Exams were approaching fast, and even though I liked to keep things chill, I couldn't ignore the tension in the air. Everyone was talking about study schedules, notes, and revision marathons. Normally, I'd just wing it, but this time? Well, I had a secret weapon: Lingling.
Lingling had been an amazing study partner so far, and I could feel myself getting better at this whole academic thing. Today, we'd decided to hit the books at my place. I knew that if we were going to survive this, I had to step up my game. Plus, I could offer snacks and coffee-anything to make the long hours of studying less miserable.
I sent Lingling a quick text:
Me: Come over after class? We'll crush this study session.
Lingling: Sure. But no distractions, Orm.
I grinned. Lingling always said that, but I knew she appreciated our little breaks just as much as I did. Maybe even more. A couple of breaks wouldn't hurt, right?
---
When Lingling arrived, I could tell she meant business. Her bag was heavy with textbooks, and her face had that determined look I was getting used to. But underneath that focus, there was something soft, something... different. It was like she was finally letting herself relax around me, and I loved that.
"Hey, ready to drown in notes?" I joked, opening the door wider to let her in.
She gave me a small smile, her usual shy one. "As long as you don't distract me too much."
I held up my hands in mock surrender. "No distractions, promise."
We set up in the living room, spreading our books and notes out across the table. I made sure to keep the coffee flowing, and every now and then, I'd sneak a glance at Lingling. There was something about the way she got so into her work that fascinated me. It wasn't just her smarts-it was her focus, the way her eyebrows knitted together when she was trying to figure something out.
"Orm, focus!" she scolded, not even looking up from her notes.
Caught. "I'm focusing! Just... on the wrong thing, maybe."
She shot me a quick look, a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You need to be serious for at least five minutes."
"Five minutes? I can do that." I sat up straight, pretending to be all professional. It lasted maybe three minutes before I cracked a joke about one of our professors' weird lecture habits.
Lingling laughed despite herself. "You're impossible."
"Impossibly charming, maybe?" I winked.
We settled into a rhythm-studying hard for a while, then taking breaks where I made sure Lingling got her coffee fix and teased her just enough to keep things light. Our breaks were fun, though. We'd talk about random stuff, like how ridiculous some of the exam questions might be or what we'd do when exams were finally over.
During one break, I noticed Lingling staring out the window, lost in thought. I nudged her with my elbow. "What's on your mind?"
She hesitated, and for a second, I thought she wasn't going to say anything. Then, she let out a small sigh. "It's just... it's nice having someone to study with. I never really had that before."
I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? You didn't study with friends in the past?"
Lingling shrugged, her eyes still fixed on the view outside. "Not really. People just used me to do their homework or help them study, but it wasn't... real. Not like this."
Her words hit me in the chest. I had always seen Lingling as someone strong, someone who didn't need anyone. But hearing this? It made me realize how much she had been carrying on her own. Without thinking, I reached over and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Well, now you've got me. No more fake friends. We're in this together."
Lingling looked down at our hands and gave me a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Orm."
"Anytime." I grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "And hey, with my expert snack and coffee support, we're unstoppable!"
Lingling laughed, shaking her head. "I guess I can't argue with that."
We got back to work, but the atmosphere between us had shifted slightly. There was this new closeness, like a silent understanding that we were more than just study partners now. We were real friends. And maybe... something more? I couldn't shake the feeling that things between us were changing, and I liked it.
---
By the time we finished for the day, we had gone through most of our notes and were feeling pretty good about the upcoming exams. I stretched my arms over my head, letting out a satisfied sigh. "I think we deserve a reward for all this hard work."
Lingling raised an eyebrow. "What kind of reward?"
"Ice cream, obviously."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine. But you're buying."
"Deal." I grabbed my keys and we headed to the door.
As they strolled back from the ice cream shop, Orm was still laughing at the mess she'd made. A little blob of chocolate ice cream had splattered on her shirt when she was teasing Lingling by holding the cone out of reach. Lingling, of course, found it hilarious and couldn't stop teasing her.
"You really thought you were smooth, huh?" Lingling said with a smirk, wiping away tears of laughter.
"Hey, it's not my fault chocolate ice cream decided to attack me!" Orm protested, dramatically pretending to look hurt.
When they got back to Orm's house, Lingling looked at her watch and sighed. "I should pack my books and head home. It's getting late."
But before she could start gathering her things, Orm grabbed her hand gently. "Come on, let's finish that chapter before the day ends! We're on a roll, and I know you don't want to leave with your brain half-cooked."
