WHISPERS OF LINGORM : A One-Shot Anthology - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

As the exhibition wrapped up, students began packing their projects, their voices filled with excitement and exhaustion. The main event was over, but the evening wasn’t. A special space show was still left—an exclusive presentation by university researchers about the future of space exploration.
Standing near the entrance of Chulalongkorn University’s grand hall, A 15-year-old student from Satriwithaya High School, took a deep breath and pulled out her phone. She had spent months preparing for this exhibition, showcasing her team's renewable energy system for space habitats. It had been a nerve-wracking yet thrilling experience, standing among university students and industry experts, proving that high schoolers could dream just as big.
She dialed her mother’s number and waited as the call connected.
"Mom, where are you? Are you coming to college or not?"
Her sweet, impatient voice echoed through the phone—Rak, a girl filled with mischief yet brimming with warmth, her small hands gripping the phone as she waited for a response.
From the other end, Ling’s voice came through, slightly irritated yet laced with concern. "Rak, I’m on my way. What do you expect me to do—teleport? And wasn’t your mom supposed to pick you up? What happened?"
Rak huffed, rolling her eyes. "You’re my mom too! And now you’re the one picking me up!"
Ling sighed, shaking her head as she navigated through the traffic. "Yeah, I know. But I was asking about your mom, P’Orm. Is she okay? If she’s not picking you up, there must be a reason. Are you sure everything’s fine? She’s fine, right?"
Rak groaned dramatically. "Yes, Mom, she’s fine! She told me she had urgent work, that’s why she couldn’t come. If you don’t believe me, call her yourself and ask."
"You know I can’t call her," Ling muttered, pouting as if Rak could see her sulking through the phone. "I won't talk to her this time."
Rak let out an exasperated sigh.
"Ugh, you two! I can’t figure out who’s the child between us. You’re both acting like my kids!"
Ling chuckled, her irritation melting away at Rak’s sass.
"Honestly mom," Rak continued, shaking her head. "You both fight so much over the dumbest things. You both were arguing over who gets to pick me up. And now, you’ve both disappeared, leaving me waiting here like a fool. Amazing!"
Ling chuckled again, steering the car with ease. "I’m almost there. Just five more minutes. And you better tell your mom to stop fighting with me. She always shuts me up like I’m still her student!"
"Well… aren’t you?" Rak teased. "Anyway, hurry up mom. I’m waiting."
With that, she ended the call, but before she could even put her phone away, another incoming call flashed on the screen.
"Mom…" she answered.
"Rak, where are you? I’m already inside the campus," Orm’s calm voice came through.
"Umm… Mom, Hall 404 in the Sasa Patasala Building. I had to drop off a project. Why don’t you come here? It’ll take some time, and we can leave from here."
"Okay, I’m coming. Just wait for me," Orm replied before cutting the call.
Orm made her way toward the lecture hall, her steps steady and familiar. She didn’t need directions—this was the same university where she had once been a professor. The same place where she had met Ling, her once-student, the love she had thought was impossible… now her wife of eighteen years.
A soft smile ghosted across her lips. The journey had been anything but easy. The love she had once deemed unattainable had flourished into something beautiful, something lasting. And now, they even had a daughter—Rak, the little girl who held their hearts in the palm of her hands.
Orm reached the lecture hall and stepped inside.
Rak’s phone rang again.
"Rak, where exactly are you?" Ling asked, her tone suspicious. "I’m inside the university."
"Umm…mom.. I told you, I’m in Hall 404 in the Sasa Patasala Building. I had to drop off a project. You can come here. It’ll take a little time, and then we can go straight home."
Ling narrowed her eyes. "Time? Didn’t you just say you were waiting for me? Now suddenly, you need more time?"
Rak flinched, realizing her slip-up. "Umm… well, there was an announcement. They said we have to submit our projects in the lecture hall before leaving, so… I had to come here."
Ling hummed in suspicion but eventually relented. "Alright, I’m coming. Wait there."
Rak let out a relieved sigh. She hadn’t been caught—yet.
Meanwhile, Orm stepped inside the lecture hall, frowning when she saw the empty space. It was supposed to be occupied, yet Rak was nowhere to be seen. Confused, she called out, "Rak?"
Silence.
Orm glanced around. Today wasn’t a normal university day—there had been a science exhibition, and now, most of the staff and students had already left. The only ones still around were those wrapping up the event, nowhere near the lecture hall.
"Rak?" she called again, but still, there was no response. Just as she was about to turn and step out, the door opened.
Ling walked in.
Their eyes locked, both freezing in surprise.
"…Ling?" Orm whispered, eyebrows furrowing.
"P’Orm? You… weren’t you busy with work?" Ling asked, her confusion mirroring Orm’s.
