Spike of Attraction
Orm Sethratanapong had never been to a volleyball game in her life. Truthfully, she still wasn't entirely sure why she was sitting in the crowded school gym, surrounded by screaming fans and the unmistakable sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished floor.
She adjusted her glasses, peering over the edge of the thick book in her lap. The game was chaos. Balls flew across the net with terrifying speed, players dove to the ground like their lives depended on it, and the crowd erupted in cheers every thirty seconds.
But Orm wasn't here for the game.
Her eyes found her reason on the court: Ling Kwong, the star of the team and, incidentally, the bane of Orm's carefully maintained peace of mind.
Tall, graceful, and devastatingly confident, Ling dominated the court in her navy and white uniform, her dark ponytail swaying as she moved with precision. She had just delivered another killer spike, and the crowd erupted into a roar.
Orm tried to focus on her book, but her gaze drifted back to Ling again and again.
When the referee called a timeout, Orm quickly ducked her head, pretending to be engrossed in her reading. She didn't expect Ling to notice her, let alone acknowledge her.
That is, until a shadow fell over her.
"Orm?"
The voice startled her, and she looked up to find Ling standing just a few feet away, holding a water bottle and a towel draped over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed from the game, her eyes bright and sharp.
Orm blinked, clutching her book like it was a shield. "Uh... hi."
Ling raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on her lips. "You're at my game."
"I... yeah." Orm cleared her throat, pushing her glasses up her nose. "I heard it was a big match. Thought I'd check it out."
Ling tilted her head, her smirk growing. "Is that right? Because I've seen you read through fire drills, so I didn't exactly peg you as a sports fan."
Orm shrugged, feeling her face heat up. "Well, there's a first time for everything."
Ling chuckled, taking a sip from her water bottle. "Fair enough. You liking it so far?"
Orm hesitated. "It's... loud."
Ling laughed at that, the sound warm and unrestrained. "Yeah, that's fair. But you've been staring at the court long enough to follow, right?"
"I—" Orm paused, her brain scrambling for an excuse.
Ling leaned in slightly, her smirk turning playful. "Were you staring at me, Orm?"
Orm's ears burned as she straightened her spine defensively. "I was not staring. I was observing. From a purely... academic perspective."
Ling's laugh was louder this time, drawing a few curious glances from nearby fans. "Academic perspective, huh? Are you writing a paper on my spike form or something?"
Orm's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm just here for moral support. Don't read into it."
"Right," Ling said, clearly unconvinced but unwilling to push further. She tossed the towel over her shoulder, giving Orm a wink. "Well, keep observing, nerd. Maybe you'll learn something."
Before Orm could think of a comeback, Ling jogged back onto the court, her teammates swarming around her.
Orm slumped back in her seat, burying her face in her book. She was absolutely not going to admit how fast her heart was beating.
---
Later, after the game ended and Ling's team celebrated their victory, Orm was slipping out of the gym quietly, hoping to avoid any more encounters. But as she stepped into the cool night air, a familiar voice called out behind her.
"Hey, Orm! Wait up!"
She turned to see Ling jogging toward her, still in her uniform, her duffle bag slung over one shoulder.
"What are you doing out here?" Orm asked, startled.
Ling grinned. "I figured you'd try to sneak out. Thought I'd catch you before you disappeared back into the library or wherever you go."
Orm shifted awkwardly. "Well, you caught me. What do you want?"
Ling stepped closer, her expression softening. "To say thanks for coming. It... meant a lot, seeing you there."
Orm blinked, taken aback. "Oh. Well, you're welcome, I guess."
Ling chuckled, then tilted her head. "You know, you never struck me as the type to go to games, but... I'm glad you came to mine."
Orm felt her cheeks heat up again. "Don't let it go to your head, Kwong."
Ling's smirk returned. "Too late." She hesitated for a moment, then added, "Hey, since you're such a fan now, maybe you could come to dinner with me? A little victory celebration."
Orm blinked. "Dinner?"
"Yeah," Ling said casually, though there was a mischievous glint in her eye. "Just the two of us. You know, to dissect my spike form academically, or whatever."
Orm stared at her, trying to gauge if she was serious.
When Ling gave her a pointed look, Orm sighed, realizing she'd walked right into it. "Fine. But if this is some elaborate prank, I'm reporting you to the dean."
Ling grinned, slinging an arm around Orm's shoulders. "Relax, nerd. I'll even let you quiz me on volleyball terms. It'll be fun."
Orm rolled her eyes but didn't pull away as Ling steered her toward the parking lot.
For someone who hated loud crowds and chaotic games, Orm couldn't deny one thing: Ling Kwong was worth the noise.