Between Us || LINGORM

Chapter 21: Lingling's Realization

Lingling stared out of her dorm room window, the city lights casting a faint glow over her face. The memory of Orm's confession lingered in her mind like a haunting melody she couldn't shake. It was as if the words "I love you" had embedded themselves into her very soul, reverberating through her in ways she hadn't anticipated.

Orm's vulnerability had left Lingling shaken. She wasn't used to people laying their feelings bare like that, especially not for her. Lingling had built her life on control—on maintaining a perfect image that no one could penetrate. Yet, in Orm's eyes, she had seen a raw, unfiltered truth that terrified and intrigued her.

As the days passed, Lingling couldn't help but notice how Orm's presence had become an integral part of her life. She thought back to the countless moments they'd shared—their playful banter, the accidental glimpses of Orm's softer side, and the way Orm's laughter seemed to fill the emptiness Lingling didn't realize she'd been carrying.

But admitting these feelings to herself was like standing on the edge of a cliff, the fear of falling paralyzing her.

The next morning, Lingling found herself at the campus cafe, scrolling through her phone while sipping her usual latte. Her bandmates, Milk and Faye, sat across from her, chatting animatedly about their upcoming performance.

"Ling, you've been quiet," Milk said, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Lingling replied quickly, setting her phone down. "I've just been busy."

Faye exchanged a knowing look with Milk. "Busy avoiding someone, maybe?"

Lingling stiffened. "What are you talking about?"

"Come on," Milk teased. "We've seen you with Orm. You can't deny there's something going on there."

Lingling's jaw tightened. "It's complicated."

Faye leaned forward, her voice softening. "You like her, don't you?"

Lingling hesitated, the words catching in her throat. "I... I don't know."

Milk chuckled. "Oh, you know. You're just too stubborn to admit it."

Lingling shot her a glare, but deep down, she knew they were right.

That evening, Lingling decided to distract herself by practicing guitar. She sat in the study room, her fingers moving automatically across the strings. The familiar melody brought her a sense of calm, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Orm.

She remembered the way Orm had looked at her during their project meetings, her gaze filled with admiration and something deeper. She thought about the way Orm had made her laugh during their arcade dare, and how she had felt a strange sense of safety when Orm had held her hand after her confession.

Lingling sighed, setting her guitar down. This was pointless. No amount of music could drown out the realization that had been growing inside her—she cared about Orm. More than she wanted to admit.

Orm, meanwhile, was trying to give Lingling the space she seemed to need. She focused on her studies and hung out with her friends, but Lingling was always in the back of her mind.

One afternoon, Orm found herself sitting in the dorm common room with View, her roommate.

"You've been quiet lately," View observed, nudging Orm with her elbow. "What's going on?"

Orm hesitated, then sighed. "It's Lingling."

"Ah," View said knowingly. "The ice queen."

"She's not an ice queen," Orm said defensively. "She's just... complicated."

View smirked. "Complicated how?"

Orm hesitated again, then decided to tell the truth. "I told her how I feel about her."

View's eyes widened. "And?"

"She didn't say it back," Orm admitted, her voice tinged with disappointment. "But she didn't push me away either. I don't know what to do."

View gave her a sympathetic look. "Sometimes people need time to process things. If she's worth it, you'll wait."

Orm nodded, but the uncertainty still gnawed at her.

Lingling's internal struggle came to a head one evening when she saw Orm talking to Kwang and Prighking outside the dorms. Orm's laughter rang out, and Lingling felt a pang of jealousy she couldn't ignore.

She clenched her fists, turning away before Orm could notice her. Why did it bother her so much to see Orm smiling with someone else?

That night, Lingling lay awake in bed, her thoughts racing. She replayed every moment she'd shared with Orm, every argument, every laugh, every fleeting touch. Slowly but surely, the truth became undeniable.

She didn't just care about Orm—she was falling for her.

The next day, Lingling found herself seeking out Milk and Faye again.

"I need your help," she said, sitting down at their usual table.

Milk raised an eyebrow. "This should be good."

"It's about Orm," Lingling admitted, feeling a blush creep up her neck.

Faye smiled. "Finally ready to admit you like her?"

Lingling shot her a look. "I need to figure out how to... handle this. I'm not good at this kind of thing."

Milk grinned. "Step one: stop overthinking. Step two: talk to her."

Faye nodded. "You don't have to have all the answers, Ling. Just be honest with her. She'll appreciate it."

Lingling sighed. "Easier said than done."

Orm was sitting in the campus library that afternoon, trying to focus on her economics assignment, when she felt a presence behind her. She turned to see Lingling standing there, her expression unreadable.

"Hey," Orm said, surprised. "What's up?"

"Can we talk?" Lingling asked.

Orm nodded, closing her laptop and following Lingling to a quiet corner of the library.

Once they were seated, Lingling took a deep breath. "I've been thinking a lot about what you said the other night. About... how you feel about me."

Orm's heart raced. "Okay..."

"I'm not good at this," Lingling admitted, her voice softer than Orm had ever heard it. "I've spent my whole life building walls around myself. Letting someone in... it scares me."

Orm reached out, placing a hand on Lingling's. "You don't have to be scared, Ling. I'm not going anywhere."

Lingling looked down at their hands, her resolve strengthening. "I know. And that's what's been so hard for me to accept. You've made me realize that maybe it's okay to let someone in. That maybe... I want to let you in."

Orm's breath caught. "Are you saying..."

Lingling met her gaze, her eyes shining with vulnerability. "I care about you, Orm. More than I thought I ever could."

Orm's lips curved into a smile, her heart swelling with relief and happiness. "Ling..."

Lingling smiled faintly, her usual composed demeanor softening. "You've changed me, Orm. You've made me realize that I don't have to have everything under control all the time. And for that, I'm grateful."

Orm squeezed her hand gently. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad you're giving this a chance."

Lingling nodded, a sense of peace washing over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

And with Orm by her side, she knew she could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

A/N: HELLO I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M PROUD OF LINGORM. CONGRATULATIONS ON THEIR AWARDS HUHU THEY'VE COME SO FAR I'M GONNA CRY 😭. ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO ORM FOR HER GRADUATION

ps. patience to this story please they'll get there.