Off Limits
Ling Kwong didn't believe in fate. But she did believe in the unfairness of the universe, especially when it came in the form of Orm Sethratanapong.
It wasn't just that Orm was gorgeous—although Ling couldn't deny that the blonde's warm amber eyes and sharp cheekbones made her heart skip a beat every time she saw her. It wasn't even her effortless confidence, or the way her laugh seemed to echo in Ling's mind long after she'd gone.
No, the real issue was that Orm was Ying's best friend, and that made her completely, undeniably off-limits.
Ling groaned, burying her face in her hands as she sat at the kitchen table. She could hear Orm and Ying laughing in the living room, their voices carrying over the sound of the TV. They were probably watching some crime drama, a ritual the two had shared since high school.
Ling had tried to stay out of the way, but every time she caught a glimpse of Orm stretched out on the couch, her long legs crossed and a lazy smile on her lips, it felt like her brain short-circuited.
"You okay, Ling?" Ying's voice broke through her thoughts, and Ling looked up to see her sister standing in the doorway, a suspiciously knowing smirk on her face.
"I'm fine," Ling said quickly, reaching for her glass of water.
Ying raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "You've been sulking in here all evening. What's going on?"
"Nothing," Ling mumbled, focusing intently on her drink.
Ying narrowed her eyes, then glanced over her shoulder toward the living room. When she turned back to Ling, her smirk had grown.
"Oh my God," Ying said, her tone dripping with amusement. "You've got a crush on Orm."
Ling choked on her water, her eyes wide. "What? No! That's ridiculous!"
Ying grinned, leaning against the doorway. "Don't even try to deny it. You're practically glowing every time she's around."
Ling groaned again, slumping forward onto the table. "Why are you like this?"
"Because it's hilarious," Ying said, her grin widening. "And also kind of cute. I mean, who wouldn't have a crush on Orm? She's smart, funny, ridiculously good-looking—"
"Can you not?" Ling interrupted, her face burning.
Ying laughed, pushing off the doorframe. "Relax. Your secret's safe with me." She paused, her expression turning mischievous. "For now."
Ling shot her a warning look, but Ying just winked and disappeared back into the living room.
An hour later, Ling was pacing nervously in her room, trying to distract herself with her phone. She didn't trust Ying to keep her mouth shut, but she also didn't want to make things even more awkward by joining them in the living room.
A soft knock on her door made her freeze.
"Come in," she said hesitantly, half-expecting Ying to barge in with some teasing remark.
Instead, it was Orm who stepped inside, her hands tucked into the pockets of her hoodie.
"Hey," Orm said, her voice casual but warm. "Ying said you were hiding in here. Everything okay?"
Ling's heart skipped a beat, and she tried to act normal. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... needed some space."
Orm nodded, leaning against the doorframe. "Fair enough. Ying can be a lot sometimes."
Ling smiled despite herself. "That's an understatement."
They stood in silence for a moment, and Ling's gaze flickered to Orm's face. She looked relaxed, but there was a curious glint in her eyes.
"So," Orm said slowly, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Ying mentioned something interesting."
Ling's stomach dropped. "What... kind of interesting?"
Orm's smirk grew, and she stepped closer, her amber eyes locked onto Ling's. "She said you have a little crush on me."
Ling's face went bright red. "Oh my God. I'm going to kill her."
Orm chuckled, her voice low and teasing. "No need for violence. I just wanted to see if it was true."
Ling stared at her, her mind racing. "I... I mean... it's not—"
"Ling," Orm interrupted gently, stepping even closer. She was so close now that Ling could see the faint freckles dusting her nose. "You're a terrible liar."
Ling swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "So what if it is?"
For a moment, Orm just looked at her, her expression unreadable. Then, to Ling's surprise, a soft smile spread across her face.
"Well, that's convenient," Orm said, her tone light but sincere. "Because I've kind of got a thing for you too."
Ling's eyes widened. "You... you do?"
Orm nodded, reaching up to tuck a strand of Ling's hair behind her ear. "Yeah. I do. And if I'm being honest, I've been waiting for an excuse to say something."
Ling felt like her heart was about to explode. "Then why didn't you?"
Orm grinned, her hand lingering against Ling's cheek. "Because I wasn't sure if you'd feel the same way. But now that I know..."
She leaned in, her lips brushing against Ling's in a kiss that was both soft and electrifying. Ling melted into it, her hands gripping Orm's hoodie as if to steady herself.
When they finally pulled apart, Orm rested her forehead against Ling's, her smile warm and genuine.
"Guess I'll have to thank Ying later," Orm murmured.
Ling laughed, her cheeks still flushed. "Or we could both kill her and call it even."
Orm chuckled, pulling Ling into another kiss. "Tempting. But for now, let's just enjoy this."
And for once, Ling decided to forget about the risks and just let herself be happy.