Chapter 24 - The Day After

Orm surfaced from sleep with a throbbing headache and a mouth so dry it felt like cotton. Her entire body ached, and she couldn't remember the last time morning light felt this harsh. She groaned, lifting an arm to block the brightness leaking through the window. As her mind started to function, she registered something odd: her bed smelled... different.

It wasn't her usual detergent or the faint perfume she sometimes spritzed on her pillows. Instead, there was a subtle citrus scent, plus a soft, comforting warmth pressed firmly against her back. The realization hit like a jolt of electricity: someone was wrapped around her waist, anchoring her in place.

Her pulse kicked into high gear. Half-formed worries flared in her mind: Am I naked? Did something happen? What did I do last night?

She inhaled sharply, summoning the courage to look. Carefully, she rolled her head to peer over her shoulder, ready to confront the worst possible scenario.

And then she froze.

It was Lingling, still asleep, her arm draped comfortably around Orm's waist. Any panic Orm felt morphed into breathless awe. Lingling's expression was peaceful, free of the sharp focus that usually defined her features. For once, there was no guarded look, no faint line between her brows. She merely breathed in slow, steady rhythm, lips slightly parted, looking entirely at rest.

A wave of relief washed over Orm when she realized she was fully clothed in her usual sleepwear. A quick glance confirmed Lingling was also dressed. So nothing had happened—at least not the kind of "something" Orm's mind had raced to. She exhaled, tension unraveling.

Yet the new tension rose just as swiftly: Lingling, right here, lying so close, in her bed. Orm swallowed, her heart giving a little flutter. She'd seen Lingling in countless scenarios—teasing over coffee, dominating in the classroom, even letting her guard down in quiet moments—but this felt different. More intimate. More real.

Her gaze lingered on Lingling's face. Gone was the composed law student. Gone was the air of someone always five steps ahead. In its place was a softness Orm doubted many people had ever witnessed. Her chest tightened, an unfamiliar feeling blooming in her stomach. She forced herself to blink, pushing aside the sudden well of emotion.

Relax, she told herself. Just breathe.

She should move, right? Slip out of Lingling's hold, grab some water, nurse her hangover in private, and dodge the entire emotional minefield. Yet as she started to ease away, Lingling shifted in her sleep, letting out a soft sigh and tightening her grip on Orm's waist.

Then a slow warmth spread through her limbs. Lingling's breath skimmed Orm's hair, and the tension began to melt, replaced by a lazy, comforting heat. She closed her eyes, exhaling. It felt... good. Safe.

Maybe I can stay a little longer...

Instead of slipping away, she carefully turned in Lingling's hold until she faced her. The movement was cautious, as though trying not to break a fragile spell. She ended up with her forehead resting near Lingling's collarbone.

An unexpected flutter ignited in Orm's stomach. She could feel Lingling's heartbeat, steady and grounding, a stark contrast to her own racing pulse. The longer she stayed there, the more she realized she didn't want to move. She threaded her fingers into the hoodie's fabric, drawing in the subtle scent that now felt strangely like home.

Lingling murmured something inaudible, her unconscious mind registering Orm's shift. In response, she adjusted her arm, pulling Orm in even closer. Despite the swarm of thoughts in Orm's head, she let her eyes flutter shut.

Just a moment, she promised herself. Just to let my headache settle. But deep down, she knew it wasn't just about the headache. It was about the comfort of being held—of sharing a moment that felt private and quiet, a stark contrast to the usual chaos between them.

An hour later, there was a loud knock at Orm's door.

Lingling lay beside her, arm draped around Orm's waist, breathing steady and calm. Even in Orm's half-comatose state, it was comforting.

Knock knock, the pounding came again, louder this time.

"ORM, ARE YOU ALIVE?!" Becky's voice shot through the wood like a bullhorn.

Orm let out a pitiful groan, her face still pressed against Lingling's shirt. "No," she mumbled.

Lingling, eyes still closed, spoke in a tone that was somehow both commanding and soothing. "Let them in."

Orm huffed in protest. "Why do you hate me?" she whimpered, clinging to the last remnants of peace. But the knocking wouldn't stop, so Orm reluctantly peeled herself away from Lingling's hold and stumbled to the door. Her hair was a mess, eyes still foggy from hangover-induced sleep and her body insisted it wasn't quite awake yet.

Cracking the door open, Orm found Becky and May on the other side, both wearing wide-eyed grins that immediately made her regret answering. "Morning, my favorite disaster," Becky announced, breezing past her before Orm could protest.

May followed, wrinkling her nose. "How's the hangover?"

Orm rubbed her temples with a dramatic groan. "Why are you both here?"

