Chapter 1
The world unfolds in a somber haze after the rain, cloaked in a muted palette of grays and browns. The pathway, slick with moisture, glistens under the cloudy sky, its surface marred with scattered puddles that ripple gently, reflecting the dim light above like an abstract painting. Each puddle holds the remnants of the rain, mingling earthy tones with reflections of the surrounding trees and buildings.
The air is thick with the rich, loamy scent of damp soil, a comforting reminder of nature's resilience. This fragrance intertwines with the heavy, lingering humidity, wrapping the atmosphere in a warm embrace. From the shadows, a cacophony of frog croaks rises, their calls echoing in a whimsical symphony, as they emerge from their hiding spots, eager to explore their rain-soaked habitat.
Above, the soft patter of residual raindrops trickles from the edge of roofs, creating a gentle rhythm that harmonizes with the frogs' chorus. Occasionally, the wind picks up, carrying a chill that seems to seep through the skin, sending shivers down the spine. With each gust, the air rushes by, laden with moisture, leaving behind a sense of freshness that mingles with the fading warmth of the day. The entire scene is a vivid tableau of nature's complexities, embodying tranquility and a hint of melancholy.
A young woman let out a frustrated groan as she surveyed the chaotic scene in front of her. Displeasure etched itself into her delicate features, her striking face framed by long, raven-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders. She tightened her grip on the strap of her worn book bag, a subconscious action born of her mounting irritation.
Around her, students surged past like a river current, their laughter, and chatter filling the air as they eagerly departed the school grounds, each one intent on reaching their own destinations. The bell signaling the end of the day had rung, and freedom beckoned them all. Despite the buzz of activity, the young woman felt a sense of isolation as she remained rooted in place, caught in her thoughts.
As the young woman prepared to step out into the bustling street, a voice rang out behind her.
"Lingling!"
Ling silently groaned to herself, reluctant to engage with her juniors. However, the young girl, persistent as ever, approached her with a bright smile, holding out an envelope.
"Prigkhing, what do you need?"
"LingLing, I just wanted to share this with you. I put my heart and soul into this letter, and I hope you'll take the time to read it."
Ling glanced at the envelope and felt annoyed at the prospect of reading yet another confession from the young girl.
"Listen, kid, do you really think there's any point in this? I don't have the same feelings for you that you have for me. I believe it's time for you to stop wasting your time on me."
The young girl stood her ground against the older girl's words, a radiant smile lighting up her face. "But Ling, I truly like you, and I will be myself no matter what. One day, you’ll realize that I’m the perfect person for you," the young girl stated with unwavering confidence.
Ling stared at the young girl in shock, wondering what she could have possibly done to end up in this never-ending confession.
"Hey there, kid! Just a heads up—this one’s tough. Their heart is a bit chilly, like Antarctica!" A girl with short hair placed her arm on Ling's shoulders and spoke.
"Junji, first of all, I’m not cold! Second, I’m not looking for a relationship, and even if I were, I wouldn’t consider entering one anytime soon. I want to focus on my studies. And lastly, please remove your arm, or I'll remove it for you." Ling said, swatting Junji's arm away from her.
"Chill out, alright?" Junji said, receiving a death glare from Ling in response.
"Chill? Really? You know what, I'll leave you both here," the raven-haired girl hissed, her annoyance growing by the second. She began walking briskly toward the school gate without looking back at either of the girls.
Ling felt irritated by her friend's words. She wasn't as cold as people believed; the constant pestering from her friend and others who seemed intent on pursuing her was frustrating. Additionally, she disliked the humidity the rain brought. She disliked getting wet, and the bothersome aftermath that rain always brought only added to her annoyance.
A young man suddenly called out to her, "Ling!" as he tried to keep up with her pace. "Ling, wait! You know Junji is just teasing you." The raven-haired girl stopped and turned to look at the owner of the voice.
"Right, she's joking, but it seems that everyone at school has a different perspective on it," Ling said as she glared at the guy. "And so? Since when has this bothered you, Ling?"
"It doesn’t bother me; what bothers me is that everyone thinks they know me and judges me based on what they see, Fluke." This made Fluke look at Junji and sigh in exasperation.
"I didn’t mean to upset you, Ling. I want to help you deal with the girl because I know you don’t feel that way about her. People usually stop bothering you when we..."
"Right, because that always helps me," Ling said sarcastically. "I'm going home instead of going to the arcades with you two today. I believe it would be best for me to be alone now, guys."
“Ling—” Fluke and Junji called out, but the raven-haired girl had already exited the campus gate.
“Junji!” Fluke yelled at him. “What? That usually works with people, and I thought it didn’t bother Ling much,” Junji shrugged in response.
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The raven-haired girl walked towards her home, carefully avoiding the numerous puddles of water. When she arrived at the front of a modest-looking house, she realized it was just a remnant of the place she once called home—a home that had been filled with joyful laughter, the warmth of a loving family, and the harmonious melodies of her father's piano and her mother's beautiful voice. Ling smiled sadly at the house, wishing for the warmth of the past to return, wishing that night had never happened, and hoping for the nightmare to end. But the reality was cruel. The home that once held the warmth of her family was now devoid of it. Just as the raven-haired girl was about to enter her home, a voice greeted her from behind.
