My lover is my boss (LingOrm)

24 - the date

Orm's pov

Ling pulled up to the mall, her fingers tapping restlessly on the steering wheel as she glanced over at me. I was just about to open the door to get out when she reached over, her fingers lightly gripping my arm. She leaned in, her eyes holding that familiar intensity. "Don't give him expectations," she murmured, her voice low but firm. Her gaze lingered on mine, conveying a thousand emotions in a single look—possessiveness, caution, and a touch of vulnerability.

I nodded, reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. "I'll try not to," I promised, my voice barely above a whisper. She didn't move, her lips a mere breath away from mine, and before I knew it, she leaned forward and kissed me, softly at first, but with an underlying urgency that made my heart race. I could feel her fingers tighten slightly, as if she didn't want to let go.

After a moment, I pulled back, feeling the lingering warmth of her kiss. With a reluctant sigh, I opened the door, giving her one last look before stepping out. "I'll text you when it's over," I said, hoping it would reassure her.

"Better do that," she replied, her tone a mix of playful and serious. I closed the door and watched as she drove away, leaving me standing in front of the mall with a strange mixture of excitement and guilt swirling in my chest.

As I walked inside, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ling, her possessive words echoing in my mind. I wasn't sure if meeting Bright was a good idea anymore, but I had already committed, and I couldn't just back out now. I took a deep breath and made my way through the bustling mall, searching for the cafe where Bright was waiting.

When I finally spotted him, he was sitting by the window, his eyes lighting up as he noticed me. He stood up, waving me over. "Hey! You made it."

I managed a smile, hoping it hid my internal conflict. "Yeah, sorry for being late. Got caught in some... traffic," I said, though in reality, the 'traffic' had been Ling and me, caught in a never-ending kiss in the car, and me hesitating to come at all.

Bright chuckled, brushing it off. "No worries at all! I went ahead and got you a coffee. I remember you like it with extra foam, right?"

I blinked, surprised he remembered such a small detail. "Thanks, Bright." I took a seat across from him, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. "So... how's life been treating you lately?"

He leaned back, a relaxed smile on his face. "Oh, you know... just the usual. Work, gym, the occasional movie night to unwind."

I took a sip of my coffee, nodding. "Sounds like you've been keeping busy. You must be getting really strong, then." I laughed lightly, but in my mind, I couldn't help but think about Ling and her quiet strength, the way she could lift me effortlessly. There was no comparison, really.

Bright flashed a quick grin. "Kind of, yeah. But hey, that hand of yours looks pretty heavy—let me help you with that." He reached across the table, his fingers brushing over mine before he grasped my hand, holding it gently. His touch was warm, his thumb tracing small circles against my skin.

"Bright," I began, a hint of nervousness creeping into my voice. This wasn't part of the plan. But before I could pull away, he quickly reassured me.

"Relax," he said, giving me a soft smile. "It's just a friendly hangout. No pressure."

I forced myself to smile back, nodding as I gently pulled my hand away, trying to ignore the uncomfortable knot forming in my stomach.

...

Later, we wandered into a store filled with random trinkets, books, and clothes. I absentmindedly picked up a few things, browsing through the racks as Bright lingered nearby. Suddenly, he moved closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. His warmth pressed against me, and I tensed up, caught off guard by the sudden closeness.

"Find anything cool?" he asked, his voice low and casual, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

I took a deep breath, gently pulling away from his embrace and turning to face him. "Bright, can we talk for a second?"

He looked at me, his expression suddenly serious as he nodded. "Of course."

I hesitated, searching for the right words, but I knew I had to be clear. "Look, I don't feel anything for you... romantically," I said, my voice soft but steady. "I'm already in a relationship, and I'm really happy with her. I just wanted to be upfront about that."

His face fell, a flicker of disappointment crossing his eyes, and he instinctively shoved his hands into his pockets, looking down. "Oh... Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"It's okay," I said quickly, reaching out to touch his arm reassuringly. "I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea."

After that, the mood shifted. Bright was quieter, his responses limited to one-word answers or polite nods. I could tell he was embarrassed, maybe even a little hurt, and I felt a pang of guilt. I tried to keep the conversation going, but his enthusiasm had faded, and eventually, we decided to call it a day.

When it was time to leave, I tried calling Ling for a ride, but my calls kept going unanswered. After several attempts, I sighed, feeling frustration build up as I stared at my silent phone.

"Need a lift?" Becky's familiar voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see her standing nearby, her keys in hand.

"Yeah... that would be great, actually," I said, relieved.

As we walked to her car, Bright trailed along awkwardly, his hands still tucked in his pockets. Just before I climbed in, he glanced at Becky, a strange smile on his face. "You're lucky, you know," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Becky just nodded, sensing the tension as she started the car, and we drove in silence until we reached my place.

I walked into the living room, immediately spotting Ling sprawled out on the couch, the TV casting a soft glow across her face. Her expression was unreadable, a hint of impatience in her posture as she turned to look at me.

"So?" she asked, sitting up, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Did he try anything? Did you talk to him?"

I sighed, kicking off my shoes and moving closer. "Yes, I talked to him. And no, he didn't do anything... inappropriate."

Ling's face softened, and she let out a small breath, her shoulders relaxing as she looked at me with relief. "So... we're still dating?" she asked, her voice almost hesitant, as if she needed reassurance.

I smiled, reaching out to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing gently against her skin. "Yes, we're still together. Because I love you," I murmured, letting the words hang in the air between us.

A smile spread across her face, and she leaned forward, pressing her forehead to mine. "I was scared, you know," she admitted quietly. "Scared you'd prefer him over me."

I shook my head, wrapping my arms around her. "There's no one else I want but you, Ling. Only you."

Her face lit up with that familiar mischievous smile. "Good. But you look exhausted," she teased, giving my side a gentle poke. "Want me to carry you to bed?"

I let out a tired laugh, leaning my head against her shoulder. "Please, but maybe after a shower. I feel like I need it."

She chuckled, reaching down and scooping me up in her arms with a playful grin. I yelped, but she just laughed, carrying me to the bathroom and only setting me down once we were inside. "Go on, take your shower," she said, her tone soft.

I started to pull off my clothes, glancing back at her. "By the way... why didn't you answer my calls? I thought you'd be waiting to hear from me."

She smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Lost my phone," she said with a shrug, though the amused glint in her eyes made me wonder if that was the whole truth.

I rolled my eyes, giving her a playful shove toward the door. "Okay, stop being a perv and staring. Out you go!"

She leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before finally stepping out. "Alright, alright. I'll let you be. But don't take too long, baby," she called over her shoulder with a wink.

I shut the door, letting out a breath as I turned on the shower. The warm water cascaded over me, soothing away the tension of the day and leaving me with a sense of calm, knowing that, despite everything, Ling and I were still here, still together.