. This wasn't the relaxed, teasing Ling I was used to.

I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, feeling as if I didn't quite belong here. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I had rehearsed the words I needed to say a thousand times in my head, but now, face to face with her, my throat felt dry.

"You have something to tell me?" Ling's voice cut through the silence, calm but sharp.

I bit my lip, trying to find the right words. "Yes. I'm here to apologize."

Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, and she tilted her head. "Nothing apart from that?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

My stomach churned with anxiety. I knew this was going to be bad, but I didn't expect this level of coldness from her. Before I could respond, Ling stood up from the couch, walking slowly around me. There was a sharpness in her movements, a tension I hadn't noticed before, and I could feel her presence looming over me, making the air feel even more suffocating.

"You know, Orm," Ling started, her voice low and serious, "I received a photo earlier today. A guy and a girl, pretty much like you..." She paused, circling me as she spoke, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "And they were... kissing."

I froze, my blood turning cold. My heart dropped into my stomach as the weight of her words hit me. She knew. Somehow, she knew. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I was too stunned, too overwhelmed with guilt. I wanted to run, but I knew I couldn't. I couldn't leave things like this.

Ling stopped circling me, now standing directly in front of me, her eyes boring into mine. "Do you have anything to say about that?"

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Ling, first hear me. I swear it wasn't anything." My voice wavered, but I forced myself to continue. "I was talking about you. I was thinking about you. And... he leaned in and kissed me. I pushed him away. Immediately. I didn't want it. I didn't kiss him back."

Ling's hard expression didn't change, her eyes still locked on mine. "So you're saying it meant nothing?"

"Yes," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I pushed him away, and the second I did, I sent you a text. I wanted to tell you. I didn't want there to be secrets."

For a moment, Ling didn't say anything. The silence was unbearable. My heart pounded in my ears, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for her to either pull me back or push me over.

"Wait." Ling's cold demeanor seemed to soften slightly as she took a step back, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Really?"

"Yes," I said, my voice more certain now. "I was thinking about you the entire time, Ling. It was a mistake, but it wasn't mine. I didn't want it. I didn't..." I trailed off, my eyes pleading with her to believe me.

Ling's serious expression fell entirely now. The sharpness in her gaze melted, replaced by something softer, something more vulnerable. She took a deep breath, rubbing her hand over her face as if trying to shake off the tension. "Why didn't you just tell me this earlier?"

"I wanted to," I replied, stepping closer to her. "But I was scared. I thought you'd be angry. I thought you wouldn't believe me."

Ling let out a long sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Orm... I was angry. I am angry. But not because of the kiss."

I blinked, confused. "Then why?"

Ling sat down on the couch again, this time looking more tired than anything. "Because you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth right away. I had to hear about it from someone else. That's what hurt."

I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. She was right. I had hesitated. I had let my fear of her reaction get in the way of honesty, and that had hurt her more than the kiss ever could have.

"I'm sorry," I said, sitting down beside her, my voice soft. "I should have told you right away. I should've trusted you."

Ling was quiet for a moment before she finally spoke again, her voice gentler now. "I've been on edge all day thinking about that photo, Orm. It's been driving me crazy. But... I believe you."

Relief washed over me like a wave, and I felt the tension in my body start to melt away. "Thank you," I whispered, reaching for her hand.

Ling looked at me, her lips curling into a faint smile as she laced her fingers with mine. "I've never been in a situation like this before. And... to be honest, I don't know how to deal with it. But I know I care about you, Orm. A lot. And if you say it meant nothing, then I believe you."

I squeezed her hand gently, my heart swelling at her words. "It didn't mean anything. I only want to be with you."

Ling smiled, but there was still a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Just... next time, tell me. No matter what it is. I'd rather hear it from you than from someone else."

"I promise," I said, leaning in closer to her. "No more secrets."

For a moment, we sat in silence, just holding each other's hands, letting the weight of the past few hours fall away. It wasn't perfect, and we still had a lot to work through, but at least we were on the same page now. And that was enough.

Ling leaned her head on my shoulder, and I felt her relax against me. "You're really lucky I'm not the jealous type, you know," she teased, a small smile playing on her lips.

I laughed softly, the tension between us finally easing. "Yeah, I know. I don't deserve you."

"Well, you don't deserve a second kiss, either," she said with a mischievous grin.

I smirked, leaning in closer to her, our noses almost touching. "Maybe not... but are you going to give me one anyway?"

Ling rolled her eyes, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she closed the gap between us, her lips brushing against mine in a soft, tender kiss. This was the kiss I had been waiting for. The kiss that made everything else fade away. The one that reminded me why I cared about her so much.

When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, my heart feeling lighter than it had in hours. "I'm sorry again," I whispered. "For everything."

Ling smiled, her hand gently caressing my cheek. "I know. Just... don't make it a habit, okay?"

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. "Deal."

We stayed like that for a while, just enjoying the peace between us, knowing that no matter what had happened tonight, we were okay. We were stronger than whatever this was, and we'd get through it. Together.