The day had been long, and Lingling was immersed in her work, completely focused on the report she was compiling. The office was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioning, and she barely noticed the time slipping away.
Her phone buzzed on the desk, breaking her concentration. She frowned slightly, glancing at the screen. It was Orm.
**Orm?
called her unless it was something important. Lingling immediately picked up the phone, her voice slightly hesitant.
"Hello? Orm?"
But the voice on the other end wasn't Orm's.
"Hi, Lingling. This is Love, Orm's friend," the girl said, her voice tinged with urgency. "Listen, you need to come to the club. Orm's really drunk, and I can't handle her by myself. Please, I need your help."
Lingling's heart skipped a beat. "What? Orm's drunk? Where are you? Is she okay?"
"She's okay for now, just... please hurry. I'll send you the location. It's at the club near the main square."
Lingling didn't waste another second. She hung up, grabbed her coat, and rushed out of her office. Her work forgotten, her only thought was getting to Orm as fast as possible
At the Club
Lingling stepped into the dimly lit club, her chest tightening at the blaring music and the sight of bodies moving on the dance floor. She wasn't one for this kind of place, but her worry for Orm drowned out everything else. Scanning the room, she quickly spotted Love near the corner, holding Orm, who was crying uncontrollably against her shoulder.
Lingling's heart sank. Orm wasn't just drunk-she was heartbroken. Lingling walked briskly to them, her calm but firm demeanor standing out in the chaotic atmosphere.
"Lingling!" Love called out, relief evident in her voice. "She's been like this for an hour. I tried to calm her down, but she's a mess."
Lingling crouched beside them, her voice soft yet steady. "Orm?" She gently touched Orm's shoulder.
Orm lifted her head, her tear-streaked face a mixture of surprise and sorrow. "Lingling?" she slurred, blinking through her tears. "Why are you here?"
Lingling gave her a reassuring smile. "Because you need someone. Let's get you out of here, okay?"
---
Outside the Club
With Love's help, Lingling guided Orm to her car. Orm stumbled, her sobs subsiding into quiet sniffles as Lingling eased her into the passenger seat. Once Love handed over Orm's bag and phone, Lingling nodded gratefully.
"Thanks for being there," Lingling said to Love.
"No problem," Love replied. "Take care of her."
As Lingling climbed into the driver's seat, she glanced at Orm, who was staring out the window, tears still brimming in her eyes.
---
---
Earlier That Day - A Flashback
Orm stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over Love's contact. She took a deep breath and pressed the call button.
"Hey, Love," Orm said when the call connected, trying to sound casual. "It's been a while. Do you want to meet up? Maybe at the club tonight?"
"Whoa, Orm! Long time no talk!" Love's cheerful voice came through. "A club? I guess nowdays ,You're not exactly the partying type. What's the occasion?"
"No occasion," Orm lied, forcing a laugh. "I just feel like we haven't caught up in ages. Let's hang out."
"Sure thing. I'll see you there!"
Orm hung up, letting out a shaky breath. The truth was, she wasn't planning to "catch up." She needed to talk to someone-someone who knew everything about her messy breakup and the arranged marriage she had been forced to endure. Love was her best friend, the only person she trusted to vent to.
At the club, it started with one drink, then another. As she recounted her heartbreak to Love, her emotions spilled over, and she kept drinking to numb the pain.
____
In the Car -- Back to the Present
The silence in the car was heavy, broken only by Orm's soft hiccups. Lingling waited until they were on the road before speaking.
"Orm," Lingling began gently, glancing at her. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Orm shook her head at first, but then words started spilling out of her. "Why, Lingling? Why wasn't I enough?" Her voice cracked, and her tears began to fall again.
Lingling's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her chest aching at the pain in Orm's voice.
"I gave him everything," Orm continued, her voice trembling. "Everything he asked for. My time, my love, my money-even my first kiss." She let out a broken laugh. "I wasn't even comfortable with it, but I thought... I thought maybe it would make him stay. And still... he cheated on me."
Lingling pulled the car over to the side of the road, turning to face Orm. Her eyes were filled with compassion as she reached out to gently take Orm's hand.
"Orm, listen to me," Lingling said softly. "What he did has nothing to do with you not being enough. It's about him not being enough-for you."
Orm shook her head, her voice breaking. "Then why does it hurt so much? Why does it feel like it's my fault?"
Lingling gave her hand a light squeeze. "Because you cared. You gave your all, Orm, and it's hard to accept that someone didn't value that. But his choices don't define your worth."
Orm looked at Lingling, her tears slowing as she listened. "You really think so?"
"I know so," Lingling said with a small, reassuring smile. "You're amazing, Orm. And someday, someone will see that and cherish it the way you deserve. But until then, let's get you home and take care of you, okay?"
Orm hesitated before nodding, her tears finally subsiding. As Lingling started the car again, Orm leaned back in her seat, her eyes heavy but her heart a little lighter
---
At Home
Lingling carefully parked the car in front of Orm's family house, turning off the engine with a sigh. Orm stirred in her seat, her half-lidded eyes blinking at their surroundings.
"Are my parents home?" Orm mumbled, her voice still heavy with exhaustion and alcohol.
Lingling helped her out of the car, supporting her as they walked toward the door. "No, they're not," Lingling replied softly. "They went out of town for a couple of days for some family function. It's just us."
Orm hummed in response, leaning heavily against Lingling as they made their way inside.
---
Lingling led Orm to their shared room and helped her sit on the edge of the bed. "You need to clean up before sleeping," Lingling said, brushing a strand of hair from Orm's face.
Orm groaned but allowed Lingling to guide her to the bathroom.
As Lingling helped Orm shuffle into the bathroom, she reached out for the light switch. Before she could even steady Orm properly, Orm leaned forward with a groan.
