Confessions
For the past few days, a new pattern had formed in Lingling’s life.
Win.
Every morning, he showed up at her apartment, right on time. Sometimes, he even brought breakfast, crashing at her tiny dining table like he belonged there.
And every evening, he drove her home.
It had started as a random favor, but now, it felt like a habit.
Lingling didn’t mind.
Win was easy to be around.
Unlike Orm, who constantly made her feel confused, frustrated, and completely off-balance, Win was lighthearted and predictable. He listened when she ranted about work, about Orm’s mood swings, about how ridiculous the corporate world was.
He never judged.
He just laughed and gave sarcastic remarks that made her feel like she wasn’t alone in this crazy world.
If she was being honest…
She was grateful for him.
Win, on the other hand, found himself oddly attached to Lingling.
He had never had a sibling-like bond before.
Being the youngest in his wealthy family, he had only known what it was like to be the pampered little brother. His older brothers had never really needed him.
But Lingling?
She needed someone.
Not romantically.
Just someone who understood.
And somehow, he had become that person.
Orm noticed it.
She noticed everything.
The way Win was always there, the way Lingling seemed happier, the way they shared inside jokes that she wasn’t part of.
It drove her insane.
She had tried to ignore it at first.
Tried to convince herself that Win didn’t matter.
That Lingling didn’t matter.
But every single time she saw them together, she felt this tight, unbearable knot in her stomach.
And she hated it.
So, she did what she always did when she didn’t want to face her emotions.
She went to a bar.
She drank.
She found someone to distract her.
And then, she ended up in a hotel room, tangled in sheets with someone who meant absolutely nothing to her.
It had become a pattern.
A destructive cycle that she couldn’t seem to break.
And yet…
No matter how many times she did it, no matter how many people she slept with, she still woke up feeling empty.
Still woke up thinking about Lingling.
The vacation she had planned with Lingling?
Delayed. Again. And again.
Orm told herself it was because of work.
That she was too busy.
That now wasn’t the right time.
But deep down, she knew.
She was avoiding being alone with Lingling.
Avoiding what it would mean to spend time with her—just the two of them.
Avoiding what she might say or do if she let herself get too close.
So instead, she buried herself in work.
And watched from a distance as Lingling’s world started revolving around Win.
And it ate her alive.
One Evening – At the Bar
Orm was sitting at her usual spot, sipping whiskey, when she heard a familiar voice.
“I was wondering when I’d find you here.”
She turned her head slightly.
Win slid into the seat beside her, ordering a drink for himself.
Orm exhaled sharply. “What do you want?”
Win smirked. “Nothing. Just thought I’d check on my favorite grumpy CEO.”
Orm shot him a glare. “I don’t need checking on.”
Win took a sip of his drink, watching her carefully. “You look like shit.”
Orm clenched her jaw. “You must really enjoy getting on my nerves.”
Win grinned. “Oh, I do. But that’s not why I’m here.”
Orm said nothing, swirling the amber liquid in her glass.
Win sighed. “You know, Lingling and I? We’re just friends.”
Orm’s fingers tightened around her drink. “Did I ask?”
Win chuckled. “No. But you sure act like it bothers you.”
Orm scoffed, taking another sip.
Win leaned in slightly. “Listen, I’m not blind. I see the way you look at her.”
Orm froze for a fraction of a second before composing herself.
Win continued, voice calm. “And I see the way she looks at you.”
Orm’s chest tightened.
“She likes you, you know?” Win said casually. “Probably more than she even realizes.”
Orm stared at her glass, expression unreadable.
Win sighed. “But you’re gonna lose her if you keep being a coward.”
Orm’s eyes snapped up, sharp and dangerous. “Excuse me?”
Win didn’t flinch. He just gave her a small, knowing smirk. “You heard me.”
Orm felt the familiar burn of frustration rising in her chest.
She hated this.
Hated that he was right.
But instead of answering, she downed the rest of her whiskey in one gulp and stood up.
“I don’t have time for this.”
Win watched as she grabbed her coat and walked away, shaking his head.
“Run all you want, Orm. But at some point… you’re going to have to face it.”
Lingling’s Realization
That night, Lingling was lying in bed when she got a text message.
It was from Win.
Win: Your boss is an idiot.
Lingling frowned, typing back.
Lingling: Tell me something I don’t know.
Win responded almost immediately.
Win: She likes you. Like I told you a million times.
Win: She’s just too stupid to admit it.
Lingling stared at the message.
Her heart skipped a beat.
But before she could type a response, another text came through.
This time…
It was from Orm.
Orm: Are you awake?
Lingling blinked.
It was late. Orm never texted her this late.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
And then, without thinking too much, she typed back.
Lingling: Yeah.
Seconds later, her phone buzzed again.
Orm: Come outside. Lingling’s heart raced. She hesitated.
But before she could overthink it, she threw on a jacket and stepped outside.
And there—standing by her car, looking as lost as ever—was Orm.
Her eyes were clouded with something Lingling couldn’t quite decipher.
Something raw. Something vulnerable.
Lingling swallowed. “Orm?”
Orm exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. “I… needed to see you.”
Lingling’s chest tightened.
She took a step forward. “Why?”
Orm hesitated.
And then, after what felt like forever, she finally spoke. “Because I can’t stand watching you be with someone else.”
Lingling froze. Her heart stopped. The world around them faded. And suddenly…Everything made sense.
This wasn’t just Orm being possessive.
This wasn’t just Orm being difficult.
This was something real.
Something undeniable.
Lingling’s breath hitched. And for the first time in a long time…
Orm wasn’t running anymore.