"Hello there!" an older woman greeted her as she turned to face the source of the voice. "I was hoping to meet someone who lives in this lovely home," the woman said with a warm smile. "My family has just moved into the house next door."
"Oh! Nice to meet you, Mrs. -"
"Just call me Aunt Koy," she replied.
"Uhm... Aunt Koy, it's nice to meet you. I'm Lingling, and welcome to the neighborhood," the young woman said nervously, not very eager to meet new people.
"Nice to meet you too, Lingling. Here are some rice cakes I’ve been handing out to the neighbors as a way to say hello," the older woman said, offering a small bag of rice cakes. The raven-haired girl accepted the gift and gave the older woman a shy smile. "Thank you, Aunty Koy. I'm sure my dad and I will enjoy these."
The older woman smiled warmly, her motherly demeanor becoming even more inviting. "Alright then, I’ll head back now; I still have a lot to unpack. But it was nice to meet you, Ling. I’ll see you around, okay?"
Ling nodded, watching her new neighbor as she left. She felt that Aunty Koy would have been friends with her mom if she were still around. Unfortunately, nothing can change that reality, no matter how much she thought about it. Deciding it was time to enter the house, she turned and walked inside.
As Ling entered the house, she noticed her father's work bag in the hallway. It was unusual for it to be there; it typically sat in his office. The raven-haired girl set down her backpack and a small bag of rice cakes at the entrance as she finished putting away her school shoes. She slowly walked into the living room and called out for her father. "Dad?" There was no reply.
Ling continued toward her dad's office and saw him holding a photo of her mom on the back porch. She sighed and walked over to him, softly knocking on the door before opening it. "Dad? I'm home."
Her father, who was watching the garden, turned to her and weakly replied, "Oh! I didn't hear you come in. I thought you would still be out with your friends." Ling looked at him closely and noticed how tired he appeared and how disheveled his clothes were. She also spotted a couple of beer cans nearby and caught the smell of alcohol coming from him. "Dad, are you drinking again?"
"It's not that much. I just wanted to unwind after work. Today has been hectic at the office," Ling's father explained, glancing back at the garden. "This garden was one of your mom's favorite pastimes, you know?"
Ling didn't answer; it didn't really matter anyway. She knew that the garden was her mom's favorite place, but it wouldn't bring her back. With a sigh, she told her father, "I'll be in my room, Dad." He only nodded in response. As she turned around, she noticed a small bag of rice cakes from their new neighbor, Aunty Koy, and mentioned it to him. "Dad, we have a new neighbor, and they gave us some rice cakes to say hello." But her father didn't reply again. So, she went inside to grab her book bag, the rice cakes, and her father's work bag to put away.
While running upstairs to her room, Ling glanced back at her father and felt tears welling up in her eyes. She held them back and continued toward her room. She locked the door and flopped onto her bed when she got there. Ling stared at the ceiling, wondering why her life had become like this. Just then, a laugh broke through her thoughts. She listened closely to the sound coming from her window. Whoever owned that laugh sounded happy. The voice brought her a sense of peace after a long day, so much so that she didn’t even realize she had closed her eyes.
Ling felt an irresistible pull toward the enchanting voice drifting through her window, compelling her to rise from the comfort of her bed. She approached the window cautiously, much like a sailor entranced by the haunting call of a siren luring him to the sea. As she peered outside, her breath caught in her throat at the sight that awaited her.
There, in the yard of the neighboring house, stood a stunning girl—one of the newcomers in the neighborhood. The sunlight cascaded down, illuminating her hair, which danced in gentle waves as the wind swept past. Ling felt an odd mixture of curiosity and guilt wash over her; she knew she shouldn’t be staring, yet there was something utterly magnetic about the girl. Every melodic note of her voice resonated deeply within Ling, wrapping around her heart like a warm embrace.
"Oh, what a beauty," Ling thought to herself, her mind racing with the notion that perhaps she had stumbled upon a celestial being. It felt surreal, as if she were gazing at an angel descended from the heavens, sent to grace her ordinary life.
Just when Ling thought she might safely admire her from afar, the girl turned, her gaze locking onto Ling's with an intensity that made her heart race. In that moment, time itself seemed to come to a standstill. The girl’s smile was radiant, brightening her entire face and perhaps even the world around her. Ling stood frozen, her heart pounding, her thoughts swirling in a haze of disbelief and wonder. What had she done to deserve such a breathtaking vision appearing right before her?
"Hello! I'm Orm; we just moved here!" The angel's voice rang out cheerfully from her yard, where she approached the wooden fence with a lightness that seemed to echo her radiant presence. She looked like she belonged to the sun itself.
Ling, who had been peering out from her second-floor window, found herself captivated. She blinked slowly as if trying to shake off a spell cast by Orm's enchanting aura. "Uh, hello... um... I'm Ling. I’m guessing you’re related to Aunty Koy?" she managed to say, despite her heart racing in wonder. The way the sunlight filtered through the leaves above, casting patches of golden light across Orm's face, made her appear almost ethereal. Ling couldn’t help but marvel at the depth of Orm’s golden-amber eyes, which sparkled with mischief and warmth. She found herself curious, longing to know what those eyes looked like up close, to see the world through them.
