Chapter 21 - New Discoveries

Namtan had long considered herself the reigning expert on all things Lingling. She'd known her best friend for years—seen her dismantle flawed arguments in law classes with merciless logic, watched her keep an eerily level head in every crisis, and observed how she could maintain total composure no matter the situation.

That was just who Lingling was: unshakeable.

Except... not anymore.

It hit Namtan like a slap to the face on an otherwise ordinary lunch break with some of her batch mates. She was halfway through biting into her sandwich when she noticed something unusual across the cafeteria. Lingling sat at a table with Orm—yes, the Orm, the campus princess everyone whispered about—but that wasn't the strange part. The strange part was Lingling's body language: she had one hand loosely entwined with Orm's, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. They weren't even speaking at that moment; Orm was laughing at something May had said, while Lingling silently toyed with Orm's fingers in a soft, absentminded way.

It wasn't a calculated move. It wasn't a strategic show of PDA. If anything, it felt... comfortable. Like Lingling had simply forgotten to guard herself or adopt her usual detached posture. Namtan felt a wave of quiet amazement wash over her. This is real, she thought. She's not just messing around.

Lingling used to treat relationships as though they were debates to be won, but now, it seemed as though she'd surrendered all that pretense.

She looked genuinely content—and if Namtan wasn't mistaken, happy.

Determined to confirm her suspicions, Namtan cornered Lingling after class. Spotting her in the hallway, she caught her by the wrist, guiding her to a quieter corner near a row of lockers.

"Are you planning an interrogation?" Lingling asked, raising an eyebrow in mild amusement.

Namtan sighed. "I just need to understand something."

Lingling folded her arms, looking more curious than threatened. "Go on."

"This thing with Orm," Namtan began, trying to keep her tone casual. "It's real, isn't it?"

Lingling tilted her head, unruffled. "Of course it's real."

Namtan shook her head slowly, struggling to articulate her point. "No, Ling. I mean... you actually like her. Like, seriously like her."

Lingling didn't hesitate for a heartbeat. "Yes."

For a moment, Namtan found herself speechless. She had half-expected Lingling to deflect or offer a typically cryptic answer. Instead, Lingling said it so plainly, with such unflinching certainty, that Namtan felt a surge of warmth.

She exhaled, letting her posture relax. "You really like her, don't you?"

Lingling's gaze stayed steady. "Yes. I do."

A smile tugged at Namtan's lips. She'd never seen Lingling admit something so personal, so quickly—and she couldn't have been happier for her. "Damn," she breathed. "I never thought I'd see the day."

Lingling's mouth curved into a small smirk. "Neither did I."

Namtan reached out and patted Lingling's shoulder in a show of affection. "Just don't scare her off with your lawyer brain, okay?"

A soft chuckle escaped Lingling. "I'll hold back... a little."

Namtan grinned, finally seeing this softer side of her best friend. "I'm really happy for you, Ling."

And that moment of raw sincerity was something new between them—an acknowledgment that sometimes, even the most composed person in the world could find someone worth losing control for.

Lingling prided herself on her composure. She was the sort of person who could deliver a presentation to a room full of professors without breaking a sweat. She'd navigated the labyrinth of law coursework with ease. She'd even managed to keep her cool while dating Orm, who was effectively a walking, talking ball of chaos.

But that was before Orm inadvertently discovered the single word that could completely destabilize Lingling Kwong.

They were strolling across campus hand in hand, as they often did now that their relationship was public and contractually affirmed—complete with an Article 2 that encouraged PDA.

Orm was chattering about an econ lecture, her face animated as she relayed some complicated theory. Lingling, for her part, was half-listening, more enthralled by the way Orm's eyes lit up when she was excited.

Then Orm, noticing Lingling's distracted gaze, teased, "Baby, are you even listening to me?"

The world came to a standstill.

Lingling froze, mid-step. She literally stopped walking, body tensing as if someone had hit a pause button. Orm carried on for another few words before turning to look at her, confused. "Ling?"