Lingling stood still, arms crossed, watching Orm sway slightly from the alcohol. The scent of whiskey clung to her expensive clothes, mixing with the faint trace of her usual perfume.
“Are you not gonna invite me in?” Orm asked, her voice laced with a drunken drawl.
Lingling hesitated.
Still, she sighed and stepped aside. “Fine. Come in.”
Orm smirked slightly and walked inside. She glanced around the tiny space so different from the luxury she was used to, but didn’t say anything.
Lingling, on the other hand, was acutely aware of the contrast.
She knew Orm was picky, borderline snobby when it came to comfort. She lived in high-rise penthouses, stayed in five-star hotels, and ate at Michelin-starred restaurants.
Her tiny apartment with second-hand furniture? Yeah, this wasn’t exactly her scene.
Lingling cleared her throat. “Excuse my small apartment, Your Majesty.”
Orm scoffed, shaking her head. “Shut up.”
But before Lingling could throw another sarcastic comment, she noticed the glazed look in Orm’s eyes.
“You’re drunk. Again.”
Orm ignored the judgment in her tone.
Lingling exhaled. “Why are you here?”
Orm swallowed, her confidence wavering just slightly. She cleared her throat. “Like I said… I needed to see you.”
Lingling raised a brow. “Uh-huh. And that couldn’t wait until tomorrow? It’s 1 a.m., Orm. You reek of alcohol.”
Orm shook her head. “No. I had to see you now.”
Before Lingling could respond, Orm stood up abruptly.
She took a step closer. Then another.
Lingling suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken.
Orm exhaled sharply, running a frustrated hand through her hair. “I think I’m going crazy, Ling.”
Lingling blinked. “What?”
Orm took another step forward, closing the space between them.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day. All night. Every damn second,” Orm confessed, her voice hoarse.
Lingling’s breath hitched.
And then—
Orm’s hands were on her.
One hand gripping her waist, the other gently resting against the back of her neck.
Lingling froze.
She should have pulled away.
She should have said something.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she just stared, heart pounding.
And then—slowly—Orm tilted her head down.
She was waiting.
Lingling knew that if she stopped this, Orm would listen.
But she didn’t stop her.
So, Orm kissed her.
A Kiss that changed everything.
At first, it was tentative, almost as if Orm was still waiting for Lingling to push her away.
But when she didn’t—
When Lingling’s lips parted slightly, pressing back—
It turned into something deeper.
Something hungry.
Orm pulled Lingling closer, their bodies flush against each other.
Her fingers traced down Lingling’s spine, igniting something electric.
Orm’s lips moved from Lingling’s mouth to her neck, pressing slow, deliberate kisses against her skin.
Lingling’s eyes fluttered shut, her hands gripping Orm’s arms for support.
Orm breathed her in, her scent intoxicating.
And then—
In the softest, most vulnerable whisper—Orm murmured against her neck:
“I want you, Ling.”
Lingling’s breath hitched again.
And then, before she could even think—
Orm’s hands were on her jacket, sliding it off her shoulders.
Lingling let her.
She helped Orm pull it away, leaving her standing there in nothing but her thin camisole and shorts.
Orm stepped back slightly—just enough to take in the sight.
Lingling, flushed. Breathless.
A part of Orm almost forgot how to breathe.
Her gaze raked over her, her fingers itching to touch more.
But then—
She stopped.
Orm’s hands, which had been tracing down Lingling’s arms, froze.
She took a sharp breath and suddenly pulled away.
Lingling blinked, confused.
Orm ran a hand through her hair, looking as if she were trying to steady herself.
Then she let out a strained chuckle. “Uhm… we should stop.”
Lingling stared at her. “What?”
Orm cleared her throat, still avoiding her gaze. “I mean—I want to slow down.”
Lingling frowned, her mind struggling to catch up with what just happened.
“You’re the one who came to my place at 1 a.m., kissed me like you were about to devour me—and now you want to stop?”
Orm winced. “I know. I just… I want to do this right.”
Lingling’s lips parted in disbelief.
“Are you serious?”
Orm sighed, running a frustrated hand over her face. “Ling… I want this to mean something.”
Lingling still looked completely bewildered.
“You literally just said you want me,” she pointed out.
Orm exhaled sharply, glancing at the floor. “I do. But I also want to—”
She paused, struggling for words.
Finally, she looked up, her expression raw.
“I want to make things right with you before all this. I don’t want to screw this up.”
Lingling felt something in her chest tighten.
The frustration she had felt just moments ago melted away.
Because for the first time, she realized—
This wasn’t just about desire for Orm.
It was something more.
Something deeper.
Orm wasn’t just afraid of messing up.
She was afraid of losing her.
Orm took a deep breath.
“I promise I can wait,” she said softly.
Lingling stared at her for a long moment, her heart hammering.
Then, finally—
She let out a small, exasperated laugh.
“You’re an idiot,” she muttered.
Orm smirked. “I know.”
Lingling sighed, shaking her head. “Fine. You want to take it slow? Then take your drunk ass to the couch and go to sleep.”
Orm grinned. “So you do care about me.”
Lingling rolled her eyes. “Go. To. Sleep.”
Orm laughed, plopping onto the couch.
As Lingling grabbed a blanket and tossed it over her, Orm caught her wrist, stopping her.
Their eyes met.
And in a voice much softer, much more vulnerable than before, Orm whispered:
“Goodnight, Ling.”
Lingling swallowed.
She pulled her hand away gently and turned off the lights.
As she walked to her room, she smiled to herself.
Because maybe—just maybe—
This was the start of something real.