Orm's POV
I woke up feeling an unusual warmth, the kind of warmth that made me want to stay under the covers forever. For a moment, I couldn't figure out why my bed felt so cozy... and then I remembered.
Lingling.
Her head was nestled against my shoulder, her soft breath tickling my neck. My heart skipped a beat, realizing how close we were. I tried not to move, scared that the slightest shift would wake her up and make this awkward. But then again, how much more awkward could it get?
Lingling, the girl who used to sit two rows ahead of me in class, who I only casually spoke to once in a while, was now lying beside me. Close, really close.
I stared at the ceiling, my brain trying to wrap itself around the situation. Her arm was draped over my waist, and our legs were tangled beneath the blanket. It was kind of... nice. There was something intimate about it, but not in a way that made me panic. It felt peaceful.
As I moved slightly to get comfortable, Lingling stirred. Her head lifted from my shoulder just a little, and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, taking in her surroundings before her gaze landed on me. For a second, she looked confused, then realization dawned on her face. Her eyes widened.
"Oh," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep. She sat up quickly, the blanket slipping off her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
I sat up too, rubbing the back of my neck, trying to play it cool despite the rising heat in my cheeks. "No, no, it's fine. I guess we both dozed off, huh?"
Lingling looked away, her face slightly flushed. "Yeah... guess so." She tugged at her hair, clearly embarrassed.
I offered her a reassuring smile. "It happens. Movie nights, you know?"
She gave a small nod, still avoiding my eyes. "Yeah, movie nights."
There was a beat of silence between us, and I suddenly felt the need to break it before things got too awkward. "Hey, uh, do you want to shower or something before we study? I can get you some clothes."
Lingling glanced down at her outfit from the night before, wrinkled from sleep. She nodded. "Yeah, that would be nice. Thanks."
I hopped out of bed, trying not to think too hard about the fact that we'd just spent the night tangled up together. Grabbing a fresh towel and one of my oversized shirts from the closet, I handed them to her. Lingling held up the shirt, examining it.
"I think this might be a little big on me," she said with a teasing smile.
I grinned. "Oversized is a style, Ling. You'll rock it."
She laughed softly, and it was good to see her relax a little. Taking the towel and clothes, she headed toward the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
---
Lingling's POV
As I stood in Orm's bathroom, staring at my reflection, I couldn't help but smile. The whole morning had been... well, strange. Waking up beside Orm, the light streaming in, her warmth beside me-it was weirdly comfortable. Even though I'd been embarrassed, I didn't feel awkward about it. It was Orm.
I slipped into the oversized shirt she'd given me. It fell loosely on my frame, the hem stopping just below my thighs. Despite the size difference, it was incredibly soft, and it smelled like her-a mix of light lavender and something else I couldn't place but found calming.
I looked at myself in the mirror again, tugging at the sleeves that were way too long for my arms. It was cute, in a way. And comfortable. But more than that, wearing Orm's clothes made me feel... connected to her. A little smile crept onto my face.
When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, Orm was sitting at the table, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when she heard me, and her eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place.
"Hey," she said, putting her phone down. "You look... comfy."
I did a little twirl, feeling playful. "Well, I feel like I'm swimming in your shirt, but it's nice."
Orm laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Oversized is a good look on you."
I felt my cheeks warm slightly at the compliment. There was something in her voice that made my heart skip a beat. I moved to sit down across from her at the table, but before I could, she patted the spot next to her.
"Sit here," she said, her tone casual, but there was a softness in her eyes that made me feel a little flutter in my chest.
I sat next to her, and for a moment, we just sat there, side by side, not saying anything. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, though. If anything, it felt... right. Like this was where we were supposed to be. Together.
After a moment, Orm stood up, stretching her arms above her head. "Alright, let's knock out some studying. Just a couple of hours, and then we can reward ourselves with something fun."
I chuckled. "Define fun."
Orm gave me a mischievous grin. "You'll see."
---
Orm's POV
We decided to study for just two or three hours, which in my world meant we'd barely get through one chapter before getting distracted. But with Lingling, it was different. She kept me on track, helping me stay focused. And honestly, she made studying fun, which was something I never thought I'd say in a million years.
As we sat side by side, her knee occasionally brushing against mine, I found myself sneaking glances at her. Lingling was so focused on her work, and every once in a while, she'd chew on the end of her pen as she thought something over. It was cute-no, it was more than cute. It was endearing.
I shook my head, trying to focus. We'd just started going through a case study when my mom popped her head into the room.
"Hey girls, how's the studying going?"
Lingling straightened up immediately, giving my mom a polite smile. "It's going well, We're making good progress."
"Good to hear," my mom said with a wink. "By the way, why don't we all go out for lunch? There's a nice little restaurant nearby."
I glanced at Lingling, not wanting to make plans without her input. She caught my eye and gave a small nod. "That sounds great," she said.
"Perfect," my mom chirped. "I'll make a reservation."
As soon as she left the room, Lingling let out a small sigh of relief. "Your mom is really sweet."
I grinned. "Yeah, she likes you."
"I like her too," Lingling said, her voice soft. "It's... nice, being here."
I didn't say anything to that, but inside, I felt a warmth spread through me. I loved that she felt comfortable here. And maybe, just maybe, that meant something more.
---
Lingling's POV
Lunch was nice, even though I was still getting used to how easygoing Orm's family was. They made me feel welcome, like I belonged there, even though I wasn't used to it. Orm's mom asked me questions about school and what I planned to do after graduation, and Orm made sure to crack jokes in between, keeping the mood light.
