Between Us || LINGORM

Chapter 16: A Hint of Jealousy

It began as an ordinary day on campus, with the buzz of midterms and projects humming in the air. Orm had her usual schedule—a morning seminar followed by a quick lunch at the cafeteria. The sun was shining, the air was warm, and for once, she felt lighthearted despite the growing workload.

She spotted Lingling in the quad, sitting under the shade of a tamarind tree with her notebook balanced on her knees. She was dressed impeccably, as always, her sleek black pants and a white blouse giving her an air of effortless elegance. Her hair, tied into a neat ponytail, glistened in the sunlight.

Orm felt her heart skip as she approached.

"Hey, Ling," she greeted, flashing her signature grin.

Lingling glanced up briefly, her gaze cool and unreadable. "Orm," she replied, her tone neutral.

Undeterred, Orm plopped down beside her, leaning back on her hands. "Studying hard?"

Lingling nodded, her pen tapping rhythmically against the edge of her notebook. "The project outline needs final revisions. We're presenting next week, remember?"

"Ah, yes," Orm said, smirking. "How could I forget? My very diligent partner won't let me slack off for even a second."

Lingling's lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but she quickly masked it with a slight cough.

"You'll thank me when we ace it," she said lightly, though her focus never left the notebook.

Orm chuckled. "Sure, boss."

They spent a few minutes in comfortable silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds.

Orm noticed Lingling's change in demeanor later that afternoon, though she didn't recognize it for what it was at first.

After her economics class, Orm had been cornered by a group of students seeking advice on their project proposals. She had a reputation for being approachable and enthusiastic, and it wasn't unusual for people to ask for her help.

Among the group was Jin, a bubbly junior with bright eyes and a contagious laugh. She was gushing about her travel economics project, and Orm, being naturally curious, found herself drawn into the conversation.

"You're seriously amazing, Orm," Jin said, her admiration plain in her voice. "I don't know how you balance everything and still have time to help people like me."

Orm laughed, scratching the back of her neck. "It's not that hard when you enjoy what you're doing."

From a distance, Lingling watched the interaction unfold. She had been heading to the library when she noticed Orm with the group of students. At first, she felt indifferent—this was typical Orm, always charming, always the center of attention.

But as she stood there, observing, something sharp and unwelcome stirred in her chest. Jin leaned closer to Orm, her body language open and inviting. Orm's laugh rang out, loud and warm, and Lingling felt her fingers tighten around the strap of her bag.

What was this feeling? It wasn't irritation, though it felt prickly and uncomfortable. It wasn't dislike, either—Jin seemed perfectly pleasant. Yet Lingling found herself lingering in the shadows, her jaw tight, her heartbeat quickening for reasons she couldn't quite name.

When Orm glanced up and caught sight of her, Lingling's expression remained neutral, but she quickly turned and walked away, her pace brisk.

Later that evening, Orm arrived at Lingling's condo for their scheduled project work. She was her usual cheerful self, carrying snacks and drinks to keep them fueled.

"Hey, Ling," Orm greeted as she stepped inside. "You'll love this—I got those almond cookies you like."

Lingling, seated at her dining table with her laptop open, barely acknowledged her.

"Thanks," she said curtly, her eyes fixed on the screen.

Orm paused, her brow furrowing. She set the snacks on the counter and walked over to her, leaning casually against the chair.

"Alright, what's up?" Orm asked, her tone light but probing.

Lingling glanced at her briefly. "Nothing. Let's get started. We're behind on—"

"Nope, not buying it," Orm interrupted, crossing her arms. "You've been cold all day. Did I do something?"

Lingling's fingers stilled on the keyboard. She took a deep breath, but her expression remained guarded. "You didn't do anything."

Orm crouched slightly so she could meet Lingling's eyes. "Lingling," she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. "Talk to me."

Lingling hesitated, her walls visibly wavering. Finally, she exhaled and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest.

"It's nothing important," she said, her tone quieter now. "I just... saw you earlier, with that girl. Jin, was it?"

Orm blinked in surprise. "Jin? Oh, yeah, she's working on a project for her class. Why?"

Lingling's gaze dropped to the table. "You seemed... close."

Realization dawned on Orm, and a slow grin spread across her face. "Wait. Are you jealous?"

Lingling's eyes snapped up, her cheeks flushing. "Of course not. Don't be ridiculous."

"Oh my god," Orm said, laughing. "You are jealous!"

"I'm not!" Lingling insisted, though her tone lacked its usual firmness.

Orm couldn't help but be amused. She slid into the chair beside Lingling, her grin softening into something gentler.

"Okay, okay," she said, holding up her hands in surrender. "But for the record, there's nothing between me and Jin. She's just a classmate who needed help. That's all."

Lingling didn't respond immediately. Her fingers toyed with the edge of her notebook, her expression conflicted.

"Why does it bother you, Ling?" Orm asked quietly.

Lingling's shoulders tensed. She didn't like feeling exposed, vulnerable. But Orm's steady gaze and patient silence were impossible to ignore.

"I... don't know," Lingling admitted finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "It just... felt strange. Seeing you with her."

Orm's heart swelled at the admission. She reached out, her fingers brushing Lingling's hand.

"Hey," she said softly. "You don't have to feel strange about it. I'm here with you, aren't I?"

Lingling's gaze flicked to their hands, her defenses crumbling further. "I suppose you are."

Orm gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll always be here, Ling. You don't have to worry about anyone else."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the tension between them melting away. Lingling finally allowed herself a small smile, her fingers curling slightly against Orm's.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Orm grinned, her usual playfulness returning. "Anytime, boss."

Lingling rolled her eyes but didn't pull her hand away.

The rest of the evening passed smoothly, the earlier awkwardness forgotten. They worked on their project, their rhythm as partners seamless and efficient.

But as Orm packed up to leave, Lingling surprised her by speaking up.

"Orm," she said, her tone hesitant.

Orm paused by the door, turning to face her. "Yeah?"

Lingling looked at her, something unspoken lingering in her gaze. "I'm glad you're my partner. In more ways than one."

Orm's smile softened, and she nodded. "Same here, Ling."

As she walked home, Orm couldn't stop grinning. Whatever was blossoming between them, she knew it was only the beginning.

👀 👀