Figure things out
Lingling’s POV
The weekend had passed in a blur, and now it was back to reality—work.
Lingling sighed as she stirred her instant coffee, staring blankly at the small kitchen in her apartment. Despite having the rare chance to relax, she couldn’t shake off thoughts of Orm. That woman was persistent, arrogant, and frustratingly charming.
She groaned, shaking her head. Why am I even thinking about her?
Finishing her coffee, she quickly got dressed and headed to work.
___________________
Orm’s POV
Orm sipped her morning coffee while scrolling through her phone. She had breakfast with her parents, but her mind was elsewhere.
She opened her messages and typed out a short text.
Orm: See you at work.
A small smile tugged at her lips before she pressed send.
Her father, Oct, noticed. “Are you finally considering what I’ve been asking you?”
Orm scoffed. “It’s too early for this, Dad.”
Her mother, Koy, observed quietly, a small knowing smile on her lips.
Orm rolled her eyes and got up. “I’m going to work.”
Orm arrived at the office and was surprised to see Lingling already there, checking her schedule.
“Wow, you’re early,” Orm commented.
Lingling shot her a look. “Why do you say that like I’m always late?”
Orm smirked. “Aren’t you?”
Lingling sighed. “You said my work starts at 8 AM, and I am always on time. You’re just early.”
Orm chuckled, settling into her chair. “Okay, whatever you say.”
As Lingling went over Orm’s schedule, Orm found herself watching her—again. She had never paid this much attention to someone before, but there was something about Lingling that intrigued her.
Orm shook her head, forcing herself to focus.
_________________
Midday, while Orm was working, her office door suddenly opened without warning.
“Orm!”
Orm looked up as Bam walked in, dressed in her usual stylish outfit.
Lingling, who had been organizing files, stiffened slightly at the sudden intrusion.
Bam walked straight to Orm with a confident smile. “I missed you.”
Before Orm could react, Bam leaned in and kissed her.
Lingling’s fingers tightened around the file she was holding. Something inside her twisted in a way she didn’t understand—or didn’t want to understand.
Bam’s eyes flickered toward Lingling as she pulled away, a smirk playing on her lips.
Lingling looked away, forcing herself to appear indifferent. It’s none of my business.
Orm sighed, rubbing her temple. “What are you doing here, Bam?”
Bam pouted. “I can’t visit you? I brought you so food.”
Orm crossed her arms. “You should’ve texted first.”
Bam glanced at Lingling again before turning back to Orm. “Well, I won’t keep you busy.” She playfully ran a finger along Orm’s chin before walking out.
Lingling pretended to be focused on her work, but her grip on the file hadn’t loosened.
As the day came to an end, Lingling gathered her things and turned to Orm.
“I’m leaving now” she said.
Orm, who had been lost in thought, looked up.
Before Lingling could reach the door, Orm suddenly stood up and moved quickly.
Lingling barely had time to react before she felt Orm’s hand grab her waist, pulling her back.
Before she could protest, Orm leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
It wasn’t passionate—just a brief, firm touch.
Lingling’s eyes widened in shock. “What the hell—”
Orm leaned in close, whispering against her lips, “I just wanted to know something.”
And with that, she pulled away, leaving Lingling standing there, completely speechless.
Lingling stood frozen, her mind scrambling to process what had just happened. Her heart pounded against her chest as she stared at Orm’s back.
“What the hell was that?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.
Orm didn’t answer. She turned away, pressing her fingers to her temples, lost in thought.
Lingling clenched her fists. She wasn’t the type to make a big deal out of things, but this—this was different.
“I asked you a question,” Lingling said, stepping closer. “You kissed me, and now you’re acting like it didn’t happen?”
Orm inhaled deeply, exhaling through her nose. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I just… wanted to know something.”
Lingling’s brows furrowed. “Know what?”
Orm hesitated, gripping the edge of her desk. “I don’t know,” she repeated, her voice quieter this time. “I just did it.”
