Lunch Break

Lingling's mornings had taken on a new, unexpected rhythm. She would wake up to the gentle buzz of her phone, and there it was—a sweet, simple text from Orm, something like, "Good morning, Lingling. Hope you have a great day ahead!" It was always cheerful, always kind, and always made Lingling feel something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She'd respond quickly, usually just a brief, somewhat indifferent message like, "Morning. You too." But as she hit send, she couldn't stop herself from glancing at her phone again to see if Orm had replied.

Lingling would deny it all day long if you asked her, but she had started to look forward to those texts. Not that she'd admit that to anyone—least of all, Freen.

Freen, of course, had noticed. She was an expert in reading Lingling's every move. From the way Lingling's eyes lingered on her phone to the brief flush that spread across her cheeks when Orm's name appeared on the screen, Freen was practically glowing with mischief.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt to smile more when she texts you," Freen teased one day, clearly enjoying the power she had over Lingling's composure. "It's not like you hate her."

Lingling stiffened, glaring at her friend. "I don't hate her."

Freen raised an eyebrow. "No, but you're not exactly sending love notes either."

"I don't need to send 'love notes.'" Lingling crossed her arms defensively. "It's just business."

"Right," Freen said, clearly unconvinced. "And how's that going for you?"

Lingling was about to fire back, but she was interrupted by her phone buzzing again. She ignored it, but Freen had already caught sight of the notification.

"You should really just admit it already," Freen continued, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You like her. Or maybe—" she added with a playful pause, "—maybe more than like her."

Lingling shot her a warning look, but Freen was already out the door, clearly amused by the drama she was stirring.

Meanwhile, Orm was plotting a small surprise. She'd been busy with her café, but after hearing from Freen about how hard Lingling had been working lately, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She packed up a simple lunch—something light and healthy—and made her way to Lingling's office.

When she entered, she was met with the usual reaction. The staff in the office immediately stopped whatever they were doing, their eyes going wide. Orm, with her effortless charm and natural beauty, was a sight to behold.

"Hey, I'm here to drop off lunch for Lingling," Orm said, her voice as smooth as ever.

One of the staff members, a woman who had never quite hidden her admiration for Orm, smiled brightly and asked, "Oh, is it just for Ms. Kwong or can we have some too?"

Another one piped up, "Maybe you could share lunch with all of us?"

Orm raised an eyebrow at their boldness but kept her smile in place, fully aware of the impact she had on everyone around her. Still, her eyes were on Lingling, and the subtle shift in her posture when she saw the scene unfolding didn't go unnoticed.

Lingling, from behind her desk, felt her jaw tighten. She saw the way the office staff was eyeing Orm, and her stomach churned. The fact that Orm had come here to surprise her with lunch—such a sweet gesture—was overshadowed by the burning jealousy that surged through her veins.

Orm's smile was disarming and her charm was like a force of nature, but this... this was different. Lingling couldn't help but feel possessive, like something inside her was stirring, and it wasn't just about business. It was something else, something she didn't want to acknowledge.

Without thinking, Lingling stood up abruptly, making her way to the door. She cleared her throat, masking the unease in her voice. "Orm. In my office."

Orm's eyes twinkled with amusement. She followed Lingling into her office, and as soon as the door closed behind them, Lingling leaned against her desk.

Orm, ever the playful one, couldn't resist teasing. "What's wrong? You don't strike me as the type to take lunch breaks. Do CEOs actually eat or is it just coffee and power stares all day?"

Lingling shot her a look, her face carefully neutral. "Work is a priority," she said, her voice tight.

Orm raised both eyebrows, crossing her arms. "Noted. But even CEOs need fuel."

Lingling bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep her composure. "I'm not in the mood for jokes, Orm."

Orm, unfazed, stepped a little closer, her grin never faltering. "Hey, relax," she said, her voice smooth. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything important." She paused, then added, "Freen told me you've been really busy lately, and I didn't want you to skip lunch." Her tone was sincere, but there was a glint of playfulness in her eyes. "You've got to take care of yourself, you know?"

Lingling blinked, surprised by the genuine concern. For a moment, the jealousy she had felt melted away, replaced by something else—something that tugged at her heart.

"I appreciate it," Lingling said, softer now, her walls lowering just slightly. "But I didn't need your help."

Orm raised an eyebrow, stepping back toward the door. "Sure you don't. Just remember, though, you can't run on fumes forever. Business is important, but so is taking care of yourself." She flashed a smile before adding, "Let me know if you need anything else."

Lingling opened her mouth to respond, but Orm was already walking out the door, leaving Lingling with a complicated mix of emotions she wasn't ready to process.

Later that evening, Lingling found herself staring at the half-eaten lunch on her desk. Her mind was a whirlwind. She had lashed out at Orm, snapped at her for no reason, and for what? Because she was jealous? She sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. She could still feel the discomfort of her earlier reaction, her heart tugging at the thought of Orm leaving her office with that faint hint of disappointment in her eyes.

She grabbed her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before she typed out a message to Orm.

"Thank you for the lunch. I apologize for earlier. It wasn't about you."

She stared at the words, her heart racing, before hitting send. A wave of regret washed over her as she placed her phone down on the desk.

It had been a silly, impulsive reaction. She didn't want Orm to think that she didn't appreciate her kindness. Lingling didn't even know what it was about Orm that made her feel so... protective, so unsettled. She wasn't used to these emotions.

A soft ping from her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. She quickly picked it up to find Orm's reply.

"No worries, Lingling. You don't have to explain yourself. Just don't skip lunch next time, okay?"

Lingling smiled softly, her heart warming. Maybe this wasn't such a bad thing after all.