Between Us || LINGORM

Chapter 7: Project Pair-Up

The next morning, the crisp air hummed with the typical busyness of campus life. Orm hurried across the courtyard, her backpack slung over one shoulder and her mind replaying last night's unexpected encounter with Lingling in the study room. The vulnerability she'd witnessed still lingered in her thoughts, shadowing the edges of her curiosity with warmth.

Their tourism project loomed over her like an impending storm. The club's board, under Lingling's leadership, demanded precision and dedication, traits Orm respected but struggled to embody. The clash between her improvisational style and Lingling's rigid standards had made every meeting tense, but it had also sparked a certain thrill that Orm couldn't ignore.

"Late again?" View, Orm's dorm mate and economics classmate, teased as they met up outside the lecture hall.

"Don't start, View. It's been a morning." Orm flashed a grin, brushing off her unease with humor. The warmth of last night was quickly overtaken by the reality of working under Lingling's watchful eye. As she stepped into the classroom, she was met by the familiar buzz of students settling into their seats.

Lingling was already there, seated at the front, her hair neatly tied back, eyes scanning a set of notes with her usual intensity. Today, the sight of her didn't just remind Orm of their last heated debate or Lingling's precise way of cutting through discussions; it brought back the image of Lingling's fingers caressing guitar strings, the rare gentleness that Orm was sure few others had seen.

Professor Achara, their poised and experienced instructor, stood and signaled for quiet. "I'm pairing you up for the next phase of the cross-disciplinary project," she announced, her voice smooth and commanding attention. "This collaboration between the tourism management club and our economics department will test not just your academic skills but your ability to work seamlessly with someone from a different discipline."

Orm shot a nervous glance toward View, who raised an eyebrow and mouthed, "Please, not me with the club chair." But Orm didn't have time to chuckle before Professor Achara continued.

"Lingling Kwong and Orm Kornnaphat."

A pin could have dropped in the silence that followed. Orm felt the collective gaze of the room shift between her and Lingling. The steady thrum of her heartbeat rose to her ears as she caught Lingling's eyes. There was no visible reaction on Lingling's face—no hint of the soft smile from the study room, only her impenetrable, assessing stare.

"Looks like your wish came true," View whispered, leaning closer.

"Some wish," Orm muttered, more to herself than to View. She drew in a deep breath and steeled herself for whatever was to come.

The class was dismissed with a wave of chatter. Orm shoved her things into her backpack, glancing once more at Lingling, who was packing up with her signature precision. Their eyes met briefly as Lingling approached.

"We'll need to set ground rules," Lingling said, her tone businesslike, leaving no room for debate. "Are you free after your next class?"

"Yeah," Orm replied, biting back the urge to challenge her tone. Now wasn't the time to poke the bear. "The study room?"

Lingling nodded, the briefest flicker of acknowledgment crossing her face. "I'll see you there."

Orm entered the study room later that afternoon, the memory of last night's encounter replaying in her mind. It felt almost surreal to be sitting across from Lingling now, but in a completely different context. Gone was the vulnerable girl strumming her guitar; in her place was the dominant, no-nonsense chairwoman Orm knew all too well.

"Let's be clear," Lingling started, breaking the silence as she opened her notebook, her pen poised. "I expect us to approach this project with a level of professionalism that's... consistent."

Orm blinked, unable to hold back a smile. "Consistent? You mean, your level of perfection?"

Lingling's eyes narrowed. "If that's what it takes. We can't afford to make this a competition of who's more laid back or more strict. We need to combine your creative thinking with my structured planning."

The unexpected compliment—if it could be called that—caught Orm off guard. For a moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of the Lingling from last night, the one with music in her soul and a hidden softness. Orm nodded, her playful grin turning into something more genuine. "Alright. No games, then. Let's figure out how to make this work."

Lingling's lips curved slightly, and for once, they sat in silence that wasn't uncomfortable. Orm watched as Lingling jotted down notes, her handwriting precise and elegant, each stroke a testament to her attention to detail.

"What's your vision for the project?" Lingling asked, glancing up, her eyes searching Orm's face for sincerity.

Orm straightened, feeling the shift in their conversation. "I think we should highlight the intersection between economics and tourism in a way that shows the real impact on local communities. Not just stats, but stories—personal, human connections. People respond to that."

Lingling's expression changed, softening as she listened. "That's not bad, Kornnaphat. But we need data to back it up, and logistics mapped out to tie it all together."

"Deal," Orm said, feeling the spark of excitement in her chest. For the first time, they were speaking as equals, not rivals.

Days turned into a week of collaboration, and while their dynamic was still peppered with moments of friction—Orm's tendency to improvise versus Lingling's unyielding order—something was changing. The late-night meetings extended beyond formal planning as Lingling opened up, mentioning bits about her upbringing: summers spent in Hong Kong, the balance between her Thai and Chinese roots, and the pressure of living up to family expectations. Orm shared stories of Mae Koy's bustling world and the comfort she found in her mother's endless support despite public scrutiny.

One evening, Orm looked up from her notes to find Lingling staring at the project plan, her brows furrowed in thought. Orm's playful side took over. "Careful, Kwong. If you keep frowning like that, people will think you actually have feelings."

Lingling's eyes shot up, but instead of the sharp retort Orm expected, she smirked. "And here I thought your only feelings involved gaming and procrastination."

The room burst with laughter—genuine, warm. The lines between rivalry and partnership began to blur, replaced by something neither of them could yet name.

The night before their first project presentation, Orm couldn't sleep. She turned in her bed, thoughts of data points, visuals, and her and Lingling's contrasting styles keeping her awake. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, a new message lighting up the screen:

Lingling: Double-check the slideshow. I'll review it tomorrow morning.

Orm's lips twitched, a mix of amusement and nerves tightening her chest. The journey from adversaries to this oddly synchronized partnership was something she hadn't anticipated. Lingling's presence in her life had become more than just an academic force; it was a catalyst, a question mark that refused to be answered.

She typed back: Got it. Don't worry, Kwong. We'll nail this.

A moment passed before the three dots of a reply appeared and disappeared, as if Lingling were choosing her words carefully. When the message came through, Orm's breath caught.

Lingling: I know we will. Goodnight, Orm.

"Goodnight," Orm whispered to the empty room, a smile breaking through as she finally drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Hello everyone!! happy 2k views!! and thanks for almost 200 votes! and oh, i'll be busy this week so i'm not sure on updating everyday.. but i'll try! btw LingOrm looks so incredibly breathtaking in today's event ack!!

LingOrm is real.
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