"Orm-wait-"
Too late. Orm vomited right on Lingling.
Lingling froze, blinking at the mess on her shirt and pants, her expression a mix of shock and reluctant acceptance. She sighed deeply. "Seriously, Orm? You're lucky I'm not the dramatic type."
Orm weakly muttered, "I'm so sorry, Lingling..." before leaning heavily against her.
Lingling shook her head with a small, resigned smile. "Let's get you cleaned up first. Then I'll deal with this."
---
After getting Orm out of the bathroom, Lingling guided her to the bed and helped her sit down. She rummaged through Orm's closet, pulling out a soft, oversized sweatshirt and some comfortable house pants.
"Here, change into these. You'll feel better," Lingling said as she placed the clothes on the bed.
Orm gave a faint hum of acknowledgment but didn't move. Lingling sighed, quickly removing Orm's coat. "At least let me help you get more comfortable."
Once Orm was settled, Lingling excused herself for a much-needed shower.
---
Lingling came out of the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in Orm's cozy spare pajamas. She was drying her hair with a towel when she noticed Orm still sprawled on the bed, her office clothes rumpled and shoes still on.
Lingling sighed and placed her hands on her hips. "Orm, really? You didn't even take off your shoes?"
Orm stirred slightly at Lingling's voice, letting out a faint groan. "Lingling... you're back..." Her voice was slurred, soft, and almost childlike.
Lingling walked over, pulling off Orm's shoes one by one. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Orm opened one eye and smiled lazily up at her. "You're so... pretty..." she murmured.
Lingling froze for a second, her cheeks warming. "Okay, you're definitely still drunk." She stood up, placing Orm's shoes aside, and grabbed the clean clothes she'd laid out earlier. "Come on, you can't sleep like this. Change into these."
Orm made no move to sit up and instead stretched her arms out like a child. "Lingling... help me. I'm too tired..."
Lingling rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "Fine. But only because I don't want you whining about feeling gross tomorrow."
She helped Orm out of her shirt and shoes, carefully avoiding eye contact as she handed her the clean shirt. Orm, however, was no help at all-flopping dramatically and mumbling incoherently about how the bed was "too comfy to move."
After a bit of effort, Lingling finally managed to get Orm changed into the clean clothes. "There. Now sleep," she said, shaking her head as she grabbed the discarded clothes to put them away.
Lingling turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Orm reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Don't go," Orm said, her voice soft but insistent.
Lingling looked back, confused. "Orm, I'm just putting these away."
Orm shook her head, her eyes glassy but filled with a strange earnestness. "Stay with me."
Lingling hesitated, but Orm tugged her closer, wrapping her arms around Lingling's waist and resting her head against Lingling's stomach.
"Lingling..." Orm's voice was muffled, her tone a mix of sadness and affection.
"Yes?" Lingling asked, her voice gentler now.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Orm tilted her head to look up at Lingling, her eyes glassy from the alcohol. "You're too cute... I can't take it anymore."
Lingling blinked, her face heating up. "W-What are you talking about?"
Orm tugged her down into a loose embrace, her arms around Lingling's shoulders now. "You're cute, Lingling. I love your face, your voice... everything."
Lingling's heart raced, unsure of how to handle drunk Orm's clingy confession. "You're not going to remember any of this tomorrow, are you?"
Orm didn't answer. Instead, she pressed a soft, clumsy kiss to Lingling's cheek, mumbling, "Sleep with me, Lingling. I hate that sofa. Stay here."
Lingling froze for a moment, her cheeks red as a tomato. She finally sighed, gently adjusting Orm so she could lie down properly. "Fine, but you're going to regret this clingy behavior tomorrow."
Orm smiled faintly, already half-asleep, and whispered, "Best decision ever..."
Lingling shook her head, unable to stop herself from smiling as she sat down beside Orm,
Lingling sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed, trying to peel Ormâs arms from around her waist.
âCome on, Orm,â she said softly, her voice tinged with both patience and exasperation. âLet me go. You need to sleep properly.â
But Orm, in her drunken stubbornness, tightened her hold, nuzzling closer to Linglingâs side like a sleepy child. âNo,â Orm mumbled. âYouâre warm. Stay.â
Lingling groaned softly. âOrm, youâre not even listening to me.â She carefully pried at Ormâs fingers one by one, but Orm only clung tighter, a sleepy pout forming on her lips.
âStop fighting,â Orm murmured, her voice slurred. âJust stay with me⦠please.â
Lingling froze at the unexpected vulnerability in Ormâs tone. Her initial frustration melted away, replaced by a soft, fluttery feeling in her chest. She sighed in defeat, lying down carefully beside Orm.
âFine,â Lingling whispered, brushing a stray strand of hair from Ormâs face. âBut only until you fall asleep.â
Ormâs hold relaxed slightly, but she still nestled closer, resting her head on Linglingâs shoulder. âKnew youâd stay,â Orm murmured, her voice filled with sleepy satisfaction.
Lingling rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. âYouâre lucky youâre cute when youâre drunk.â
Orm didnât respondâshe was already half-asleep, her breathing steadying. Lingling lay still, unsure of what to do with her free arm. Eventually, she wrapped it loosely around Orm, letting herself relax against the pillows.
As the room grew quieter, Lingling found herself glancing at Ormâs peaceful face, the faint traces of sadness from earlier still visible. Her heart ached slightly, but she pushed the feeling aside.
âGoodnight, Orm,â she whispered softly, closing her eyes.
For a moment, Orm stirred, mumbling something incoherent, but her grip on Lingling remained firm. Lingling couldnât help but smile as she drifted off, too, sharing the warmth and comfort of the moment.
__to be continued___