Lingling raised an eyebrow. "Half-cooked?"
"Yes! You don't want to go home with unfinished thoughts. It's like stopping a movie halfway-you'll keep thinking about it all night!" Orm explained, her eyes gleaming with playful determination.
Lingling chuckled. "You just want to avoid doing more work tomorrow, don't you?"
Orm grinned mischievously. "Guilty as charged. But come on, let's make it fun! I'll even get more snacks and coffee!"
With a sigh but also a smile, Lingling settled back down, pulling out her notebook. "Alright, let's do it."
As the evening flowed into night, the two girls got deeper into their studies. At first, the mood was serious, with Lingling explaining concepts patiently while Orm nodded along. But as the clock ticked toward midnight, the late-hour silliness kicked in. Orm started doodling funny faces on her notes and making dramatic gestures every time she got an answer right, pretending she was some kind of business genius.
At one point, Orm stood up, stretched, and said, "Okay, I'm officially declaring myself the CEO of Ice Cream Enterprises. My first act? Free ice cream for everyone!"
Lingling laughed. "And that's why you'd get fired on your first day."
"Oh, come on! Imagine how popular I'd be," Orm said, striking a dramatic pose.
---
After an intense study session, Lingling reluctantly agreed to stay the night at Orm's house. As they wrapped up their discussions on business strategies and market trends, Orm glanced at the clock. It was well past midnight, and they had made significant progress.
"Hey, do you want to stay over? It's too late for you to go home now," Orm suggested, a hopeful glint in her eyes.
Lingling hesitated, glancing at her pile of books. The idea of going back to her empty house didn't sit well with her. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden," she replied.
"Not at all! My mom loves having you around. Plus, it'll be more fun!" Orm said, beaming. "And I can cook breakfast for you in the morning."
Lingling couldn't resist that offer. "Alright, just for tonight," she agreed, her heart fluttering with excitement.
After they finished packing their books, Lingling settled onto the couch, pulling a blanket around herself. Orm grabbed her notes, wanting to finish a chapter that was due soon. As she sat at the table, her focus shifted back and forth between her work and the sight of Lingling nestled comfortably on the couch.
Lingling looked peaceful, her features soft under the warm glow of the lamp. Orm couldn't help but smile at how cute she looked, her hair cascading over the cushion and the blanket pulled snugly around her. A wave of affection washed over Orm, and she thought about how beautiful Lingling truly was. It was moments like this that made Orm realize how special their friendship had become.
As the minutes passed, Lingling shifted slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around her. Orm couldn't help but feel a warmth blossom in her chest, a mix of admiration and something deeper. She found herself lost in thought, imagining what it would be like to have Lingling by her side, not just as a friend but something more.
"Why do I feel this way?" Orm mused to herself, glancing at Lingling again. She couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to protect her, to keep her close. The laughter they shared and the comfort of their growing bond felt like a soft melody playing in the background of her mind.
Finally, Orm set her notes aside, unable to concentrate any longer. She stood up and walked over to the couch, kneeling beside it. "Lingling," she whispered softly, not wanting to wake her too abruptly.
Lingling stirred but didn't wake. Orm couldn't resist brushing a loose strand of hair away from Lingling's face, her fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. The gentle gesture sent a thrill down her spine, and she caught herself smiling like a fool.
After a few more moments of watching her friend sleep, Orm realized she needed to finish her work but also wanted to spend time with Lingling. So, she quietly returned to her desk, leaving the couch behind for now.
Time slipped away, and Orm focused on her chapter. When she finally finished, she felt a sense of accomplishment. She turned back to the couch and saw that Lingling was still fast asleep, looking cozy and serene.
Orm walked over and, unable to help herself, gently shook Lingling's shoulder. "Hey, sleepyhead. It's time to wake up," she said, her voice light and teasing.
Lingling blinked up at her, groggy and adorably confused. "Did I fall asleep?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Just a little," Orm teased, trying to hide her affection. "I thought you'd be waiting for me to finish."
Lingling sat up, pushing the blanket aside. "I didn't mean to! Your couch is just too comfortable," she admitted with a sheepish grin.
Orm laughed, feeling a spark of happiness at the sight of Lingling's smile. "Well, it's technically a bed for you now," Orm replied, her tone playful. "Want to move to my room for the night?"
Lingling's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. "Sure, I'm sleepy !"
_to be continued _