Lingering Distance

For the first time since they started dating, Orm wasn't texting Lingling good morning, sending teasing messages, or even stopping by her office. Lingling couldn't help but glance at her phone every so often, hoping for a notification from Orm, but it stayed silent.

Her attempts to message Orm were met with polite but curt replies—"Busy, talk later" or "Okay, noted"—lacking the warmth Orm usually carried. It stung more than Lingling wanted to admit.

Lingling sighed, running a hand through her hair as she sat at her desk. She wasn't used to feeling this way—off-balance and uncertain. Work had always been her escape, but now the emptiness in her chest was impossible to ignore.

Freen strolled into her office, carrying two coffees and an exaggerated smirk. "You look like you've been hit by a truck. Let me guess—Orm?"

Lingling glared half-heartedly, slumping in her chair. "She's ignoring me."

"Well, can you blame her?" Freen plopped into the chair across from her desk. "You've been acting like a robot on a warpath for days. What did you expect her to do—throw you a parade for neglecting her?"

Lingling scowled. "I wasn't neglecting her."

Freen raised an eyebrow, sipping her coffee. "You ghosted her for your precious project, snapped at her like she was one of your assistants, and then let her walk out without stopping her. So yeah, textbook neglect."

Lingling groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I know, okay? I know I screwed up. But what am I supposed to do now? She won't even talk to me."

"That's where I come in," Freen declared, leaning forward. "Luckily for you, I'm an expert in damage control when it comes to relationships. Step one: let her cool off. Step two: grovel. Step three: don't mess up again."

Lingling glared at Freen. "That's your plan?"

Freen smirked. "Hey, it's simple, but it works. Now, focus on your project so you can get it out of the way and start fixing things with Orm."

By the end of the week, Lingling's big project wrapped up successfully. The company celebrated the triumph with a team-wide acknowledgment of her efforts, and everyone was riding the high of the achievement.

Everyone except Lingling.

As she sat in her office, sipping champagne offered by one of her assistants, all she could think about was Orm. The thrill of success felt hollow when she couldn't share it with the person she wanted to see the most.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Freen: There's a social event tonight. You should come. I have a feeling it'll be... interesting.

Lingling stared at the message, contemplating whether she had the energy to be around people. But something about Freen's cryptic tone made her uneasy. Against her better judgment, she decided to go.

The event was already in full swing by the time Lingling arrived, her entrance commanding the usual attention. Her sharp black suit was tailored to perfection, and her cold elegance turned heads as she made her way through the crowd.

But her focus shifted entirely when she spotted Orm.

Orm stood near the bar, chatting animatedly with a small group of people. Her dress—a sleek, form-fitting red number that highlighted her every curve—left little to the imagination. Lingling's breath caught for a moment as she took in the sight of her girlfriend, effortlessly charming and undeniably beautiful.

Becky and Suzie flanked Orm, but they weren't the only ones. A steady stream of admirers hovered nearby, clearly captivated by Orm. Lingling's jaw tightened as she watched one man lean a little too close, laughing at something Orm said.

Orm seemed unfazed by the attention, her usual playful sass keeping everyone entertained. But Lingling could see the subtle shift in her demeanor—her eyes didn't hold the same warmth they usually did when they looked at her.

Lingling approached cautiously, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Orm," she said coolly.

Orm turned, her smile fading into a neutral expression. "Lingling. Didn't expect to see you here."

"Freen invited me," Lingling replied, her gaze flickering to the man lingering too close to Orm. She glared, and he quickly excused himself.

Orm raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so now you remember me?"

Lingling's composure faltered slightly. "That's not fair."

"Isn't it?" Orm crossed her arms, her tone sharp but calm. "You've been too busy to remember I exist, Ling."

Lingling opened her mouth to respond, but Becky interjected, clearly enjoying the tension. "Don't mind her, Ling. Orm's been a hit tonight. Everyone wants a piece of her."

Suzie giggled. "Yeah, she's practically the belle of the ball."

Lingling's glare silenced both of them, but Orm just rolled her eyes. "Relax, Lingling. It's not like I'm doing anything wrong."

"I didn't say you were," Lingling replied, her voice colder than she intended. "But this—" she gestured vaguely to the crowd—"doesn't exactly inspire confidence."

Orm let out a dry laugh, taking a sip of her drink. "Confidence? Coming from you? That's rich."

"Excuse me?" Lingling's voice dropped, dangerously low.

Becky and Suzie exchanged a glance, wisely deciding to slip away before the conversation could escalate further.

Orm set her glass down, meeting Lingling's gaze head-on. "You can't ignore me for days and then show up acting territorial. That's not how this works."

Lingling's chest tightened, but before she could respond, Freen appeared, draping an arm around Orm's shoulders. "Ladies, ladies, let's not fight. We're all friends here."

"Stay out of this, Freen," Lingling snapped, her icy facade cracking slightly.

Freen smirked, stepping back with her hands raised. "Just trying to keep the peace. You two clearly have a lot to discuss. Later."

Orm watched Freen walk away before turning back to Lingling. "I'm not doing this here," she said firmly. "If you want to talk, find me when you're ready to actually listen."

Without waiting for a response, Orm walked away, her red dress disappearing into the crowd.

Lingling stood there, frozen, her heart pounding. For the first time, she felt like she might actually lose the one thing she didn't know how to live without.