Chapter 14 : Night

Orm and Lingling stepped into the house, their new home as a married couple. The entire place was lit with warm fairy lights, soft candles, and floral arrangements that added an air of romance and celebration. Their room, especially, was breathtaking—decorated with fresh roses, delicate drapes, and a heart-shaped arrangement of petals on the bed. Lingling’s cheeks flushed as she took it all in.

Orm, equally overwhelmed by the sight, chuckled softly. "Looks like Mom and Dad really went all out for us," she remarked, glancing at Lingling.

Lingling smiled nervously but didn’t respond. She was preoccupied with her own thoughts, especially about what might come next. It was their wedding night, after all. Would Orm expect... something? She tried to shake off the thought and focused on helping Orm with her wedding dress.

“Here, let me help you,” Lingling said softly, moving behind Orm to unzip the intricate gown. Her fingers trembled slightly as she worked, but Orm didn’t seem to notice. She was too busy marveling at how gentle Lingling’s touch was, and how the simple act of being cared for felt so special.

Once freed from the confines of her dress, Orm slipped into comfortable loungewear in the bathroom. When she returned, she was greeted by the sight of Lingling fast asleep on the bed, still in her wedding attire. Her head rested awkwardly against the pillows, and a loose strand of hair fell across her face.

Orm’s heart softened instantly. She grabbed her phone and snapped a quick picture, unable to resist capturing the moment. "So adorable," she whispered, smiling to herself.

Carefully, Orm sat on the edge of the bed and lightly shook Lingling’s shoulder. “Hey, wake up. You can’t sleep in that dress all night. Come on, change into something comfy,” she urged.

Lingling stirred, blinking groggily at Orm. “Hmm? Oh, sorry... I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she mumbled, sitting up.

“No need to apologize,” Orm teased. “But seriously, you’ll regret it if you sleep in that thing. Go change.”

Lingling nodded sleepily and got up to grab her nightwear. When she returned, changed into soft cotton pajamas, Orm patted the bed beside her.

When Lingling returned in her comfortable clothes—a simple oversized t-shirt and pajama pants—she looked ready to sleep. Orm, still lounging on the bed, watched as Lingling grabbed a pillow and headed straight for the sofa, just as she had done every night since they began sharing a house.

Orm raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into an exaggerated frown. "Enough with your sofa obsession, Lingling," she said, sitting up.

Lingling paused, clutching the pillow. "I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. Sharing a bed might be too much for you."

Orm sighed, running a hand through her hair as she thought, Why is she so perfect but so clueless about romance?

“Lingling,” Orm said, her tone softer now, “I really don’t mind if you sleep next to me. It’s a big bed, and... we’re married now, remember? You don’t have to do this sofa thing anymore. Come here.” She patted the space beside her, trying to sound casual despite the fluttering in her chest.

Lingling hesitated for a moment, then gave in with a small nod. “If you’re sure...” she murmured as she climbed into the bed, settling on her side.

As the two lay in the cozy silence of the dimly lit room, Lingling turned her head slightly toward Orm. “You know, this arranged marriage thing... It’s not as difficult as I thought it would be. I was scared at first, but you’ve made it... easier. Better, even.”

Orm’s heart warmed at her words, and she couldn’t stop the small smile spreading across her face. “Really? I mean, same here. I thought it would be awkward all the time, but... it’s not. Mostly thanks to you.”

Lingling chuckled softly. “You’re giving me too much credit. I’m just trying to adjust.”

Orm propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at Lingling. “You’re not just adjusting. You’re... amazing. You’re thoughtful, kind, and you’re—” She stopped herself before she could gush too much.

Lingling’s cheeks turned slightly pink. “Thank you,” she whispered, looking away for a moment before turning back to face Orm. “It’s nice to hear that, especially from you.”

Orm lay back down, hiding her smile as she thought, God, this woman is going to be the death of me. Perfect, but so oblivious.

As they lay in the quiet room, a gentle silence enveloped them, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning. Lingling shifted slightly under the blanket, her thoughts swirling. She glanced at Orm, who was staring at the ceiling, seemingly lost in her own world.

Gathering her courage, Lingling softly said, “Orm?”

Orm turned her head, surprised by Lingling’s serious tone. “Yeah?”

