Opposite Attracts

A warm glow from the city lights filtered through the window, softly illuminating the room. Orm shifted, her eyes slowly adjusting to the dim evening light as she woke. Turning her head, a gentle smile formed on her lips at the sight next to her—Lingling nestled against her, their bare bodies entwined beneath the sheets.

Orm lifted a hand and gently brushed a few strands of hair away from Lingling’s face. In the quiet of the night, she allowed herself to take in every little detail—the way Lingling’s lips parted slightly as she slept, the warmth of her breath against Orm’s skin, the way her arms clung to her as if she never wanted to let go.

So this is what being in love feels like, Orm thought, her heart swelling.

She traced her fingertips along Lingling’s bare shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin. Lingling, still deep in sleep, let out a soft sigh and instinctively buried her face against Orm’s chest.

Orm chuckled softly, pressing a light kiss against Lingling’s forehead. As much as she wanted to stay like this forever, she knew she had to go home. With a reluctant sigh, she whispered, “Hey, baby, wake up.”

She planted another soft kiss on Lingling’s temple, hoping to gently wake her.

Lingling groaned in protest, squeezing her eyes shut tighter. Instead of responding, she tightened her grip around Orm, pulling her even closer.

Orm smirked. “I need to go home, Ling,” she tried again, brushing her lips against Lingling’s ear.

Still, Lingling refused to let go. Without a word, she simply held onto Orm tighter, her face buried deeper into her chest—a silent but firm no.

Orm let out a quiet laugh. “Okay, I guess I’m stuck here,” she whispered, amused.

Lingling hummed softly, a satisfied little sound, before snuggling even closer.

Shaking her head, Orm sighed in surrender and wrapped her arms around Lingling, pressing another soft kiss to her forehead.

With the rhythmic sound of Lingling’s breathing and the warmth of her body pressed against her own, Orm allowed her eyes to drift shut once more.

If being stuck meant waking up next to Lingling again, then maybe she never wanted to leave.

__________________

The shrill sound of Orm’s phone alarm broke the peaceful silence of the early morning. Both women groaned in unison, unwilling to leave the warmth of the bed. Orm lazily reached for her phone, silencing the alarm before dramatically throwing it aside. She stared at the ceiling, while Lingling stretched beside her, then leaned in to press a soft kiss against Orm’s cheek.

Orm smirked and turned her head to look at Lingling. “Should we go to work… or skip?”

Lingling chuckled and shook her head. “Remember what your father asked you to do? You have a lot of things ahead.”

Orm let out an exaggerated groan. “Ugh, it’s your fault.”

Lingling raised a brow, amused. “How was it my fault?”

Orm turned on her side, smirking. “You seduced me.”

Lingling scoffed, her lips curling into a teasing grin. “Uh-huh. Am I that irresistible?”

Orm playfully lifted the blanket, her eyes shamelessly raking over Lingling’s bare body. With a slow, dramatic nod, she said, “Obviously, yes. I would drop anything for this.”

Lingling laughed, rolling her eyes before grabbing a pillow and covering Orm’s face with it. “Get up, you drama queen. I’ll make you coffee and breakfast.”

Orm quickly tossed the pillow aside and grabbed Lingling’s waist before she could fully sit up. “Wait,” she murmured, pulling Lingling back down onto the bed.

Lingling let out a small gasp as Orm rolled on top of her, pinning her against the mattress.

“We still have time,” Orm whispered against her lips, her voice husky with mischief.

Lingling could only giggle as Orm began peppering soft kisses along her jaw, then down her neck. She tried to protest, but the way Orm held her, the way her lips trailed over her skin, made resistance impossible.

Maybe they could be a little late today.

________________

Days passed, and a new routine formed between Orm and Lingling. During office hours, they were both swamped with work—Orm buried in meetings and reports, while Lingling handled everything that kept the office running smoothly. But outside the office, they were inseparable.

Lunches were always together, whether at a fancy restaurant Orm suggested or at a small food stall Lingling liked. If work dragged on late, they’d grab dinner, sometimes in the city, but most often at Lingling’s apartment.

At first, Lingling was hesitant about how much time they were spending together. “Shouldn’t we have some time apart?” she had asked one evening, raising a brow at Orm as she helped set the table.

