Between Us || LINGORM

Chapter 19: The Confrontation

Lingling's reflection stared back at her, calm and poised, as if the turbulence of the past week hadn't touched her. But she knew better. Beneath her polished exterior, her mind was a mess of emotions—uncertainty, fear, and a growing longing she couldn't seem to suppress.

Since the party, she'd done what she always did: distanced herself. Orm's confession lingered in her mind like an echo she couldn't escape. The vulnerability in Orm's voice, the unwavering warmth in her gaze—it had unraveled something inside Lingling, something she wasn't sure how to deal with.

She had thought avoiding Orm would give her the clarity she needed. Instead, it only made the ache worse. Every time she saw Orm on campus—laughing with her friends, her usual spark lighting up the room—Lingling's chest tightened.

Orm, however, wasn't taking the distance in stride.

Orm leaned against the wall outside Lingling's dorm, arms crossed, her frustration barely contained. Days of silence had worn her patience thin. She had poured her heart out at the party, only for Lingling to retreat into her shell.

"Well, if she won't talk, I'll make her," Orm muttered to herself.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew her attention. Lingling appeared, her expression as composed as ever, though Orm could see the faint hesitation in her steps when their eyes met.

"Orm," Lingling said, her tone cool but not unkind.

"Ling," Orm replied, pushing off the wall. "We need to talk."

Lingling glanced around, as if searching for an escape, but Orm stepped closer, her determination unwavering.

"Here? Now?" Lingling asked, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Yes," Orm said firmly. "I can't keep doing this—whatever this is. One moment, you let me in, and the next, you're gone. I need to know what's going on."

Lingling sighed, crossing her arms. "It's complicated."

"No, it's not," Orm shot back, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You're scared. I get that. But running away isn't going to make it any less scary."

Lingling flinched at the bluntness of Orm's words but didn't look away. "You don't understand," she said softly.

"Then help me understand," Orm said, her voice softening. "Ling, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. But I can't keep guessing how you feel."

Lingling looked away, her fingers tightening around her arms. "You're so... open," she said after a moment. "You make everything look easy. I'm not like that, Orm. I've spent my whole life keeping things under control, and now—" She broke off, her voice trembling.

"Now I'm the thing you can't control," Orm finished gently.

Lingling's gaze snapped back to Orm, her eyes wide with surprise. "You scare me," she admitted, the words barely audible.

Orm stepped closer, her hands aching to reach for Lingling but holding back. "I scare you because I make you feel something real," she said. "And that's okay, Ling. You don't have to have it all figured out. I don't either."

Lingling's composure cracked, her eyes glistening with unspoken emotion. "I don't know how to do this," she whispered. "I don't know how to let someone in without losing myself."

Orm smiled, a mix of warmth and understanding. "You don't have to lose yourself to be with me. I don't want to change you, Ling. I just want to be with you, exactly as you are."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with tension, but it wasn't the kind that pushed them apart—it was the kind that drew them closer.

Finally, Lingling exhaled, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I don't know if I can promise anything," she said, her voice steady but soft.

"You don't have to," Orm replied. "Just promise me you'll try. That's all I'm asking."

Lingling nodded, a small but genuine smile breaking through her guarded expression. "Okay," she said. "I'll try."

Orm's grin widened, her relief palpable. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere, Ling. You're stuck with me."

Lingling rolled her eyes, but the warmth in them was undeniable. "You're insufferable," she said, though her tone held no bite.

"And you're impossible," Orm shot back, the teasing lilt in her voice returning.

As they stood there, the tension between them eased, replaced by something softer, something that felt like hope. For the first time in weeks, Lingling felt like maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to face her fears alone.

Later that night, Lingling found herself sitting on the floor of her dorm, her guitar resting on her lap. The familiar weight of it was comforting, a reminder of the things she could control.

But as her fingers strummed a soft melody, her thoughts kept drifting back to Orm—to her warmth, her unwavering patience, and the way she made Lingling feel seen in a way no one else ever had.

Lingling didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, she was willing to take a chance.

For Orm.

For them.