"Oh, you’ve met my mom? Yeah, I'm her daughter, haha!" Orm laughed, her voice bright and melodic, like the chiming of bells. Ling couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in the presence of something extraordinary, making her question if Orm was truly real or simply a figment of her imagination. The vibrant energy radiating from her felt like a dream, one that she wished would never end.
“Have you finished unpacking yet?” Ling asked, her voice laced with curiosity as she leaned against the window, “I heard from Aunty Koy that you still have some things left to sort out,” she added, the hint of concern in her tone making her second-guess the thought.
“Yeah, but honestly, I’m already bored!” Orm replied, his face lighting up with a spark of excitement. “I want to see what’s out there! Besides, I can always unpack later.” Her eyes danced with anticipation as she ventured into another idea. “Oh! How about you show me the neighborhood? You've lived here long enough to know all the hidden spots, right? Let’s go explore!” A shy smile crept onto her lips, encouraging Ling with its warmth.
Ling hesitated, her brow furrowing slightly at the prospect of wandering through the soggy streets right after the rain had ceased. Yet, there was something infectious about Orm's enthusiasm that made her reconsider. With a resigned sigh mixed with newfound determination, she replied, “Okay, let me change quickly, and I’ll meet you out front!” The thought of adventure outside, despite the dampness, began to stir her own sense of curiosity.
"Alright! I’ll catch you in a little while!" Orm exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. She jogged toward her house, her light-colored hair streaming behind her like a shimmering ribbon in the wind, the sunlight catching the golden strands as they danced with each step. Her cheerful demeanor radiated a warmth that seemed to brighten the entire pathway.
Ling watched Orm go, a smile creeping onto her face. She found herself shaking her head in disbelief at how adorable Orm looked, her energy infectious. But as Ling stood alone in her room, the reality of the situation hit her like a cold wave, prompting an exaggerated groan to escape her lips. The thought of venturing out to engage with a complete stranger loomed before her, daunting and utterly nerve-wracking.
Ling glanced at her reflection in the full-body mirror mounted on her wall, her school uniform now replaced by comfortable sweats and hoodie. She squinted at herself, feeling a flush of anxiety rise in her chest. "Ling, what the hell are you thinking?!" she whispered-yelled, her frustration mixing with bewilderment.
Yet, despite the swirling doubts in her mind, there was an undeniable pull to go through with it. The image of Orm's radiant smile lingered in her thoughts, illuminating the room as if it were a warm ray of sunshine. The mere idea of disappointing Orm, of being the one to dim that enthusiasm, felt unbearable and profoundly wrong.
Ling found herself grappling with a puzzling feeling—why, after just having met Orm, did she feel such a strong obligation to make her happy? It was disconcerting and yet, beneath the confusion, a sense of determination began to brew within her. She inhaled deeply, steeling herself for the challenge ahead. It was time to step outside her comfort zone.
As Ling stepped outside her of her home. Her gaze fell upon Orm, who was standing a few steps away, shifting her weight from one foot to another. Orm’s restless energy caught Ling's attention, and she couldn't help but think, 'Oh, she’s so cute,' as a soft smile formed on her lips. Yet, almost immediately, she dismissed the thought, feeling a flicker of embarrassment at the thought.
Ling approached Orm with quiet confidence, the gravel crunching softly under her feet. She reached out and tapped Orm gently on the shoulder, the contact bringing Orm back to reality.
“Oh! Ling, you're here!” Orm exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She flashed a wide, toothy grin that showcased her adorable dimples, making it impossible for Ling not to smile back.
“Yeah? Are you ready?” Ling asked, her tone light as she maintained a small grin. Orm nodded eagerly, her curiosity piqued. As they started walking down the street, Orm glanced sideways at Ling and asked, “So, where are we going?”
Ling hummed thoughtfully, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I don’t really know," she admitted with a sheepish smile while scratching the back of her neck. “But if you’d like, we can head to this little coffee shop I always visit a few blocks away. They make fantastic drinks.” She turned to meet Orm’s gaze, her excitement evident.
Orm's eyes lit up with interest. “Do they have matcha?” she inquired, tilting her head in a way that reminded Ling of an adorable golden retriever puppy, full of eagerness and hope.
“Absolutely! They have a delicious matcha latte,” Ling replied, nodding enthusiastically, her voice infused with warmth. “So, do you want to go there? My treat!” She added, hoping the prospect of a cozy coffee shop would sway them away from aimlessly wandering through the damp neighborhood.
“Well, who am I to refuse free stuff?” Orm replied, a cheeky grin lighting up her face. “So, are we heading in the right direction?” She looked ahead at the unfamiliar street, her brow furrowing slightly as she tried to make sense of the new surroundings.
“Yup! Just around that corner up ahead,” Ling assured her with a wave of her hand. “No worries, I’ll take care of you,” she finished confidently, her bright smile easing Orm's uncertainty as they continued their walk, the scent of rain-soaked pavement mingling with the promise of warm drinks ahead.