Orm's POV
The whole way back from the restaurant, I couldn't stop thinking about Lingling. The way her hand brushed mine when we walked, the soft glances she gave me between conversations with my mom-it all felt different, like something was blooming between us.
When we reached my place again, Lingling smiled at me, that soft, shy smile that always tugged at something deep inside me. We walked upstairs to my room, falling into an easy routine. It felt like she'd always belonged here. The tension from the morning had lifted, and now there was this lightness, this... warmth.
We hadn't talked much since lunch, and the silence between us felt charged in a way that was unfamiliar but exciting. Once we were back inside, Lingling flopped onto my bed, kicking off her shoes and stretching like she'd been waiting to relax all day.
"You always take the best spots," I teased, leaning against the doorway, watching her.
She laughed, rolling over onto her stomach and propping herself up on her elbows. "You're the one who keeps letting me, Orm. It's kind of your fault."
I shook my head, chuckling. "Yeah, yeah." I made my way over and sat down on the edge of the bed, my heart fluttering when she stayed close. It was these little moments that made my feelings so confusing lately-the casual touches, the playful teasing. It was all so... natural.
I wanted more of it.
Lingling looked up at me, her eyes shining with something soft and vulnerable. "Thanks for today," she said quietly. "For being there. I... don't know what I would've done without you."
I swallowed, feeling a warmth spread through me. "You don't have to thank me. I'll always be here for you."
For a moment, neither of us said anything. We just looked at each other, and I could feel that pull again. The same pull I'd felt earlier when she was in my arms, crying. The same pull I'd felt when I wiped that last tear from her cheek.
Before I could think twice, I reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Lingling's breath hitched, but she didn't pull away. Her eyes searched mine, as if she was trying to figure out what was happening between us.
"I... um..." she started, but her voice trailed off, like she wasn't sure what to say.
Instead of speaking, I leaned closer, my heart racing as I gently cupped her cheek. I could feel her pulse quicken under my fingertips, and for a split second, I wondered if this was a mistake. But then she closed her eyes, leaning into my touch, and I knew it wasn't.
"Is this okay?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Lingling nodded, her eyes fluttering open again. "Yeah," she breathed. "It's more than okay."
---
Lingling's POV
My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. Orm was so close, her hand warm and steady against my cheek. I'd never been this close to her before, not like this, and it felt... right. It felt like something I'd been waiting for without even realizing it.
The way she looked at me made my breath catch. There was so much care, so much tenderness in her eyes. And the way her touch lingered on my skin, like she didn't want to let go, sent a shiver down my spine.
"I didn't know I could feel like this," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "With you."
Orm smiled softly, her thumb brushing my cheek. "Me neither."
We stayed like that for a moment longer, just looking at each other, both of us caught in this quiet, gentle moment. I could feel the warmth of her breath against my lips, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid. I wasn't scared of what this was or what it could become.
All I knew was that I wanted it. I wanted her.
Without thinking, I leaned in, closing the small gap between us. Orm's breath hitched, but she didn't pull away. Our lips brushed, soft and tentative, and it was like everything else faded away. The hurt from this morning, the pain of my parents-it all disappeared in that moment.
All that mattered was Orm.
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Orm's POV
The kiss was sudden, unexpected, and absolutely electric. One second, Lingling was looking at me with those soft, shy eyes, and the next, her lips were on mine. My heart skipped a beat, and before I knew it, we were kissing-like really kissing. It started gentle, but then, somehow, it deepened, and I could feel the heat rising between us.
For a brief moment, I forgot how to breathe. My head was spinning, and it wasn't because of the kiss-it was because Lingling had kissed me first. She had made the move.
Suddenly, panic set in. My brain was scrambling. Was this really happening? What did it mean? I wasn't even prepared for this-I had always imagined I'd be the one to kiss her first, to show her how much I liked her. But here she was, boldly stepping into something I hadn't seen coming.
That's when the heat between us really kicked in. Her kiss turned from soft and hesitant to something deeper-hot, almost desperate, and full of emotions neither of us had said aloud yet. And just as quickly as it intensified, something clicked inside me. What are we doing?!
My eyes shot open, and I gently but quickly pulled away, breathless. Lingling was still close, her eyes fluttering open in confusion. I could see the question in her eyes, the blush blooming on her cheeks.
"Oh my God," I muttered, my voice trembling as I felt the heat rising up my neck and face. My heart was pounding so fast I could hardly think straight. "I... I need a minute!" And before she could respond, I bolted-straight to the bathroom.