"Huh? Work? No… I came here to pick up Rak," Orm answered.
Ling blinked. "Wait… I came to pick her up. She called me and said you are busy with some important stuff and you won't be able to pick her up."
The realization hit them both at the same time.
Rak had tricked them.
Before either of them could react, the door suddenly slammed shut. The loud clank of a lock clicking into place echoed through the room.
They turned sharply, rushing toward the door, only to see Rak standing outside—grinning like a little devil as she secured the lock with her bicycle lock.
"Rak?!" Ling called out, pressing her hands against the door’s small glass window. "What are you doing? Open this door!"
Rak tilted her head playfully, shaking her head. "Nope."
Orm’s eyebrows knitted together. "Rak, this isn’t funny. Unlock the door."
But Rak merely crossed her arms and smirked. "Mom? Ask yourself what a joke is, It’s been a week since you both started fighting over that silly thing and ever since that, No proper conversations, no spending time together. It’s annoying!, I’ve had enough." She sighed dramatically, before raising an eyebrow.
"So now…"
Orm and Ling exchanged a wary glance. "Now…?" they asked in unison.
"Now, you two have one hour to sort out your fight and make up," Rak said, looking absolutely pleased with herself. "I’ll be back in an hour to unlock the door. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying the show in the auditorium with the rest of the university. And when I return…" she narrowed her eyes mischievously, "I expect you both to be normal again."
Ling and Orm gasped. "Rak!"
But Rak just turned on her heel, waving casually over her shoulder. "Oh, and don’t even think about faking it! You know it, I can tell when you both lie."
With that, she walked away, leaving them both trapped—together.
Ling and Orm stood in silence, watching each other with unreadable expressions. With a heavy sigh, they turned away and walked further inside the empty lecture hall. Orm settled into the professor’s chair at the front, while Ling dropped into one of the student seats, resting her head on the desk, lost in thought.
For a while, neither spoke. The weight of the past week—of unresolved tension, of words left unsaid—hung thick between them.
Then, breaking the silence, Orm exhaled sharply and muttered, “She’s exactly like you. Stubborn. Just as impossible as you are.” Her tone was laced with mock exasperation, but there was a deeper weight behind it.
Ling, whose head was still down, lifted her gaze, eyes narrowing. “Huh? Me? Stubborn? You’re the stubborn one P'orm, not me.”
Orm scoffed, arms crossing over her chest. “Oh, really? Then tell me, who started this fight? Who has refused to talk for a whole damn week? And who has been acting like a child, avoiding me at every turn?” Her words carried an edge—frustration, hurt, and something else, something raw.
Ling opened her mouth to snap back, but then she noticed it.
Orm’s eyes.
Brimming with tears.
Ling’s breath hitched. All her irritation, her frustration—gone in an instant.
The shift in her expression was immediate. Her narrowed eyes widened in alarm, her heart plummeting as she took in Orm’s tear-filled gaze.
“P’Orm…” her voice barely above a whisper. Then panic struck. She shot up from her seat, rushing to Orm’s side.
By the time she reached her, the first tear had already slipped past Orm’s lashes.
Ling cupped her face instantly, her hands trembling. “P’Orm, why are you crying? What happened? Are you hurt? Tell me—does something hurt?” Her voice broke, desperate, eyes scanning Orm’s face, searching for any sign of physical pain.
Orm tried to blink the tears away, but they kept falling freely now, streaking down her cheeks. “It hurts, Ling,” she finally choked out, her voice fragile.
Ling’s panic deepened. “Where? P'orm” she pleaded, her hands tightening on Orm’s face as if she could physically take away whatever pain she was feeling. “Tell me, P’Orm, I’ll fix it. Just tell me where it hurts.”
Orm swallowed, then lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Ling.
And then, she pointed—not at her body, not at any physical wound.
But at her heart.
“Here,” she whispered. “It hurts here.”
Ling froze.
Orm sucked in a shuddering breath, voice barely steady. “Do you know… this is the first time in 18 years that you’ve ignored me for this long? The first time you’ve gone more than two days without speaking to me? The first time you refused to eat with me, refused to even look at me?” Her lips quivered as more tears fell.
“The first time my efforts to talk to you, to fix things, didn’t work? Ling… it’s the first time you’ve ever pushed me away like this. And it hurts.”
Ling felt her entire world tilt.
Her breath hitched, and suddenly, the weight of her own actions crashed into her like a tidal wave.
She had done this.
Unintentionally, unknowingly—she had hurt Orm in a way she never meant to. In a way she never could have imagined.
Her stubbornness, her silence, her avoidance—it hadn’t just been a petty fight to Orm.
It had hurt her. ALOT!
