Another day... Orm lay on the infirmary bed again, grinning up at Ling, who stood with her arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.
"If you don't eat, you won't recover," Ling huffed, holding up a spoonful of soup.
Orm smirked. "I'll eat... but only if you feed me."
Ling's eyes twitched. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." Orm winked. "I mean, how can I resist being pampered by my favorite girl?"
Ling exhaled sharply, muttering under her breath before shoving the spoon into Orm's mouth. "Just eat."
Orm swallowed, then beamed. "Aww, you care about me. I knew it."
Ling rolled her eyes. "I just don't want to deal with you fainting around me again. It's annoying."
"If it means getting your attention, maybe I should faint more often."
Ling scowled and smacked Orm's arm lightly. "Don't even think about it."
Despite her irritation, something about Orm's persistence had started to chip away at the walls Ling had built. Maybe it was her playful nature, or perhaps the way she had surprisingly backed down during that fight in the cafeteria. Either way, Ling found herself unable to completely push Orm away.
Days turned into weeks, and despite Ling's best efforts, she found herself growing more accustomed to Orm's presence. They often exchanged banter, and Ling—though she would never admit it—found herself secretly looking forward to their interactions.
One evening, as they sat on the campus bench, Orm leaned closer. "Did it hurt?"
Ling sighed. "Did what hurt?"
Orm smirked. "When you fell from heaven?"
Ling stared at her blankly. "...I'm leaving."
Orm grabbed her wrist playfully. "Wait! I have more."
Ling yanked her hand away. "Spare me."
Orm grinned. "Are you French? Because Eiffel for you."
Ling groaned. "I take back every ounce of concern I've ever had for you."
Orm placed a hand on her chest dramatically. "Ouch. That hurts more than when you threw water at me."
Ling shook her head, fighting back a smile. "You're impossible."
But then, Orm disappeared for two days. No texts, no teasing, no sudden appearances. Ling told herself she didn't care, that it was probably just another one of Orm's games, but the nagging feeling wouldn't leave her.
By the third day, she found herself walking up to Jane and Anya during lunch. "Where's Orm?"
Jane shrugged. "Dunno. She didn't tell us anything."
Anya sighed. "She's always been reckless, but disappearing like this isn't normal."
Ling hesitated before looking at Jane. "Do you have her number?"
Jane raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? So now you're worried?"
Ling frowned. "Just give it to me."
Jane handed her a slip of paper with Orm's number scribbled on it. Ling took it quickly, glancing around to make sure Kate and Mint weren't watching before slipping it into her pocket.
Meanwhile, Orm sat in a hospital bed, gripping the test results in her trembling hands.
Stage 3 brain cancer.
She swallowed hard, staring at the words as if looking long enough would make them change. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. The doctor's voice had long faded into a blur, drowned by the weight of reality crashing down on her.
She was dying.
Orm let out a shaky breath, leaning back against the pillows. For the first time in a long while, she felt truly afraid.
And yet, all she could think about was Ling.
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If Only..| LingOrm
FanfictionDISCLAIMER This story is purely fictional. It has no connection to real-life events, individuals, or entities, whether living or deceased. Any similarities are purely coincidental and unintentional. Ling Ling Kwong & Orm Kornnaphat, of course, are l...
