Chapter 17: Chapter 16 : Growing Bond

The clinking of dishes finally ceased as Lingling carefully wiped her hands on a towel. Orm leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her with a faint smirk. “You’re seriously making me look bad,” she teased.

Lingling raised an eyebrow as she grabbed her book from the table. “It’s not my fault you’re hopeless in the kitchen,” she replied playfully, walking towards the living room.

Orm chuckled, following her with her eyes before collapsing onto the couch with her phone. The silence in the room was peaceful but short-lived. Orm quickly grew bored of scrolling and glanced at Lingling, who had settled comfortably on the other sofa with a book in hand.

She looked so serene, lost in the pages, the faint sunlight streaming through the window accentuating her soft features. Orm found herself smiling without realizing it. She sat up, putting her phone aside.

“So…” Orm started, breaking the silence. Lingling looked up, her brows raised.

Orm shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I was just thinking we haven’t really talked much about, you know, your life. Like your family or friends.”

Lingling hesitated, her fingers lingering on the corner of the page she had been about to turn. “My family?” she asked softly.

Orm nodded, sensing her hesitation but determined to know more about the woman she was now sharing her life with. “Yeah. I mean, I know a bit, but...what was it like growing up?”

Lingling leaned back against the sofa, her book now forgotten in her lap. “It was...nice at first. My mom was amazing,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “She was this warm, strong person who could make you feel like everything was okay, even when it wasn’t.”

Orm listened intently, nodding for her to continue.

“But…” Lingling’s smile faltered. She looked away, her eyes distant. “Things changed after she got sick. Dad started drifting away, and I think I had to grow up faster than I wanted to.”

Orm’s expression softened. “That must have been really hard.”

Lingling nodded, her voice quieter now. “It was. But she always made sure I felt loved. Even when she was in pain, she’d read to me or tell me stories. She said...‘Life doesn’t stop being beautiful, even when it hurts.’”

Orm felt a pang of admiration mixed with sadness. Lingling’s strength, her quiet resilience, was something Orm hadn’t fully appreciated until now.

“Do you miss her a lot?” Orm asked cautiously.

“Every day,” Lingling admitted, her voice breaking slightly. She quickly wiped her eyes, offering a weak laugh. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all emotional.”

Orm shook her head, moving to sit beside Lingling. “Don’t apologize. It’s okay to feel things, Lingling.” She hesitated before reaching out, placing a comforting hand on Lingling’s shoulder. “She sounds like an amazing woman. I think she’d be proud of you.”

Lingling looked at Orm, her lips trembling into a small, grateful smile. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Orm gave her shoulder a light squeeze, her own heart softening even more. She found herself wanting to know everything about Lingling—the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Lingling exhaled deeply, composing herself. “Anyway, enough about my sad stories. What about you? Family, friends?”

Orm grinned, leaning back. “Oh, we’ll get to me eventually. For now, I’m just glad you trust me enough to share.”

Lingling blushed faintly, shaking her head with a small smile. “You’re sneakier than you look, you know.”

Orm laughed. “Yeah, well, get used to it. You’re stuck with me now "

____

Lingling tilted her head, studying Orm’s expression as she gently nudged her shoulder. “Okay, your turn. Tell me something personal.”

Orm hesitated, glancing at her hands. “Hmm, where do I start?” she said, trying to lighten the mood but clearly debating how much to share.

Lingling offered an encouraging smile. “Anywhere. I’m listening.”

Taking a deep breath, Orm leaned back against the couch. “Alright. So, there was this guy…Kai.”

Lingling straightened up slightly, intrigued. “Your ex-boyfriend?”

Orm nodded, her tone becoming more thoughtful. “Yeah. Back then, I thought I was in love with him. Like, the real deal, you know? I was so foolish. He was my best friend before things got…complicated.”

Lingling frowned, sensing the bitterness in Orm’s voice. “Complicated how?”

Orm shrugged, a dry laugh escaping her lips. “He made me believe he cared about me, but it was all just a game for him. Looking back, I think he only saw me as a way to boost his own ego—‘dating the rich girl,’ flaunting it around like some trophy. I was just blind.”

Lingling’s eyes softened. “That sounds awful. You didn’t deserve that.”

Orm smiled faintly, appreciating the sincerity in Lingling’s tone. “Maybe, but at the time, I didn’t see it. I gave him everything he asked for—money, time, love...even my first kiss.” She hesitated before continuing. “It’s funny because I wasn’t even ready for that. I wasn’t comfortable, but I convinced myself it was what love meant, that it was normal to feel unsure.”

Lingling’s brows furrowed as she shook her head. “That’s not love, Orm. Love isn’t about forcing yourself to do things you’re not comfortable with.”

Orm looked at her, surprised by the quiet firmness in Lingling’s voice. “Yeah,” she admitted softly. “I know that now. But back then, I was just so desperate to keep him happy, to make him stay.”

Lingling placed her book aside, turning fully towards Orm. “Did he hurt you? Like, more than emotionally?”

Orm shook her head quickly. “No, nothing like that. But he took a lot from me—my trust, my time, my...naivety, I guess. And when he finally left, I realized how much of myself I’d lost trying to be what he wanted.”

There was a pause, and Lingling reached out hesitantly, placing a hand on Orm’s knee. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

Orm smiled at her, the warmth of Lingling’s touch grounding her. “It’s okay. It taught me a lot. And, honestly, it’s not all bad. If anything, it made me realize what I don’t want.”

