Short Stories-Lingorm

Stillness and Spark

The music was booming, the laughter infectious, and the smell of cake filled the air. Orm Kornnaphat stood in the middle of Suzie's birthday party, a drink in hand, grinning ear to ear. It was her element—being the life of the party, jumping from group to group, making people laugh, drawing them in with her endless energy. Orm was known for her ability to light up a room, to draw people out of their shells. But tonight, something caught her attention that wasn't so easily drawn out.

Lingling Kwong.

Lingling was sitting in the corner, a plate of snacks in front of her, picking at her food like she was in another world. She didn't look miserable, but she certainly didn't seem engaged in the whirlwind of energy that was the party. Her dark eyes, deep and unreadable, were focused on her plate, and she hadn't so much as looked up when Orm had entered the room.

It wasn't that Orm had any real agenda to get to know everyone at Suzie's party, but there was something about Lingling—something intriguing. Lingling was the kind of person Orm usually had no problem engaging with, and yet, she wasn't making any effort to engage with anyone. That was what bothered Orm.

Orm's curiosity was piqued, but more than that, her competitive streak kicked in. She had cracked the extroverts at this party easily—she always did—but Lingling? Lingling was a challenge. And challenges made things interesting.

"Who's that?" Orm asked Suzie, leaning in as her eyes drifted to the corner where Lingling sat.

Suzie followed her gaze and let out a small, knowing sigh. "That's Lingling. She's a friend of mine from work."

Orm furrowed her brow. "She's sitting by herself. Is she... okay? She doesn't look like she's having fun."

Suzie chuckled, her smile warm but a little apologetic. "That's Lingling for you. She's more introverted. You know, she's got that... 'quiet energy.'"

"I get that," Orm said, though she didn't exactly get it. She was more accustomed to people who didn't need to be coaxed into having fun. "But she's been sitting there the whole time. I thought this was a party."

Suzie laughed, a little embarrassed. "She's not really one for crowds. She needs her space to recharge. She'll come around when she's ready. You know how introverts are."

Orm raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. "You mean, she's hiding in the corner?"

Suzie shrugged. "In her own way. Just don't push her. She'll join us later. But she doesn't love being the center of attention."

That was a statement Orm couldn't quite reconcile. Not love being the center of attention? Orm lived for the center of attention. A quiet person like Lingling, who seemed to be perfectly content alone in a corner, was a mystery to her. And mysteries were something Orm couldn't resist solving.

Orm took a sip of her drink, watching Lingling from across the room. The more she observed, the more curious she became. Lingling wasn't scowling or brooding, she was just... existing, without trying to be noticed. It was a completely foreign concept to Orm. Her natural inclination was to break the silence, crack a joke, bring people together. But Lingling wasn't the kind of person you could simply pull into the crowd. No, Orm would have to approach this differently.

Minutes passed. Orm continued to chat with some of the other guests, but her eyes kept drifting back to the corner. Every now and then, she'd catch a glimpse of Lingling's quiet gaze flicking up, scanning the room. Lingling didn't seem to mind people around her, but she certainly didn't seem interested in participating.

Suddenly, their eyes met.

It was brief, just a second, but the quiet, steady gaze Lingling gave her sent an unexpected spark through Orm. There was something behind those eyes—something soft, yet distant. Orm felt the desire to pull that distance closer.