I could barely hear Lingling calling after me as I shut the bathroom door behind me. The reflection in the mirror showed me what I already knew-I was a red, flustered mess. My face was practically glowing, and I could still feel the warmth of her lips on mine. What just happened?! Why was I the one freaking out? I had imagined kissing Lingling a hundred times, but now that it had actually happened... I was losing it.
I ran cold water over my hands and splashed it on my face, trying to calm down. But my mind wouldn't stop spinning. She kissed me first. Does she like me that much? What if I messed it up? Was I a bad kisser? What does she think?
---
Lingling's POV
The moment Orm ran off to the bathroom, my stomach dropped. Oh no. Oh no no no. What just happened? Did I do something wrong? Was the kiss too much? Too soon?
My heart was racing, and I could feel my whole body tense with anxiety. I knew I shouldn't have kissed her-what if she didn't like it? What if she didn't like me? Maybe I'd been too forward. Or worse... maybe I was a terrible kisser.
"I'm so stupid," I muttered under my breath, pacing back and forth in Orm's room. Why did I have to be so impulsive? Now she was hiding in the bathroom because of me. She must be mad... or disgusted!
I hovered near the bathroom door, biting my lip, unsure what to do. Should I apologize? Should I give her space? My mind was running a mile a minute, and the thought of losing her friendship over a kiss was enough to make my eyes sting with the threat of tears.
Finally, I couldn't take the silence any longer. I knocked lightly on the bathroom door, my voice small and shaky. "Orm...? I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have kissed you like that. It was my first kiss, and I-I probably messed it up. Please don't hate me... I'm really sorry."
I waited, my breath caught in my throat, heart pounding. The door didn't open. My nerves were on edge, and every second that passed without a response felt like an eternity.
"Orm? Are you okay?" I asked, more softly this time, as I fought back the tears threatening to spill. My worst fear was coming true. She didn't like me back. She didn't want this-she didn't want me.
---
Orm's POV
Her soft voice reached me through the bathroom door, and suddenly, all my embarrassment turned to guilt. She thought I didn't like the kiss. She thought she did something wrong.
My heart twisted at the thought of Lingling blaming herself, when in reality, I was the one freaking out. I wasn't mad or disgusted-far from it. I was just... overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by how much I liked her and how real everything felt.
I took a deep breath, still red-faced and shaky, but I knew I had to go out there. I couldn't leave her thinking she'd done something wrong. Slowly, I opened the door and saw her standing there, looking so small and nervous. Her hands were wringing together, and her eyes were watery like she was holding back tears.
"Lingling..." I started, but my voice was hoarse. I cleared my throat and tried again. "It's not you. It's me."
Her eyes widened, and I immediately realized how terrible that sounded. "No, no, not like that! I mean, I liked it-I mean, the kiss. I liked the kiss. A lot." My face was probably a new shade of red now.
Lingling blinked, her confusion turning into surprise. "Wait... you liked it?"
I nodded, feeling like I might combust from how awkward I was being. "Yes. I wasn't expecting it. I thought... I don't know, that I should be the one to kiss you first. And I... I just freaked out. That's all. You didn't mess anything up. I promise."
Her expression softened, and she took a tentative step closer. "Really? So... you don't hate me?"
"Hate you?" I let out a small laugh, even though I was still flustered. "No way. I could never hate you, Lingling."
Lingling's face slowly brightened, the tension easing from her shoulders. She gave me a small, shy smile, and I couldn't help but smile back. We both stood there, awkward and blushing, but it felt good to clear the air.
Suddenly, her gaze turned mischievous. "So... you really thought you were going to kiss me first?"
I raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, well, you beat me to it. Didn't expect that, huh?"
Lingling giggled softly, her shyness melting into warmth. "Guess I'm full of surprises."
---
Orm's POV Continued
Just as I was starting to feel more comfortable, still smiling at Lingling's teasing, my mom's voice echoed from downstairs.
"Girls! What are you up to up there? Come down and eat something!"
I froze. Lingling's face turned crimson again. She was about to bolt, but I grabbed her hand just before she could.
"Oh no, no running away this time," I said, laughing. "We're in this together."
Lingling looked at me, wide-eyed, and then giggled. She didn't resist when I tugged her gently towards the stairs. As we made our way down, I couldn't stop smiling.
---
Lingling's POV
As we headed downstairs, hand-in-hand, I couldn't help but feel relieved. Orm had liked the kiss. And she wasn't mad at me-if anything, she looked just as flustered as I felt. My heart was still racing, but now it was with excitement, not fear.
Sure, things had gotten a little awkward, but in the best possible way.
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To be continued...