Lingling nodded slowly. “And what is that?”

Orm looked at her, a flicker of something deeper in her gaze. “Someone who doesn’t see my worth. Someone who only takes without giving anything back. I don’t want that ever again.”

Lingling held her gaze for a moment, her own heart fluttering unexpectedly. She felt a strange mix of emotions—admiration for Orm’s honesty and a quiet resolve to be different from the people who had hurt her.

Orm broke the moment with a small chuckle. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to dump all that on you.”

Lingling shook her head firmly. “Don’t apologize. I’m glad you told me. It helps me understand you better.”

Orm smirked. “You’re really good at this, you know. Listening, being understanding...no wonder you’re so easy to talk to.”

Lingling blushed faintly, her lips curving into a shy smile. “I think you’re giving me too much credit.”

Orm reached out, gently poking Lingling’s cheek. “Nope. I mean it.”

The playful gesture eased the tension, and they both laughed softly, the conversation leaving them a little closer, a little more connected than before.

___

Orm tilted her head, resting her chin on her palm as she watched Lingling. “You’re so understanding about love and relationships. Plus, let’s be honest, you’re good-looking too. Don’t tell me you’ve never had a bunch of exes chasing after you.”

Lingling blinked, then broke into a soft laugh. “Me? Exes? Nope, not really. I never actually went that deep into relationships. I mean, I dated a person or two back in school and university, but nothing Serious

Orm raised a brow. “Really? No high school sweetheart? No big romantic moments in college?”

Lingling chuckled softly, fiddling with the corner of the sofa cushion. “Well, I wouldn’t call it romantic, but I did have this one crush back in university. It was...kinda intense. I really liked her.”

Orm leaned forward, her interest piqued. “Oh? Her? Now this is getting interesting. Spill!”

Lingling’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she continued with a small smile. “She was confident, smart, and just...really inspiring. The type of person you couldn’t help but admire. I’d make excuses to study near her or talk to her. I even tried helping her with assignments just to spend more time with her.”

Orm narrowed her eyes, feigning mock jealousy. “Helping with assignments? That’s serious dedication. Did she know you liked her?”

Lingling shrugged, her expression turning a little wistful. “I thought she might have. We’d text a lot and hang out sometimes. But when I finally confessed...she turned me down.”

Orm gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “She turned you down? Is she blind?!”

Lingling laughed, shaking her head. “No, just not interested in me that way. She was really sweet about it, though. Said she wasn’t looking for anything serious and hoped we could still be friends.”

Orm huffed, crossing her arms. “Friends? After rejecting you? Nope. I don’t like her already.”

Lingling smirked. “Are you seriously jealous of a crush I had years ago?”

Orm sat back, pretending to pout. “Not jealous, just...protective. I mean, I’m your wife now, and here you are reminiscing about how amazing she was. Makes me want to prove I’m better.”

Lingling rolled her eyes with a laugh. “Orm, you’ve got nothing to worry about. That was forever ago. And besides, she’s not the one I’m married to now, is she?”

Orm shot her a smug grin. “Damn right. But I’m still going to judge her forever for rejecting you.”

Lingling shook her head, laughing. “You’re impossible.”

“And you secretly love it,” Orm replied cheekily, making Lingling laugh even harder.

___

As Lingling’s phone rang, she glanced at the screen with a soft sigh. "It’s from the company," she said apologetically, looking at Orm. "I think something urgent came up. I have to go."

Orm, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, pouted dramatically. "Lingling, this is supposed to be your first day off after our wedding! What kind of company emergency ruins a newlywed’s day?" She crossed her arms, putting on an exaggeratedly sulky face.

Lingling chuckled, unable to resist the adorable sight of Orm’s playful sadness. “Don’t look at me like that,” she teased. “It’s not like I want to go either.”

Orm leaned back against the sofa, feigning heartbreak. "You’re abandoning your poor wife on her first day of freedom. How will I ever survive this betrayal?"

Lingling laughed again, shaking her head as she grabbed her bag and started getting ready. As she slipped on her shoes, she turned back toward Orm, her tone suddenly soft and shy. "But… make sure you’re ready by 7 tonight, okay?"

Orm raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why?"

Lingling fidgeted slightly, her cheeks turning a faint pink. “Because… I thought we could go out for dinner. Just the two of us.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the sincerity in it made Orm’s heart flutter.

Orm stood up, walking over to Lingling with a playful smirk. "A dinner date, huh? Look at you, Mrs. Wife, making all the romantic plans now."

Lingling rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her bashful smile. “Just be ready,” she muttered, trying to sound casual.

Before Lingling could open the door, Orm stepped closer, catching her by surprise. “Wait,” Orm said softly. “I’ll let you go to your emergency, but only if I get something in return.”

Lingling blinked, confused. “What?”

Orm leaned in and gently kissed Lingling on the cheek, her lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “That’s for making my day better already,” Orm said with a wink.

Lingling froze for a second, her face heating up as she tried to hide her blush. She quickly turned toward the door, muttering, “You’re impossible, Orm.”

Orm laughed, watching her leave. “See you at 7, Lingling!” she called out, her voice laced with warmth.

As Lingling stepped outside, she touched her cheek where Orm’s lips had just been, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face. The day might have started with work, but it was already beautiful thanks to Orm.

_to be continued_