One Year Of Us

Lingling sat at her desk, staring at the black velvet box sitting in front of her like it was a live bomb. Her meticulously organized desk was no help in calming the chaos swirling inside her. Freen, sitting across from her with a pile of reports, finally noticed the uncharacteristic fidgeting.

"What's with you?" Freen asked, raising an eyebrow as she popped the straw into her bubble tea. "You've been staring at that box for twenty minutes."

Lingling exhaled sharply, her gaze not leaving the box. "It's Orm and me... one year together today."

Freen smirked. "I'm aware. You've been circling it on your calendar for weeks like some teenager waiting for prom."

Lingling shot her a withering glare but said nothing. Instead, she opened the box slightly, revealing the massive diamond promise ring. The light caught it, making it sparkle almost blindingly. Freen choked on her bubble tea.

"Ling," she said, coughing and laughing at the same time. "What the hell is that? A disco ball? Are you promising her eternal love or trying to signal planes?"

Lingling slammed the box shut, her face heating. "It's perfect for her."

Freen leaned forward, still grinning. "Okay, but what's the real plan? Are you proposing, or is this some kind of 'you're stuck with me' move?"

Lingling sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's a promise ring, Freen. I want her to know that I'm serious. That I—" She faltered, her usual cold confidence cracking. "That I love her. That I'll always love her."

Freen blinked, her teasing grin softening into a rare look of sincerity. "Wow, Ling. That's... unexpectedly sweet."

Lingling glared again, but her cheeks remained pink. "Don't make it weird."

"Too late," Freen said, smirking. "But seriously, she'll love it. Just maybe warn her not to wear it in direct sunlight unless she wants to blind someone."

Lingling ignored her, snapping the box shut again and sliding it into her bag. "I need to get through this meeting and then figure out how I'm going to give it to her without fainting."

"You? Fainting?" Freen teased, raising her bubble tea like a toast. "This I've got to see."

Back at their shared apartment, Orm was busy putting the finishing touches on a cozy anniversary dinner. The table was set with their favorite dishes—nothing fancy, just lasagna, garlic bread, and a small cake from Becky's bakery. A bouquet of daisies sat in the center, a simple yet heartfelt touch.

Orm glanced at the clock, her nerves creeping in. It wasn't like Lingling to be late. She grabbed her phone to send a quick text but stopped when she heard the front door open.

"Ling!" Orm called, setting her phone down. "You're just in time."

Lingling walked in, her polished demeanor intact, but Orm caught the subtle stiffness in her movements. She tilted her head. "Everything okay?"

Lingling nodded, her bag clutched a little too tightly. "Just a long day."

Orm smiled softly, pulling her into a hug. "Well, your long day just got better. Dinner's ready."

The dinner was perfect. Lingling relaxed more with every bite, her sharp edges softening as Orm regaled her with a ridiculous story about one of Becky's bakery mishaps. The laughter came easy, as it always did with Orm, and Lingling found herself smiling more than she had in days.

After dessert, they moved to the couch, a glass of wine in each hand. Orm leaned against Lingling, her head resting on her shoulder. "This was perfect," Orm said, her voice soft. "Thank you."

Lingling's heart raced. Now or never.

She gently moved away, setting her glass down. Orm frowned slightly. "Everything okay?"

Lingling reached into her pocket, pulling out the velvet box. She opened it, the diamond inside catching the warm light of the room. Orm's eyes widened.

"Ling..." Orm began, her voice caught between shock and curiosity.

Lingling took a steadying breath. "Orm, you've been the best thing in my life this past year. You make me laugh, you make me think, and you've made me realize that... I don't want a life without you in it."

Orm's gaze softened, her lips parting slightly.

"This is my promise to you," Lingling continued, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "I promise to always choose you. To be there for you. To love you."

Orm was silent for a moment, her eyes glistening as she stared at the ring. Then she smiled—wide, genuine, and full of warmth. "You're really bad at this, you know."

Lingling blinked. "What?"

Orm laughed, leaning forward and cupping Lingling's face. "I love you too, you ridiculous, overthinking CEO. Of course I'll wear your chandelier ring."

Lingling rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small, relieved smile that tugged at her lips. "It's not a chandelier."

Orm slid the ring onto her finger, holding it up to admire it. "It's perfect. A little flashy, but perfect."

Lingling sighed, pulling Orm into a tight embrace. "You're impossible."

"And you're stuck with me," Orm replied, pressing a soft kiss to Lingling's lips.

Scene 4: Freen's Commentary (The Next Day)

The following morning, Freen stormed into Lingling's office without knocking, holding her phone up triumphantly. "I saw the ring on Orm's story."

Freen snorted. "That's not a ring. That's a luxury item that needs its own insurance policy."

Lingling finally glanced up, her eyes narrowing. "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense."

Freen smirked, leaning against the desk. "Just saying, you've set the bar impossibly high. What's next? A diamond tiara for her birthday?"

Lingling leaned back in her chair, her expression unamused. "She liked it. That's all that matters."

"Oh, she loved it," Freen said, showing Lingling a picture of Orm's hand with the ring sparkling on her finger. "She's glowing. But seriously, Ling, when's the wedding? Because if the promise is this big, I'm guessing the engagement ring's going to need a forklift."

Lingling sighed, rubbing her temples. "You're exhausting."

Freen raised her bubble tea in mock salute. "And you're whipped. Congrats, though. You two are disgustingly cute."

Lingling couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face. "Thanks, Freen. Now get out."