Ink & Intentions (Lingorm)

20. Retreating again

Orm woke up gradually, warmth pressing against her in the quiet morning stillness. Her eyes blinked open to find herself nestled in the shared bed, and her gaze fell on Ling—so close, just a few inches away, still fast asleep. The soft rise and fall of Ling's breathing, her relaxed expression, even the way a strand of hair fell across her cheek—it all had a way of stirring something warm and confusing in Orm's chest.

For a moment, she considered staying like this, just observing Ling in the quiet stillness of the room, letting herself appreciate the moment without overthinking it. The trip had been a strange mix of exhilarating and frustrating for Orm; every time she tried to get close, Ling seemed to keep her at arm's length. It was like Ling was purposely hiding behind a wall, and no matter how many jokes Orm cracked, how many times she tried to draw her in, Ling would pull away, almost as if she were scared to let them be too close.

Carefully, Orm shifted a little closer, letting her eyes linger on Ling's relaxed features. She thought about the fun they'd had before things had gotten tense, back when Ling had laughed at her jokes without hesitation, and how natural things had felt. Just as Orm was getting lost in her thoughts, Ling's eyes fluttered open.

Their gazes met, and for a brief second, neither moved. Ling's eyes held a softness, something almost vulnerable, before the usual guardedness slipped back into place. She blinked, as if surprised to see Orm so close, and gently scooted away.

"Morning," Ling said quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a slight flush in her cheeks.

Orm grinned, hoping to ease the tension. "Morning, sleeping beauty. Didn't think I'd wake up to such a sight."

Ling looked away, her blush deepening. "Please," she mumbled, but there was a hint of a smile.

"Hey, it's true. Who wouldn't want to wake up next to you?" Orm leaned back, keeping her tone light, but she couldn't help letting a bit of honesty slip through.

Ling cleared her throat, clearly flustered. "So, uh, we should probably get moving. We're heading back to college today."

Orm forced herself to laugh, her teasing facade slipping easily back into place. "Back to reality, huh? Shame. I was getting used to all this time together."

She noticed a flicker of something in Ling's eyes—maybe longing, or maybe hesitation. For a second, Orm hoped that Ling would say something, admit to feeling the same strange pull. But just as quickly, Ling's expression hardened, her gaze drifting somewhere past Orm.

"Yeah, back to reality," Ling repeated, her voice softer, almost like she was reminding herself.

After getting dressed and ready, Orm headed downstairs, mulling over Ling's words and that flicker of hesitation. She knew Ling was with Wisanu, and she respected that. But there was something there, some connection that Ling kept shying away from. And the more Ling pulled back, the more Orm found herself wanting to break through that wall and see what Ling was hiding.

But as the group gathered for breakfast, Ling was already sitting next to Wisanu, laughing at something he'd said. Orm felt an uncomfortable pang in her chest, a sensation she didn't want to name. She forced herself to sit with Bow and Tan instead, hoping they'd keep her distracted. They didn't disappoint.

"So, Orm," Tan started with a smirk, "how many times did you fall on your face yesterday?"

Orm laughed, grateful for the distraction. "Oh, please, I was practically a pro out there," she retorted, rolling her eyes. "You're just jealous because I left you in the dust."

"Left me in the dust? More like left yourself in the snowbank," Bow shot back, chuckling.

As everyone laughed, Orm caught a glimpse of Ling out of the corner of her eye. Ling was watching her, an almost wistful expression on her face before she turned back to Wisanu, slipping her hand into his. The sight stung, more than Orm wanted to admit. She turned back to Bow and Tan, throwing herself into the conversation, hoping to shake off the feeling.

The group spent their last day enjoying the slopes. Orm challenged Bow and Tan to a few races, throwing in dramatic flops for comedic effect whenever she fell. Ying joined in, laughing as she tried to keep up with their antics, and Wisanu patiently offered Ling advice on her ski technique. Despite the fun, Orm couldn't fully ignore the tension simmering beneath the surface. Every time she tried to get close to Ling, Ling would distance herself or turn her attention back to Wisanu.

At one point, Orm caught Ling glancing at her from across the slope. Orm gave her a quick wink, her usual playful smirk in place, hoping to get a smile in return. But Ling quickly looked away, leaving Orm feeling as though she was always chasing a shadow.

That evening, the group returned to the cabin, tired but in high spirits. They crowded around the fireplace, sharing stories about the day. Orm kept her tone light and fun, even though Ling's distance gnawed at her. She'd expected the trip to bring them closer, but it felt like it had only created a wider gap.

"Okay, but can we all agree that Tan was the worst skier of the day?" Orm teased, nudging Tan with a grin.

"Hey!" Tan protested, laughing. "I'll have you know I'm just perfecting my technique."

Bow raised an eyebrow. "You were perfecting it right into the trees, maybe."

As everyone laughed, Orm felt her spirits lift a bit. Yet, every time she glanced at Ling, who was sitting close to Wisanu and occasionally laughing at his quiet jokes, Orm felt that same pang.

When the group finally packed up and began the drive back to college, Orm found herself staring out the window, lost in thought. Ling was avoiding her gaze, busy chatting quietly with Wisanu about plans for the upcoming week. Orm tried to tell herself it didn't matter, that the connection she'd felt with Ling was probably just a fluke, something one-sided. But her heart wasn't so easily convinced.

Arriving back on campus in the late evening, everyone unloaded their bags. Orm walked beside Ying, who gave her a curious look.

"You okay?" Ying asked, her voice low so the others wouldn't hear.

Orm shrugged, putting on her usual smile. "Yeah, just... glad to be back, I guess."

But Ying looked unconvinced, her gaze flicking over to Ling, who was walking a few paces away with Wisanu. "You sure that's it?"

Orm sighed, her guard lowering slightly. "I don't know, Ying. It's like... I keep thinking there's something between us, and then she just... closes up."

Ying gave her an understanding nod. "Maybe she's scared. Or maybe she just doesn't know what she wants yet."

Orm forced a laugh, shrugging. "Well, I don't know what I want, either. I just know it... it sucks watching her pull away like this."

Ying patted her shoulder gently. "Give it time. You never know—maybe she'll come around."

As they finally headed their separate ways, Ling lingered for a moment, watching Orm laugh and joke with the others, her usual cheerfulness dimmed by something Ling couldn't quite put into words. She knew Orm had felt the distance, but Ling couldn't risk letting her heart drift too far. Not while Wisanu was beside her, steady and supportive.

Still, a part of her felt an ache as she watched Orm disappear into the dorm building.

I'm back guys!😭 Sorry for the veeeery late update, i'll try to update it more frequently from now on🫶🏻