After we finished eating, we headed back to Orm's house. My heart raced a little as I thought about what happened that morning. The way we'd woken up together, how comfortable I'd felt around her, and how Orm made everything so easy. I felt safe with her, like I could be myself, and I didn't have to worry about anything.
---
Orm's POV
Lunch with my mom and Lingling was unexpectedly pleasant. Lingling seemed comfortable, even though she kept to her usual quiet self. My mom asked her about school, and Lingling answered politely, with a soft smile that I found myself watching a little too closely.
As we finished up, I glanced at Lingling. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes like it usually did. Something seemed off, but I didn't want to pry. As we walked back to my place, I noticed her checking her phone a few times, looking more tense with every glance. I tried to distract her with light conversation, but it felt like her mind was somewhere else.
Just as we entered my room, her phone buzzed again, and this time she answered it.
"Hello?" Lingling's voice was soft at first, but after a few seconds, her expression changed. I couldn't hear what the person on the other end was saying, but Lingling's face went pale. Her knuckles tightened around the phone, and she turned away from me as the voice on the other end grew louder.
Her parents.
They were shouting. Even though I couldn't make out the words, the harsh tone carried through the line. My heart clenched at the sight of Lingling's shoulders tensing, her lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't respond, just listened in silence.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she hung up. She stood still for a moment, not meeting my eyes.
"I... I need to go home," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I stepped forward, concerned. "Is everything okay? You don't have to go if-"
"No, really, I have to," she interrupted, her tone gentle but firm. "My parents... they're just... calling me back."
I could tell there was more she wasn't saying, but I didn't push. Lingling was always good at hiding her emotions, and I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.
"I'll walk you out," I offered, but she shook her head.
"I'll be fine, Orm. Thanks for today. Really."
With that, she quickly gathered her things, slipping out the door before I could say another word. I stood there, staring at the door, a heavy feeling settling in my chest. Something wasn't right.
---
Lingling's POV
I made my way home, trying to prepare myself for what I knew was coming. My parents' fights had gotten worse lately, and it always left me feeling like a child caught in the middle of something I had no control over.
As I stepped inside, the familiar sound of angry voices greeted me. My heart sank. My parents were at it again, yelling at each other, their words like knives cutting through the air. I didn't even bother taking off my shoes before heading to my room, hoping I could slip by unnoticed.
But I wasn't that lucky.
"Lingling!" my mother's voice rang out sharply. I froze in place, my hand halfway to the door. "Where were you all morning?"
"I was with a friend," I said quietly, turning to face her. "We were studying."
"Studying? Or sneaking around behind our backs?" my father snapped from the living room, his voice filled with anger.
I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. I wasn't in the mood for this. Not today. Not after everything.
"We've told you before," my father continued, his voice rising. "You need to stay home and focus on your responsibilities. This is not the time for playing around with friends!"
My mother, not missing a beat, added, "You think you can just run off whenever you want? We're not stupid, Lingling. We know you've been avoiding us."
Avoiding them? Of course I was avoiding them! They couldn't go five minutes without tearing each other apart. But I didn't say anything. I just stood there, feeling like a punching bag for their frustration.
And then came the final blow.
"We've decided," my father said, his voice cold and final. "We're filing for divorce next week."
My breath caught in my throat. I had known it was coming-it had been hanging over our heads for months-but hearing it out loud made it real. A deep sadness washed over me, drowning out everything else.
My mother scoffed. "If it weren't for you, maybe we wouldn't have lasted this long. We were trying to stay together for you, but clearly, it was pointless."
Her words hit me like a slap in the face. They were blaming me? My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. I had done everything I could to make things easier for them, to stay out of their way. But none of it mattered.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I quickly turned away, retreating to my room before they could see me break down. I closed the door softly behind me and collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow as the sobs finally escaped.
Why was it always like this? Why couldn't they just love each other-or at least love me enough not to make me feel like a burden?
I curled into a ball, trying to hold myself together, but the weight of it all was too much. The loneliness, the fighting, the blame-it crushed me. I felt small, like a child again, powerless against the storm that was my parents' relationship.
And through it all, I wished more than anything that I was still at Orm's house. With her, things had felt normal. Peaceful. I had felt... safe. But that was gone now, replaced by the cold, harsh reality of my family's crumbling foundation.
---
Orm's POV
I spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about Lingling. Something about the way she'd left... I couldn't shake the feeling that she was holding something back. I wanted to call her, to ask if she was okay, but I didn't want to intrude. If she wanted to talk, she would.
But as the evening wore on, my worry only grew. I found myself staring at my phone, debating whether to reach out. In the end, I decided to send a simple message:
"Hey, just checking in. You okay?"
Minutes passed, then an hour. No reply.
I tried to tell myself that she was probably busy with her family, that everything was fine. But deep down, I knew something was wrong. I just didn't know how to help her.
All I could do was wait.
---
Lingling's POV
The night dragged on painfully. After the initial shock of the divorce announcement, my parents had retreated to their separate corners of the house, leaving me alone in my room to deal with my emotions.
I hadn't moved from my bed since I'd started crying. My pillow was damp from the tears, and my chest ached from the sobs that had wracked my body. I felt hollow, like there was nothing left inside me.
I reached for my phone, hoping for some distraction, some way to escape the overwhelming sadness. That's when I saw Orm's message.
"Hey, just checking in. You okay?"
The sight of her words made my heart ache even more. I wanted to tell her everything, to pour out all the pain and frustration I'd been holding back. But I couldn't. I didn't want to burden her with my problems. I didn't want her to see how broken I really was.
Instead, I typed a simple response:
"I'm fine."
But as I hit send, I knew it was a lie.
I wasn't fine.
And deep down, I knew that Orm wouldn't believe me either.
---
To be continued...