Lingling scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. “You just did it? You don’t go around kissing people just because you feel like it!”
Orm turned to face her now, looking at her as if she, too, was confused about her own actions.
Lingling was pissed. Not just because of the kiss, but because it felt like she was being used for an experiment.
“You rich people really don’t think about consequences, do you?” she muttered.
Orm frowned. “It’s not like that—”
“Then what is it like, Orm?” Lingling interrupted. “Because to me, it feels like I’m just some test subject for whatever crisis you’re dealing with.”
Orm looked away.
Lingling scoffed again. “You can’t even explain yourself.”
She grabbed her bag and turned toward the door. “You know what? Forget it.”
Orm instinctively reached out, but then stopped herself.
Lingling didn’t look back as she walked out. She felt something sting inside her chest, something unfamiliar.
Maybe it was frustration.
Or maybe it was something else.
________________
Lingling’s POV
Lingling let out a sigh of relief as she finally reached her apartment. She kicked off her shoes, stretched her arms, and flopped onto the couch.
The day had been long and exhausting, but more than that—it had been confusing.
She touched her lips absentmindedly, still thinking about the kiss Orm had stolen earlier. It wasn’t romantic, not even passionate, but it had left her feeling… unsettled.
Why had Orm done that?
Lingling groaned and buried her face in a pillow. “Rich people are so weird,” she mumbled.
Just as she was about to get up and change into comfortable clothes, her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen. Orm.
Lingling narrowed her eyes. “What does she want now?” she muttered, debating whether to answer.
The ringing continued.
With an annoyed sigh, she finally picked up. “What?”
“Come pick me up,” Orm’s voice came through the line, slightly slurred but not completely drunk.
Lingling frowned. “Are you drinking again?”
“Not wasted. Just… a little,” Orm admitted.
Lingling pinched the bridge of her nose. “Orm, it’s a Monday night.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Orm sighed. “But can you just come?”
“You have a driver.”
“I don’t want my driver,” Orm said, her voice quieter this time.
Lingling sighed, rubbing her temples. “Where are you?”
Orm gave her the name of a bar—one Lingling didn’t recognize. Instead of the usual loud, flashy clubs Orm preferred, this one was quieter, more refined. A jazz bar.
Lingling frowned but didn’t question it. “Fine. I’ll be there.”
Orm’s POV
Orm swirled the whiskey in her glass, staring at the amber liquid as the ice melted slowly. The quiet hum of jazz music filled the bar, a stark contrast to the chaos in her mind.
She wasn’t even sure why she had called Lingling.
All she knew was that she didn’t want to be alone.
She let out a sigh, resting her chin on her hand.
Then, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. She turned her head just in time to see Lingling walking toward her, looking annoyed as usual.
“You really have no shame,” Lingling muttered, plopping onto the barstool next to her.
Orm smirked. “You came, though.”
“Not because I wanted to,” Lingling shot back. “You told me to.”
Orm slid a shot of tequila toward her. “Drink with me.”
Lingling wrinkled her nose. “I don’t drink.”
“Tonight, you do.”
Lingling glared at her but hesitantly picked up the glass. “If I die from this, I’m haunting you.”
Orm chuckled. “Noted.”
Lingling downed the shot and immediately coughed, grimacing. “That tastes like regret.”
Orm laughed, genuinely amused. “Congratulations. You just had your first shot of tequila.”
Lingling wiped her mouth and scowled. “I hate you.”
Orm smirked. “No, you don’t.”
Lingling turned away, avoiding her gaze. “Why did you call me here?”
Orm was silent for a moment before answering, “I don’t know.”
Lingling sighed. “That’s not an answer.”
Orm stared at her glass. “I just… didn’t want to be alone.”
Lingling frowned, caught off guard by the rare moment of vulnerability.
Orm leaned back against the bar, staring at the ceiling. “Do you think I’m a bad person?”
Lingling blinked. “What?”
“A bad person,” Orm repeated. “You make it sound like I’m some spoiled, selfish brat who only cares about herself.”
