Chapter Text
The campus buzzed with life as students filled the hallways and open courtyards, their conversations a symphony of excitement and ambition. Yet, no matter where you looked, all eyes inevitably turned toward the same pair—the untouchable power couple, Ling and Orm.
Ling stood outside Room 427 of the economics faculty, her arms crossed and a scarf wrapped snugly around her neck as she waited for Orm to finish her class. Ling checked her watch, a small smile playing on her lips as she anticipated Orm’s presence.
The door swung open, and students began to file out. Then came Orm, her bag slung casually over one shoulder, her face lighting up the moment she spotted Ling waiting for her. A wide, gummy smile spread across Orm’s face, the kind that crinkled her eyes and made her look impossibly endearing. Ling’s heart skipped at the sight—she could never resist Orm’s smile.
As Orm approached, Ling felt a smile tugging at her own lips. She shook her head lightly, trying to suppress it, but it was futile. Seeing Orm so unabashedly happy was contagious, and soon Ling found herself smiling back, her calm demeanor momentarily giving way to a warmth that matched Orm’s joy.
“What are you grinning at?” Ling teased as Orm finally reached her.
“You,” Orm replied without hesitation, still beaming. “I’m just happy to see you.”
Ling chuckled and couldn’t hide the way her cheeks flushed. “You’re impossible,” she muttered, but the softness in her voice betrayed her affection.
“And you love it,” Orm quipped, looping her arm through Ling’s as they began walking together.
“With all my heart,” Ling said softly, her voice carrying a rare tenderness as her smile deepened. She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of Orm’s hand, her touch as light as a whisper.
Ling walked with a calm confidence that seemed effortless, her cool demeanor and piercing gaze giving her an aura of mystery that drew people in like moths to a flame. Beside her, Orm’s radiant smile and cheerful laugh lit up every corner she entered, balancing Ling’s intensity with a warmth that made her undeniably magnetic. Together, they were an unstoppable force, opposites who fit together so perfectly it was almost unfair.
They were envied and adored in equal measure. Whispers followed them wherever they went: “How did they end up together?” and “They’re just too perfect.” But Ling and Orm didn’t care about the noise. In a sea of admirers and skeptics, their world revolved solely around each other.
As they strolled hand in hand across the campus hallway, oblivious to the stares and murmurs, it was clear to everyone—they weren’t just a couple. They were a phenomenon. And this was only the beginning.
“How about we stop by the diner nearby?” Orm asked, a teasing lilt in her voice. “My foodie girlfriend must be starving after waiting for me outside. What do you want for dinner?”
Ling smirked, leaning closer. “You.”
Orm’s eyes widened in mock surprise before she poked Ling’s side. “Now you are impossible,” she said, laughing.
Ling chuckled, her grin widening. “And you love it.”
Orm playfully smacked Ling’s shoulder, a twinkle in her eye. “Don’t steal my line!”
“Then how about I steal something else?” Ling grinned before leaning in and stealing a quick kiss. Orm’s laughter bubbled up, bright and carefree.
“You know you don’t have to steal my kisses, right?” Orm said, her tone softening as she looked at Ling. “You can have them anytime you want.”
“I know, babe.” Ling smiled, her voice gentle. “But it’s more fun this way.”
Orm let out a soft chuckle while shaking her head. “You’re so silly sometimes.”
It wasn’t just their charm as individuals that made Ling and Orm so captivating; it was the way they existed as a pair, effortlessly complementing each other in ways that seemed almost scripted. Their connection wasn’t loud or ostentatious. It was in the small things—the way Orm subtly adjusted Ling’s scarf on windy mornings, or the way Ling would always save her sandwich for Orm without a second thought.
Their days were filled with the kind of moments that seemed lifted from a romantic comedy. Ling, a perfectionist to her core, often fretted over the tiniest details during her club meetings, and Orm would counterbalance her worries with impromptu plots of random storylines that made her laugh until she forgot what she was anxious about. When Orm’s theatrical productions ran late into the night, Ling would show up with a thermos of tea and sit quietly in the back row, mouthing the words to Orm’s lines as she rehearsed.
On weekends, the two would retreat to their shared condo, savoring the quiet moments away from the bustling campus. Orm would stretch out on the couch, her head nestled against Ling’s chest as they binge-watched Orm’s favorite series. Ling, with one arm draped protectively around Orm, would rest her chin atop Orm’s head, placing soft kisses on her hair every few minutes. These tender gestures, so natural and unspoken, were their way of saying everything that words couldn’t.
Despite their popularity, Ling and Orm had a way of making those around them feel at ease. Their circle of friends was an eclectic mix of personalities, all drawn in by the warmth and humor that Ling and Orm—mostly Orm—seemed to radiate effortlessly.
Ling and Orm’s story wasn’t one of grand declarations or dramatic twists. It was a collection of fleeting, precious moments—the kind that made college life feel unforgettable.
“I love you, Lingling Kwong.”
“I love you, N’Orm.”