Orm pouted, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Why would I want to do that? You’re my girlfriend. I plan on seeing you every day.”

Lingling shook her head, but the small smile on her lips betrayed her amusement. “You’re crazy.”

Orm grinned. “You love it.”

And maybe she did. Because as the days went by, Lingling realized how much she had grown used to Orm’s presence—her teasing smirks, the way she held her close after a long day, and the way she kissed her goodnight before leaving… or not leaving at all.

Their new normal was something neither of them wanted to change.

___________________

The day had been long, but as the sun dipped below the skyline, Orm and Lingling walked side by side toward Orm’s car. It had become their routine—Orm always drove Lingling home after work.

Tonight, Orm was especially eager to leave. She had been planning to take Lingling out for dinner, maybe even convince her to spend the night again. But as they approached the car, a familiar figure leaning against it made Orm’s steps slow.

Bam.

Orm let out a quiet groan, already dreading whatever drama was about to unfold.

Bam stood with her arms crossed, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You don’t return my calls. You don’t answer my texts. You won’t even let me into your office building anymore. What the hell, Orm?”

Orm exhaled sharply, rubbing her temple. “Bam, don’t make a scene here.”

Bam scoffed, pushing off the car. “Oh, I’m making a scene? You’re the one who ghosted me like I was nothing.” She gestured toward Lingling. “And I see why now.”

Lingling remained silent, standing tall beside Orm. She wasn’t the type to get into petty arguments, but she could feel the tension crackling in the air.

Orm’s patience was thinning. “Bam, we were never serious. You knew that.”

Bam’s eyes darkened. “And what, she is?”

Orm didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Bam let out a bitter laugh. “Wow. So that’s it? You’re done with me, just like that?”

Orm took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “It was over a long time ago, Bam. You need to move on.”

Bam’s gaze flicked to Lingling, and she smirked. “You know, we fucked. A lot. Just so you know what you’re getting into.”

Orm’s eyes flared with anger. “Bam, stop—”

But the damage was done.

Lingling’s body tensed, her expression unreadable. She inhaled sharply, then turned on her heel and walked away.

“Lingling—” Orm reached for her, but Lingling shook her head.

“Don’t,” she said quietly. “Just don’t.”

Her voice wasn’t angry. It wasn’t loud. But it cut deeper than any yell could.

Lingling’s mind raced as she walked away from Orm’s car. She wasn’t naïve—she knew Orm had a past. She had always known. But hearing it like that, having it thrown in her face so carelessly, made her stomach twist.

Was she just another passing fling? Another name on Orm’s list?

She needed space. She needed time to think.

Orm didn’t care about space. She ran after Lingling, grabbing her wrist—not hard, just enough to make her stop.

“Ling, please,” Orm said, her voice low, desperate. “Don’t walk away like this.”

Lingling didn’t turn around. “Let me go, Orm.”

“I can’t,” Orm whispered. “Not like this. Not when you’re hurting because of something that isn’t true.”

Lingling laughed bitterly. “Not true? She sounded pretty damn sure of herself.”

Orm exhaled sharply, her frustration barely contained. “She said that to hurt you. And it worked.”

Lingling finally turned, her eyes sharp. “Did you sleep with her?”

Orm hesitated for half a second.

Lingling scoffed. “That’s what I thought.”

“Yes, okay?” Orm admitted. “But that was before. Before you. Before I knew what love felt like.”

Lingling’s jaw tightened. “And how do I know I won’t be just another ‘before’ someday?”

Orm’s grip on her loosened, and for the first time, she looked afraid. "Because I know I don’t want to lose you. I am sure of it."

Lingling inhaled shakily. She wanted to believe Orm. She really did.

“I need time,” she whispered.

Orm’s shoulders sagged, but she nodded. “Okay.”

And just like that, Lingling walked away, leaving Orm standing there, feeling like her world had just collapsed.

The drive home was silent. Orm gripped the steering wheel tightly, her mind replaying the scene over and over. She had never felt this helpless before.

When she arrived home, her mother was waiting in the living room.

“Orm, you’re home late,” Koy said gently.

Orm barely acknowledged her, kicking off her shoes and heading to her room.

“Orm,” Koy called again, this time with concern. “What happened?”

Orm stopped in her tracks. She turned to her mother, her usual confidence gone.

“I think I messed up, Mom.”