Between Us || LINGORM

Chapter 3: The Talk of Campus

A week after their fiery exchange in the economics seminar, Orm found herself becoming increasingly aware of Lingling Kwong's presence on campus. It was as if the universe had decided to pull them into the same orbit, making it impossible for Orm to go a day without hearing whispers about the enigmatic girl with the composed demeanor and sharp intellect.

"Did you catch Lingling Kwong's band, The Silver Strings, performing last weekend? She was unreal on the guitar," one student said to his friend as they strolled past Orm and Kwang at the campus café. Orm's ears pricked up at the mention of Lingling. She took a sip of her iced latte, letting the conversation filter through the din.

Kwang, noticing Orm's distraction, nudged her. "Oh, the ice queen of campus? You've heard the stories, right? Besides being this genius with a guitar, she's got half the student body intimidated just by walking past."

Orm smirked. "Yeah, I've noticed. She barely ever loses that 'don't-come-near-me' look."

Their conversation was interrupted when Prighking and Ying, the wlw couple who shared Orm's economics class, joined them at the table. Prighking set her tray down and sighed. "The whole campus can't stop talking about Lingling's performance. My friend, Faye, said even Kapook and Ciize from their circle were in awe."

Ying chuckled, leaning into Prighking. "Makes you wonder what it's like to break past that cold exterior, huh?"

Orm's thoughts drifted to her encounters with Lingling. The composed façade, the confident glances, and the way Lingling seemed untouchable. The idea of seeing her in a different light had Orm's curiosity sparking more than she wanted to admit.

Later that day, Orm was sprawled out on her bed, flipping through notes while View, her roommate, recounted her day's antics with June. The room was alive with View's energy as she described an amusing run-in at the library.

"Hey, Orm," View said, catching Orm mid-yawn. "Are you coming to the student center tonight? It's Open Mic Night. And guess who's playing? The one and only Lingling Kwong with her band. June's convinced it'll be the performance of the semester."

Orm's eyes lit up despite herself. "The Silver Strings?"

"Yup! Milk and Love, the couple from her group, said Lingling's been practicing like crazy for tonight."

A knot of anticipation coiled in Orm's stomach. She could use a distraction, and the thought of seeing Lingling outside of their usual confrontations sounded... intriguing. "Yeah, why not? Let's go."

The student center was already packed when Orm arrived with View, Kwang, and a few other friends, including Prighking and Ying. The room hummed with energy, fairy lights casting a warm, golden glow that softened the industrial edges of the space. Groups of students filled the tables, chatting and sipping on their drinks as they waited for the show to start.

Orm scanned the crowd and spotted familiar faces: Milk, Faye, Namtan, and Kapook laughing together near the stage. On the other side, she noticed her classmates, Charlotte and Ciize, deep in conversation. It seemed everyone was there to watch the campus enigma perform.

The room dimmed, and the scattered chatter turned to a low hum. The host, an energetic senior named Engfa, stepped onto the stage, her voice bright as she announced, "Good evening, everyone! Thank you for coming to tonight's Open Mic Night. And now, please give a warm welcome to The Silver Strings!"

A burst of applause filled the room as the band took their places. Lingling stepped up, her movements fluid and sure. Tonight, she was dressed in a fitted black top and dark jeans, her hair swept back to reveal her sharp, striking features. The usual aloofness in her eyes was replaced by something electric—focused and alive.

As she glanced out at the crowd, Orm felt their eyes meet for a brief, disarming moment before Lingling turned away, lifting her guitar and nodding to her bandmates. The first notes rang out, clear and resonant, cutting through the silence and filling the room with a soulful melody that made Orm's heart skip a beat. The song was an intricate mix of soft rock and blues, with Lingling's guitar work taking center stage. It was raw, powerful, and filled with an emotion Orm hadn't thought the reserved girl capable of expressing.

Beside her, Kwang let out an impressed whistle. "Okay, now I get the hype."

But Orm barely heard him. Her attention was fixed on Lingling, who played with a fierceness that seemed to strip away the layers of composure she usually wore. For the first time, Orm saw not the ice queen, but the artist—passionate, intense, and achingly real.

The song ended, and the room erupted into applause. Lingling's lips curved into a small, fleeting smile as she bowed slightly, acknowledging the crowd. The warmth in her expression vanished as quickly as it came when her gaze found Orm again. Lingling's eyes widened almost imperceptibly before she masked her surprise, retreating behind her practiced coolness.

As the applause subsided and the next act was announced, Orm felt the lingering weight of that shared glance. The girl who had seemed so unyielding in their clashes had shown a piece of herself, and it left Orm wanting more.

"Did you see that? She was incredible!" View said, her enthusiasm breaking Orm's trance.

"Yeah," Orm replied, her voice softer, thoughtful. "She really was."

The night continued, filled with laughter, music, and the easy banter of friends, but Orm's mind kept returning to Lingling. She glanced across the room to see her surrounded by friends and admirers—Milk and Love laughing with Namtan and Film, while Faye and Yoko shared quiet comments with Engfa and Charlotte. Lingling stood in the center, maintaining her composed presence, but every now and then her gaze would flicker, searching for something. Or someone.

When Orm caught her looking again, Lingling's expression shifted, the mask slipping for just a heartbeat. Orm took a step forward, compelled to close the distance.

"Hey," Orm said, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest.

Lingling's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the noise of the student center faded into the background. "Orm," Lingling said, acknowledging her with a nod. The reserved edge was there, but Orm thought she saw the slightest hint of a smile.

"That was... impressive," Orm said, genuine admiration softening her tone. "I didn't know you played like that."

Lingling's eyes held Orm's for a moment before she spoke. "There's a lot you don't know about me."

Orm's lips twitched into a grin. "I'm starting to realize that."

Before Lingling could respond, Milk called her over, breaking the moment. Lingling turned, the spell broken, but as she walked away, Orm felt that familiar spark reignite. This time, it wasn't just curiosity. It was something more, something that promised to unravel the mysteries of Lingling Kwong.

And Orm was ready to follow wherever that path led.