And now, as she watched the woman she loved cry because of her, Ling felt a sharp, gut-wrenching stab of guilt.
A tear slipped from her own eye.
Then another.
And another.
Before she knew it, Ling was crying too.
But she didn’t hesitate. In the very next second, she dropped to her knees in front of Orm, grasping her hands tightly as if afraid she would slip away. Tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was the woman in front of her—the love of her life, the one person she had sworn to protect from pain.
Yet, here Orm was, crying because of her.
“P’Orm…” Ling’s voice trembled, thick with regret, her thumbs gently stroking Orm’s hands.
“Please don’t cry… please…” She sucked in a shaky breath, her own tears falling freely now. “I’m sorry—I’m so sorry. I never… I never meant to hurt you.”
Orm tried to look away, but Ling tightened her grip, desperate for her to understand.
“I swear, I wasn’t ignoring you to be cruel. I wasn’t pushing you away because I wanted to. I was—” Ling’s voice cracked, and she let out a heavy breath, trying to steady herself. “I was scared.”
Orm’s teary eyes snapped back to hers.
Ling swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep speaking. “I thought… if I talked to you, if I stayed close, I would end up saying something stupid, something I’d regret. I didn’t want to fight with you, P’Orm. I didn’t want to make things worse. But in trying to stop myself from hurting you, I—” Her voice broke entirely, her hands trembling against Orm’s. “I did hurt you. And that’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.”
Orm sniffled, but she stayed silent, listening.
"I’ve always been like this so stupid, haven’t I?" Ling let out a shaky laugh, but there was no humor in it.
"Just like back in college, when you scolded me for not paying attention in class, and I sulked like a child. I was so mad at you for embarrassing me in front of everyone. I ignored you for days, convinced that I was right."
Orm's lips parted slightly, as if remembering.
"But you… you were the one who came to me first. You sat beside me in the library, placed my favorite snack on the table, and simply waited. Even when I didn’t speak to you, even when I acted like a brat, you never left my side."
Ling let out a small, tearful laugh—more self-deprecating than anything. “You know, Rak was right. We’re both impossible. But you know what’s worse?” She squeezed Orm’s hands. “I’m the absolute worst when it comes to you. Because I can’t stand seeing you cry, and yet I’m the idiot who made you cry.”
Orm shook her head slightly, but Ling didn’t let her deny it.
“I did, P’Orm,” she insisted softly, her voice filled with love and guilt. “And I hate myself for it.”
Ling hesitated for a second, then brought Orm’s hands up to her lips, pressing a tender kiss against them.
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
“I love you so damn much. And if I have to beg, if I have to stay on my knees for the rest of my life, I’ll do it—I’ll do anything. Just… don’t cry because of me ever again. Please P'orm”
Orm let out a shaky breath, her lips parting as if to speak, but Ling beat her to it.
“I’m sorry, P’Orm. I’ll make it up to you. I swear, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please forgive me P'orm”
Orm stared at Ling, her tears still brimming, but something inside her softened—melted—at the raw honesty in Ling’s voice. This was the woman she had loved for decades. The same stubborn, childish, frustrating woman who could set her world on fire with just a look. The same woman who, despite all her flaws, would always—always—find her way back to her.
A deep sigh escaped Orm’s lips as she reached out, her fingers brushing against Ling’s damp cheek.
"You really are impossible," she murmured, shaking her head.
Ling's heart clenched at the words. She feared rejection, punishment—anything but forgiveness. But then, Orm’s thumb traced the corner of her lips, a touch so soft it sent a shiver down Ling’s spine.
"Do you have any idea how much I missed you?" Orm’s voice was thick with emotion. "One week—just one week of silence—and it felt like hell. You know who has the upper hand in this relationship, right? So listen carefully and always remember this... you mean everything to me. My little brat"
Something inside Ling snapped.
Before Orm could say anything else, Ling surged forward, crashing their lips together in a kiss that was desperate, raw, unapologetic.
Orm gasped against her lips, momentarily startled, but Ling didn’t let her pull away. One hand tangled into Orm’s hair, the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, pressing her body against hers.
Orm’s hands clenched around Ling’s shoulders, her initial shock crumbling as Ling deepened the kiss.
Ling poured everything into it—the regret, the love, the desperation to fix this. To let Orm feel everything she couldn’t put into words. And when Orm finally melted into her, kissing her back with just as much hunger, Ling knew—she was forgiven.
Orm’s breath came uneven when they finally broke apart, her forehead resting against Ling’s.
Orm moaned softly into Ling’s mouth, her arms sliding around her shoulders, nails digging lightly into her skin.
"I hate when we fight," Orm whispered between the kiss.
Orm’s breath came uneven when they finally broke apart, her forehead resting against Ling’s.
