Falling For You

Chapter 10: Time Isn't Kind

As the clock struck midnight, Orm found herself unable to sit still. Something deep within pulled her toward the hallway, and before she knew it, she was standing up, her body moving almost unconsciously. Her feet carried her with a quiet urgency, as if following some invisible thread leading her to the other side of the hallway. She couldn't explain it; all she knew was that she had to go, even if she didn't understand why.

Then, just as she stepped into the dim light filtering through the hall, her gaze landed on Ling, who was waiting there, mirroring her same tense stance. They locked eyes, and suddenly the air seemed to thicken, as if the very fabric of time had come to a halt. Every beat of Orm's heart echoed, louder and louder, until even the sound faded, leaving only the piercing gaze that held her captive.

In that frozen moment, everything around them blurred. The hallway, the dim lights, the hum of the distant midnight clock all faded away, and in a strange, almost impossible shift, they were no longer standing in the hospital. Time, it seemed, had thrown them backward, depositing them in a place steeped in memories: Dandao's boutique, where they had first met, filled with sunlight and the warmth of an afternoon long past. The sounds of soft, muted conversations and the faint rustle of fabric brought Orm sharply back to that day, but it felt surreal, like standing within a dream.

Ling's hand found Orm's instinctively, grounding them both. Orm could feel the slight tremble in Ling's fingers, her palm warm and solid in a way that made Orm's chest tighten. Ling looked at her, eyes wide, almost astonished.

"Did you see that?" Ling whispered, her voice barely audible, filled with wonder and an edge of fear.

Orm's own heart was racing, but she averted her gaze, choosing silence over honesty. She couldn't bring herself to acknowledge what they both seemed to be witnessing—the strange, inexplicable way they'd been transported back to this first chapter of their story. If she admitted it, would that mean acknowledging everything that came with it? The pain, the heartbreak?

"See what?" Orm replied softly, with an evasive shake of her head, her voice carefully controlled. She didn't want to open that door, to revisit the hope and hurt that lay behind it. She didn't want to remember the memories that still felt as fresh as they had the day they happened—the smiles, the laughter, the silent moments that had spoken louder than words.

Ling's face shifted, confusion softening into sadness as she took a step back. The unspoken questions hung in the air between them, heavy and unsettling, reminding Orm of the countless possibilities left unexplored. She could feel the weight of Ling's stare, the silent questions swirling in her mind. But she couldn't answer; she couldn't even look back.

The boutique faded, and they were back in the hallway, yet the strange magic that lingered in the air hadn't gone. Orm felt her heart pounding, each beat slow and heavy as she searched Ling's face, wondering if this feeling was something she should resist or embrace. The pull between them had always been undeniable, but she was scared to think of the consequences if she gave in.

Ling's hand rested lightly against the wall, as if steadying herself, and her eyes held a mixture of hope and sorrow, reflecting the thoughts Orm couldn't bring herself to voice. A new tension simmered in the silence, laced with the ghosts of past moments they'd shared—every touch, every lingering gaze that had hinted at something more. Orm's mind drifted back, piecing together fragments of their journey that seemed to surface as vividly as if they were happening now: the night at Emerald X, when Ling's laughter had filled the air, her smile as radiant as it was elusive, and the feel of her hand in Orm's, grounding her in a way she couldn't ignore.

Memories rushed at her like a flood she couldn't control, scenes she'd tried desperately to keep locked away: Ling laughing under the club lights, her hand resting on Orm's shoulder as they danced together as if they were the only two people in the world. The way Ling's eyes had softened that night, revealing a vulnerability Orm had rarely seen before. She could still feel Ling's fingertips against her palm, the warmth that lingered long after the night had ended.

And she'd tried to forget, tried to let the memory fade. But it was as if the universe refused to let her escape, demanding she remember the quiet confessions and unspoken promises that had bound them, even if only in secret.

But even as her heart tugged at her to reach out, to close the space between them, her mind screamed of the dangers that lurked ahead. If they chose to continue, would they only be stepping into another painful chapter, one full of longing, heartache, and, perhaps, an end neither could survive? She didn't know if she could bear to watch Ling be hurt again—because of her, because of the chaotic, unpredictable path their bond always seemed to lead them down.

The memories continued to pour in, each one a reminder of all they had shared and all they stood to lose. Orm's hand twitched, itching to reach out, to tell Ling she felt the same pull, the same ache. But she hesitated, her mind spinning with all the reasons she should hold back. Would it be fair to Ling? Could they handle what might come next?

Ling's gaze softened, but Orm could see the hurt, the confusion beneath it. She could feel it in the silence, the tension between them nearly unbearable as the weight of their shared history pressed down on her, demanding she make a choice. But how could she answer when she herself was so divided?

In the dim light, they both stood at the edge of a decision that would change everything. And for the first time, Orm wondered if time would allow them the chance to choose—or if fate had already made the decision for them.

Authors Note: Masakit, sinaktan ako eh damay damay nato Chao! Thanks for reading MWA