Between Us || LINGORM

Chapter 5: Unwanted Connections

The weekend arrived, bringing with it a bright morning that seemed out of place given the tension that had been simmering between Orm and Lingling over the past week. The campus buzzed with the usual weekend activities—students lounging on the lawn, chatting, laughing, and catching up on assignments. But for Orm, today was anything but ordinary. Today, she was attending her first meeting with the tourism project group, and to her surprise and mild dread, she had learned Lingling Kwong was chairing the committee.

View, always perceptive to Orm's shifts in mood, raised an eyebrow as she saw Orm's half-hearted attempts at eating her breakfast. "Are you nervous about the meeting? You've barely touched your toast," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Orm sighed, pushing her plate away. "More like annoyed. I don't know why the universe keeps throwing us together, but apparently, Lingling is in charge of this project."

View's eyes widened. "Wait, the Lingling? The ice queen of campus and your new rival?"

"Yes, that one," Orm said, running a hand through her hair in exasperation. "It's just my luck. This tourism project was supposed to be a nice break, something to balance out my economics workload. Now it's turning into another battlefield."

View chuckled, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Well, maybe this is your chance to turn it into something more interesting. Who knows? You two could learn to get along."

Orm rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. View's relentless optimism was something she admired, even if she found it unrealistic. "I highly doubt it. But thanks for the pep talk."

The meeting was set in a sunlit conference room in the student center, its wide windows offering a view of the campus courtyard below. Orm arrived early, taking a seat near the middle where she could observe without drawing too much attention. One by one, students filtered in—some familiar, others not. Orm noticed Lingling's colleagues: Milk, Kapook, and Faye among them. Each exuded a level of confidence and polish that seemed to mirror Lingling's own.

And then, she entered. Lingling walked in with a commanding presence, her posture straight, gaze direct, and a folder in hand. She was dressed impeccably in a crisp white blouse and tailored trousers, exuding an air of professionalism that made Orm feel underdressed in her casual jeans and oversized sweater. Lingling's eyes swept the room and paused momentarily when they met Orm's. There was no smile, only a fleeting look of recognition before she turned to address the group.

"Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being on time," Lingling began, her voice steady and authoritative. "We have a lot to cover today, so let's get started."

The meeting moved swiftly as Lingling outlined the goals and logistics of the project. The club was partnering with the economics program to develop a cross-disciplinary event that showcased both tourism initiatives and their economic impact. As she spoke, Orm found herself caught between admiration and annoyance. Lingling's ability to command a room was undeniable, and while her demeanor was as cold as ever, it was also impressively composed.

"Now, we'll need volunteers to take on specific tasks," Lingling continued, flipping through the pages of her notes. "I'll assign the initial roles, but feel free to switch if needed. Milk will oversee the event's logistics, and Faye will handle communications. Orm," she said, looking directly at her, "I'd like you to manage the economic analysis component of the presentation."

Orm's eyes widened, and a ripple of murmurs spread through the room. She hadn't expected to be given such a significant role, let alone by Lingling. It was both a compliment and a challenge, and the weight of it settled uncomfortably in her chest.

"Understood," Orm said, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Lingling nodded, her face impassive as ever. "Good. I trust you can handle it."

The meeting continued with more discussions, but Orm's mind drifted, replaying Lingling's words and their implications. Was this Lingling's way of testing her, or did she genuinely believe Orm was up to the task?

As the meeting wrapped up, Orm gathered her things, half-listening to Milk's playful banter with Faye about the event theme. Just as she was about to leave, Lingling approached her, stopping just a few feet away.

"Orm," Lingling said, her voice softer now that they were out of earshot of the others. "I assigned you that role because I know you're capable. Don't let personal feelings interfere with the project."

Orm met her gaze, searching for any trace of warmth or camaraderie. There was none, only a measured coolness that frustrated her to no end. "I won't," Orm replied, a hint of defiance in her tone. "But you might want to take your own advice."

For a moment, the mask slipped, and Orm thought she saw something flash in Lingling's eyes—surprise, maybe even amusement—but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. Without another word, Lingling turned and walked away, leaving Orm feeling both irked and intrigued.

The following week was a blur of research, meetings, and more interactions with Lingling than Orm would have preferred. Their working relationship was professional but tense, each conversation underpinned by their unresolved rivalry. Orm found herself oscillating between admiration for Lingling's dedication and frustration at her unyielding perfectionism.

One evening, after hours spent poring over spreadsheets and economic models, Orm needed a break. She headed to the student center, hoping for some light conversation and a chance to decompress. To her surprise, she found Milk and Kapook sitting by the café, their laughter drawing attention.

"Orm! Over here!" Milk called out, waving her over. She hesitated but walked over, grateful for the distraction.

"You look like you've been through the wringer," Kapook said, eyeing Orm's tired expression.

"Lingling's project, right?" Milk added knowingly. "She can be intense, but she means well."

Orm snorted, sinking into a chair. "Intense is an understatement. I don't think I've ever worked with someone so demanding."

Milk and Kapook exchanged glances before Milk leaned forward. "Yeah, she's...particular. But once you get past that, she's not as unreachable as she seems."

Kapook nodded in agreement. "There's more to Lingling than what she shows. You might be surprised."

Orm raised an eyebrow, skeptical but intrigued. Before she could ask more, she noticed Lingling entering the café, eyes scanning the room until they landed on their table. Orm's heart thudded unexpectedly as Lingling approached.

"Milk, Kapook," Lingling greeted them before her eyes shifted to Orm. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

The table fell silent as Orm stood, following Lingling to a quieter corner of the café. She felt the weight of Milk and Kapook's curious stares on her back.

"I wanted to check on your progress with the economic analysis," Lingling said, her tone formal but not unkind.

"It's going well," Orm replied, folding her arms. "I'll have the preliminary data ready by tomorrow."

"Good." Lingling's eyes softened slightly. "Thank you for putting in the effort."

Orm blinked, taken aback by the unexpected gratitude. "You're... welcome."

There was a pause, a moment suspended between them where neither spoke, the usual tension replaced by an unspoken understanding. Just as quickly as it came, Lingling's composure returned.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Lingling said, turning away.

Orm watched her leave, the flutter in her chest returning with a vengeance. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Lingling Kwong than met the eye.