Lingling hesitated for a moment before speaking, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of the blanket. “I… I just wanted to say that… I want to give this arranged marriage a try.”

Orm’s eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat. Lingling continued, her voice steady but tinged with vulnerability. “But if you don’t want to… I understand. I just think… it’s worth a shot. You’re kind, and even though this wasn’t how I imagined things… I feel like we could make this work.”

Orm stared at her, momentarily speechless. Deep down, she’d been harboring a quiet fear that Lingling might never see their marriage as anything more than a forced arrangement. Hearing these words from Lingling felt like a weight lifting off her chest.

A slow, warm smile spread across Orm’s face as she sat up slightly, leaning closer to Lingling. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that.”

Lingling blinked in surprise. “Really?”

Orm nodded, her voice soft but filled with sincerity. “Yeah. I was scared, you know. Scared that maybe you’d never want to give this a real chance. But knowing you’re willing to try… it means a lot to me.”

Without thinking, Orm reached out and pulled Lingling into a warm hug. Lingling stiffened for a moment before relaxing, letting herself sink into the embrace. Orm’s arms around her felt comforting, and for the first time, Lingling felt a genuine sense of security.

As they pulled apart, Orm placed a gentle kiss on Lingling’s cheek, her voice playful but tender. “Thank you for giving us a chance, Lingling. I promise I won’t let you regret it.”

Lingling’s cheeks flushed at the kiss, and she avoided Orm’s gaze, her heart fluttering. “You’d better not,” she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Orm laughed softly, her heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. “Deal.”

They both lay back on the bed, a new sense of understanding between them. The quiet warmth of the moment lingered, and for the first time, the future didn’t seem so uncertain. Instead, it felt like something they could face together.

As the silence in the room settled again, Orm turned to her side, propping herself up on one elbow to look at Lingling. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes.

“Hey, Lingling,” Orm began casually, her tone playful but laced with curiosity.

Lingling turned her head slightly, her expression soft but curious. “What?”

Orm smirked. “So… about that kiss we had at the wedding.”

Lingling’s face turned a shade of pink almost instantly, and she quickly averted her gaze. “W-What about it?”

Orm chuckled, loving how flustered Lingling became so easily. “I mean, it was nice and all, but don’t you think it was a bit… quick? Like, I barely felt it.” She leaned closer, teasing. “Maybe we should try it again sometime. You know, make it stronger. More real.”

Lingling’s eyes widened, her face now bright red. She stammered, “Orm! We were in front of so many people. What did you expect me to do?!”

Orm laughed, clearly enjoying herself. “Relax, I’m kidding. But seriously…” Her voice softened, becoming more earnest. “That kiss… even if it was quick, it meant a lot to me. It felt like, I don’t know, maybe this whole thing isn’t as impossible as it seemed at first.”

Lingling bit her lip, her blush still lingering. “It was… okay,” she admitted shyly. “But I was so nervous. I’ve never really… done that before. Not in front of so many people.”

Orm’s playful smirk softened into a warm smile. “Well, for someone who was nervous, you did pretty good.”

Lingling rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. “Thanks, I guess.”

Orm couldn’t resist pushing just a little further. “But you know… I’d still like to feel what it’s like when we’re not surrounded by an audience.” She winked, making Lingling’s heart race.

Lingling fidgeted with the blanket, avoiding Orm’s gaze. “You’re so annoying sometimes, you know that?” she mumbled, though her tone carried no real malice.

Orm laughed softly, reaching out to gently tuck a stray strand of Lingling’s hair behind her ear. “I’m just teasing you, Lingling. But honestly…” Her voice softened again, this time filled with genuine emotion. “I feel really lucky to have you here. I know this started as an arrangement, but I can’t help feeling… drawn to you. You’re kind, thoughtful, and you make me feel things I didn’t expect.”

Lingling looked up at Orm, her eyes wide and searching. For a moment, she was speechless, unsure of how to respond. Finally, she said softly, “I… I don’t know what to say. But thank you. That means a lot.”

Orm smiled, leaning back onto her pillow. “No need to say anything. Just… be yourself. That’s more than enough for me.”

Lingling felt her heart skip a beat, and though she didn’t say it out loud, she couldn’t deny the warmth spreading through her chest. Maybe, just maybe, giving this marriage a real chance wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

_to be continued_