Becky shrugged innocently, smiling too brightly for Orm's current state. "Because we love you, obviously."

Before Orm could demand a more honest reason, Becky and May's gazes landed on the bed—and froze. There, propped up on one elbow, was Lingling, casually wearing Orm's shirt, hair slightly mussed, looking entirely at ease. Becky and May exchanged astonished looks, their brains short-circuiting in real time.

Lingling, noticing their shock, yawned and pushed herself upright, stretching with languid grace. A small smirk tugged at her lips as she greeted them, voice calm as ever: "Morning."

Becky let out a gasp worthy of a daytime soap. "WHAT—YOU—WHY—"

May clutched her chest. "Did we just walk into a post-hookup scene?!"

Orm felt her soul attempt to exit her body. "NO. NO. NO," she insisted, voice cracking with panic.

But Lingling, that traitor, just shrugged in an oh-so-casual way. "Absolutely." she said, tone smooth and deliberate, clearly relishing Orm's mortification.

Becky nearly dropped her phone. "OH MY GOD."

May's eyes flicked between them. "Wait, so you two actually—?" she asked, voice squeaking.

Orm flailed her arms. "NO!" she almost shouted.

Lingling, maintaining that maddening composure, gave a tiny, catlike stretch. "I mean, we did spend the night together," she said with measured nonchalance.

That was all Becky and May needed to lose their minds. They erupted into loud squeals, half in horror, half in uncontainable excitement. Orm clamped her hands over her ears, her face burning with about seven different shades of embarrassment. Lingling, meanwhile, looked suspiciously unbothered, sipping at a coffee mug Orm didn't even remember leaving on the nightstand.

Orm spun toward Lingling, eyes pleading. "Ling, please," she begged, desperate for an explanation that wouldn't make her friends think they'd just had the wildest night of their lives.

Lingling raised an innocent brow. "What?" she asked. "Am I not telling the truth?"

"I'm gonna die." Orm muttered, dropping her head into her hands. She could practically feel Becky and May's smirks behind her. The situation spiraled completely out of her control—and Lingling was clearly enjoying every second.

Eventually, Becky stopped squealing long enough to notice Orm's reddening cheeks and mild quivering. May, reading the room, nudged Becky's side. "Okay, maybe we should calm down," she hissed, though her grin remained.

Becky exhaled, turning her attention to Lingling again. "You're unbelievably casual about all this," she remarked, half-admiring, half-accusing.

Lingling shrugged. "Just stating facts," she said, setting the coffee mug aside. "You could always ask Orm if you want details."

Orm blanched at the thought. "Don't encourage them!" she hissed, glaring at Lingling.

But Lingling merely lifted her shoulder in a mock display of innocence. "I'm not encouraging; I'm just... clarifying."

Becky gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes, then turned to Orm. "Whatever actually happened, I hope you know the whole campus is about to explode with rumors. We saw you two flirting last night and people saw Lingling take you home."

May chimed in. "And the way you threw yourself at Lingling? That alone could fuel gossip for weeks."

Orm slumped onto the couch, burying her face in the cushions. "Just kill me now," she mumbled. She could already envision the whispers, the knowing winks she'd get in class. Midterms ended, but apparently scandal was just beginning.

Lingling stood, making her way over to Orm. She rested a hand on Orm's shoulder, giving it a small, comforting squeeze. "You'll survive," she said, sounding unreasonably tranquil.

Orm turned her head, peering up at Lingling with a hint of betrayal. "Easy for you to say," she grumbled, voice muffled by the couch cushion.

Becky tapped her foot impatiently, arms crossed. "At least you're both alive. And, you know, obviously sleeping in the same bed," she quipped, still not over her shock.

May nodded vigorously, eyes dancing with curiosity. "If you want to share details, we're ready."

Orm groaned and burrowed deeper into the couch. "No details, thank you" she mumbled. She lifted her head just enough to glare at Lingling. "And can you please stop adding fuel to the fire?"

Lingling's lips curled in a small, mischievous smile. "What fire?" she asked innocently.

Becky let out a laugh. "Orm, honey, I hate to say it, but you picked a dangerous partner."

"I'm aware," Orm moaned, though the tiny part of her that loved Lingling's chaos felt oddly proud. This was the exact madness she'd signed up for—she just hadn't expected it before breakfast.

Eventually, Becky and May declared they'd gotten enough drama for one morning. "We'll let you two... talk things out," Becky said with a pointed wink.

May smirked. "And don't worry, Orm. We'll hold off on the stories for at least a few hours—unless someone asks." She gave a playful shrug, making it clear that gossip would be unstoppable.

They disappeared out the door, leaving behind a deeply flustered Orm and a perfectly composed Lingling. Silence settled for a moment.