Lingling hesitated. “I mean… you are spoiled.”
Orm let out a small chuckle. “And selfish?”
Lingling bit her lip. “Not entirely.”
Orm turned to her, intrigued. “Oh? Do go on.”
Lingling sighed. “You’re not a bad person, Orm. You just… don’t think about others as much as you should. But sometimes, when you do, it surprises me.”
Orm smiled faintly. “So I do have a heart, after all?”
Lingling rolled her eyes. “Barely.”
Orm laughed before falling silent. She reached for Lingling’s hand, her fingers brushing against hers lightly. Lingling stiffened.
“You’re different,” Orm muttered.
Lingling’s heartbeat quickened. “What?”
Orm looked at her, really looked at her. “You don’t treat me the way others do. You don’t care that I’m rich. You don’t care what I can give you. You just… tell me what you think. No filter. No expectations.”
Lingling swallowed hard. “Yeah, well. Someone has to keep you in check.”
Orm smirked. “And you’ve made it your personal mission to be that person?”
Lingling scoffed, trying to ignore how close they were. “Trust me, if I could quit, I would.”
Orm chuckled, letting go of her hand. “Liar.”
Lingling huffed. “Whatever. Can we go now?”
Orm sighed dramatically. “Fine, fine. But only because I like you.”
Lingling froze.
Orm grinned. “I meant that I like annoying you. Don’t overthink it.”
Lingling narrowed her eyes. “You are so full of yourself.”
They paid for the drinks and left the bar, Orm walking slightly ahead. When they reached the entrance, Lingling turned to leave.
“Okay, you’re safe now. I’m going home,” she said.
Before she could take another step, Orm suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.
Lingling tensed, expecting another unexpected kiss.
Instead, Orm wrapped her arms around her in a warm, tight hug.
Lingling’s eyes widened in shock. Orm had never hugged her before—at least, not like this. Not sincerely.
Orm’s voice was soft when she finally spoke.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Lingling’s breath caught in her throat. She had no idea why those two simple words made her chest tighten.
She hesitated for a moment before awkwardly patting Orm’s back. “Uh… you’re welcome?”
Orm chuckled against her shoulder before pulling away.
Lingling stared at her, confused. “What was that for?”
Orm shrugged. “Nothing. Just want to say thank you, that’s all.”
Before Lingling could ask what she meant, Orm turned around and walked into the hotel, leaving Lingling standing there, her heart pounding for reasons she didn’t understand.
Orm’s POV
As soon as she stepped inside her hotel room, Orm leaned against the door, exhaling deeply. She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid thump of her heartbeat.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” she muttered under her breath.
She shook her head. No, it couldn’t be.
Orm walked over to the minibar, pulling out a small bottle of whiskey. She poured herself a glass, swirling the amber liquid before taking a sip.
She smiled to herself, but it wasn’t her usual confident smirk. It was something softer, something unsure.
Her fingers absently brushed against her lips.
Lingling’s scent still lingered, faint but undeniable.
“Why did I hug her?”
It wasn’t something she had planned. It wasn’t something she ever did. Orm didn’t do sentimental gestures. She didn’t do… whatever this was.
Yet, the moment she saw Lingling about to leave, something inside her just—reacted.
Orm scoffed, shaking her head. “I must be drunker than I thought.”
She wasn’t, though.
That was the problem.
She took another sip of her whiskey, her mind replaying the moment over and over again. Lingling’s stunned expression. The hesitant way she patted Orm’s back. That tiny, almost imperceptible hitch in her breath when Orm whispered thank you.
Orm groaned and ran a hand through her hair.
“This is ridiculous.”
She needed to sleep. She needed to stop thinking about her assistant.
Her assistant who annoyed her. Who challenged her. Who didn’t fall for her charm like everyone else.
Who made her feel something she didn’t quite understand.
She drained the rest of her drink and set the glass down with a sigh.
“I just wanted to know something,” she had told Lingling.
The truth was, she still didn’t know what that something was.