Lingling just stared at Orm. Her face remained unreadable, but there was a glint in her eyes that Orm couldn't quite decipher. Eventually, Orm frowned, clearly concerned. "You okay?"

Without a word, Lingling seized Orm's wrist and dragged her into a nearby, conveniently empty classroom. The abruptness sent Orm's heart into overdrive—Lingling's grip was firm, her expression intense. This can't be good, Orm thought.

The door clicked shut behind them. Orm's pulse hammered in her ears as she turned, nervously meeting Lingling's eyes. "Uh—Ling?"

Lingling backed her against a desk, palms braced on either side of Orm, effectively trapping her. Orm could smell the faint hint of Lingling's perfume, something subtle but intoxicating.

"Say it again," Lingling demanded, her tone low and controlled.

Orm blinked. "W-What?"

"That thing you called me," Lingling clarified, her gaze unwavering. "Say it again."

Orm's mind raced, struggling to remember her own words from seconds before. "You mean... baby?"

She barely finished speaking before Lingling kissed her—not a playful peck, not a teasing brush of lips, but a deep, intense kiss that made Orm's legs threaten to give out. She clutched the edge of the desk, desperate for balance. Lingling's hands slid to Orm's waist, pulling them impossibly closer, the kiss deepening until Orm felt lightheaded.

She finally broke free, gasping for air. "Ling—what—?" she stammered.

Lingling's eyes gleamed, voice dropping to a low murmur, "You have no idea what you just did, do you?"

Orm's cheeks burned. "Apparently not?"

A quiet laugh escaped Lingling. She leaned in, pressing a line of soft kisses down Orm's jaw. "You just found my weakness," she whispered, voice laced with husky amusement. "Consider yourself warned."

Orm's heart hammered so fiercely she worried it might break free from her chest. Lingling has a weakness, she thought. And it's... me calling her baby? Aloud, she only managed a breathless, "Noted."

With one final, lingering kiss, Lingling stepped back, smooth and composed as if the past minute of raw intensity never happened. She straightened her top, walked to the door, then glanced back with a knowing smirk. "That's enough for now," she teased. "I'm a lawyer, sweetheart. I know how to build suspense."

Then she disappeared, leaving Orm clinging to the desk for dear life.

Later that afternoon, Orm joined Becky and May at their usual café table. She was uncharacteristically quiet, fiddling with her phone in a daze. Becky and May noticed immediately.

"You good?" Becky asked, her voice cautious. "You look like you just survived a tornado."

Orm blinked, realizing she'd been staring off into space. "Huh? Yeah. Just... thinking."

May exchanged a glance with Becky. "Thinking about... her?"

Orm sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "Yeah. Lingling."

Becky placed her elbows on the table, leaning in. "What about her?"

Orm hesitated, then mustered the courage to speak. "I think I stumbled on something today. Like... she has a weakness."

May's eyes widened. "A weakness? Are we talking about the unstoppable Lingling K.?"

Becky frowned. "Is that bad?"

Orm stared at the tiny swirl of foam in her latte. "I'm not sure. But I feel like I just started a new war I'm not ready for."

May let out a low whistle. "So you're expecting, what, a retaliatory strike?"

Orm groaned, rubbing her temples. "Absolutely. She's going to do something and I'm probably going to lose my mind."

Becky and May exchanged identical looks of sympathy and excitement. Becky gave Orm a consoling pat on the shoulder. "Good luck with that."

May nodded, half-smiling. "Yeah. You're gonna need it."

Orm slumped in her seat, a slow grin forming despite her anxiety. The thought of Lingling's next move both thrilled and terrified her. Yet, somewhere deep inside, she realized she craved the suspense. She's trouble, but I like it, Orm admitted to herself.

Even as her heart pounded with nervous energy, a spark of anticipation lit in Orm's eyes. She had no idea what Lingling would do next—but she was more than ready to find out.

And so, the battle lines shifted once again, leaving Orm standing on the precipice of discovery, anticipation, and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of danger.