Orm sat up, brushing hair out of her eyes. "You enjoy torturing me," she accused, though her tone held no real malice.

Lingling shrugged, stepping closer. "You're cute when you're flustered."

The tension in Orm's shoulders eased slightly at the gentle remark. She let out a resigned laugh. "You're impossible," she muttered, leaning her forehead against Lingling's chest.

Lingling smoothed a hand over Orm's hair. "And yet, here we are," she said softly.

In that moment, Orm realized no matter how mortified she felt, she wouldn't trade this for anything.

Yes, the campus was about to unleash a storm of rumors.

Yes, Becky and May would tease her until graduation.

But Lingling's arms were still around her, and somehow, that made the upcoming chaos worth it.

The morning after their wild night at the club, the campus buzzed like a hive of restless bees. Students gathered in small knots around the quad, some whispering conspiratorially while others openly gossiped with wide-eyed enthusiasm. It felt as though every corner was rife with excited chatter, and the subject on nearly everyone's lips was the same: Orm and Lingling.

Plenty of people had witnessed Orm's bold, half-drunken flirting the night before or caught glimpses of Lingling leading Orm out of the club when she'd clearly had too many shots. Some claimed to have seen Orm nearly climbing Lingling like a tree on the dance floor, others told stories of Lingling's cool composure and deadly smirk. By midmorning, the rumor mill had spun these accounts into a hundred elaborate versions, each retelling more dramatic than the last.

Orm found out the hard way just how far the gossip had traveled. She arrived on campus for her first class, trying to project an air of normalcy. Except... normal was impossible when Orm couldn't take a step without sensing eyes on her from every direction.

She paused mid-step on the main walkway, frowning as she noticed several pairs of students turn to stare. Some whispered behind textbooks, others openly gawped. One girl nearly tripped over her own feet, too busy craning her neck to keep Orm in sight.

Orm turned to Lingling, confusion etched across her face. "Why is everyone staring?"

Lingling took an unhurried sip from her coffee. "Maybe because you basically threw yourself at me last night," she replied, voice dripping with dry amusement.

Orm's cheeks flared with color. "I—excuse me?" she sputtered. "I didn't—did I?"

Lingling arched an eyebrow. "You don't remember?" she asked, feigning mild surprise. "You practically announced to half the club how gorgeous you thought I was."

Orm's mind raced with the half-memories: her bold compliments, dancing with abandon, pressing Lingling against the bar and whispering risqué things in her ear. Heat flooded her face. "Okay, maybe I was a little enthusiastic," she muttered.

Lingling merely smirked, taking another measured sip of coffee as they continued toward the classroom building. "Enthusiastic," she repeated, a teasing note in her voice.

The entire walk from the main courtyard to class was an exercise in public scrutiny. But if Orm wanted any relief, she certainly didn't get it from Becky and May, who popped out of nowhere to flank them. Both wore smug grins that spelled trouble.

"Some night, huh?" Becky teased, flashing Orm a wink. "I've never seen you so handsy."

Orm groaned, wishing she could vanish into the concrete. "Why are you here?"

"We're your friends," May said, shrugging innocently. "We're here for moral support during your hour of public shame."

Lingling chuckled under her breath, hiding it behind her coffee cup. Orm shot her a half-hearted glare, still reeling from the onlookers' gazes and Becky's relentless commentary.

Becky nudged Orm's shoulder, barely containing her glee. "Everyone's talking about how you basically—" she made a wild gesture, "—threw yourself at Lingling last night. And that you nearly, uh, devoured her on the dance floor."

May nodded solemnly. "Some rumors even say you two disappeared into a back room." She gave Orm a sly grin. "Care to clarify?"

Orm squeaked, her voice jumping in pitch. "Th-there was no back room. We went home!" She froze, realizing that statement didn't exactly help.

Lingling observed Orm's meltdown with that infuriatingly calm demeanor. She tapped her coffee cup lightly, as though waiting for just the right moment to speak. Finally, she offered a concise statement: "We left the club early because someone had too many tequila shots. That's it."

Becky snickered. "Oh, is that the official line?"

May gave a knowing little smile, leaning in. "And how do you explain the fact you're wearing Orm's clothes this morning?"

Lingling shrugged. "I needed something comfortable," she said, voice smooth as silk. "Besides, Orm's laundry smells nice."

Orm let out a strangled sound, torn between embarrassment and grudging delight at Lingling's nonchalance. She risked a quick glance at her classmates passing by; some openly gaped, while others whispered behind raised textbooks. The campus wasn't used to seeing Lingling—the usually unflappable law student—wearing someone else's hoodie, nor were they used to Orm, the golden princess, visibly flustered.