"I’m never gonna fight with you again, okay, ma'am? I am a good student of yours...." Ling breathed, pressing Orm back against the chair, her own control slipping.
"Then show me" Orm smirked against her skin. Ling stood up, gently pulling Orm with her. Their bodies pressed together, orm's legs snaked around ling's waist, warmth igniting between them. Orm’s breath hitched as Ling guided her back toward the lecture hall’s last row, pushing her against the cool wooden bench.
Orm exhaled shakily. “Ling…”
“Shh,” Ling whispered against her lips. “Let me show you how much I love you.” leaning in to capture Orm's lips again in a heated kiss. It deepened quickly, their mouths moving against each other as if trying to erase the distance that had formed between them. Ling’s hands traveled down Orm’s sides, exploring, feeling the warmth of her body.
As their kisses grew more passionate, Ling’s hands moved to Orm's waist, pushing up the fabric of her shirt, tracing the skin beneath. Orm gasped softly against Ling's mouth, feeling the heat of her touch igniting them both.
Ling pulled back slightly, her eyes darkened with desire. “Tell me you forgive me,” she said, her voice a raspy whisper.
“I forgive you,” Orm replied, breathless, the softness in her eyes giving way to something deeper.
With a playful yet commanding motion, Ling leaned back in, capturing Orm's lips again, then trailing wet kisses along her jaw and down her neck, savoring every inch as she coaxed soft moans from her wife. She felt powerful, sensual, taking control in a way that felt natural between them.
As Ling’s kisses traveled lower, Orm tilted her head back, eyes fluttering shut in pleasure. “Oh God, Ling…” she gasped, a mix of awe and delight in her voice. “You really know how to make your wife feel good....”
Ling grinned against her skin, feeling a rush of satisfaction. “You deserve it, ma'am” she murmured, her hands deftly unbuttoning Orm’s blouse, revealing the delicate lace underneath.
Once Orm was exposed, Ling’s mouth engulfed one of her soft breasts, her tongue swirling around the nipple, eliciting shivers from Orm. “I am blessed to have you... P'orm....” Ling breathed against her, her confidence surging.
Orm’s hands tangled in Ling’s hair, pulling her closer as she moaned softly, lost in the moment. “More… please,” she urged, her voice a mix of authority and vulnerability.
Ling grinned and switched her focus to the other breast, lavishing attention on it as well. “Like this? Ma'am” she teased, loving the way Orm’s body responded to her every movement.
“Yes, exactly like that,” Orm gasped, arching her back and pressing against Ling’s mouth, her control slipping away. “And don’t stop,” she added, her voice desperate.
Ling felt an intoxicating power in giving Orm pleasure, but she also craved more. She shifted herself, straddling Orm, feeling the heat of their bodies pressing together through the fabric of their clothes.
With a swift motion, Ling took hold of Orm’s face, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss once more, their tongues dancing in unison. "Rak locked us in here for a reason, didn’t she?" Ling murmured pulling back.
Orm swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edges of Ling’s blazer as if to steady herself. "That brat," she muttered, but her words lacked any real conviction.
"Mmm. She’s a genius." Ling chuckled against Orm’s collarbone, "Remind me to buy her something nice after this."
Orm gasped when Ling’s fingers worked their way lower, a shuddering exhale escaping her lips. "After this?" she managed, her usual composed tone completely undone.
Ling lifted her head, meeting Orm’s dazed, dark eyes with her own smoldering gaze. "Love," she whispered, voice thick with emotion and something far more dangerous, "we’re just getting started."
As they continued to explore each other, Ling whispered, “I want you to know this belongs to you—this moment, this feeling. I’m yours, now and always.”
As soon as Rak stepped into the lecture hall, the sound of the door opening made both Ling and Orm snap their heads toward her. Standing there with her arms crossed and a devilish grin on her face, she tilted her head slightly, eyes filled with mischief.
"Hmm… looks like the ‘Cold War’ is officially over," Rak smirked, raising an eyebrow as if she had just caught them red-handed.
Ling and Orm exchanged quick glances, their postures stiffening for a split second before they both stood up from the back seat and made their way toward their daughter. Rak’s smug expression only grew as they approached, sensing that she had been right all along.
The moment they reached her, Ling sighed dramatically and ruffled Rak’s hair. “You little troublemaker… you really locked us in, huh?”
Rak giggled, dodging Ling’s hand. “Well, if I didn’t, you two would still be sulking in separate corners instead of acting all lovey-dovey.”
Orm chuckled softly before pulling Rak into a warm hug, kissing her forehead. “We missed you too, baby.”
Rak scrunched her nose. “I know. But you guys needed a little push. Someone had to fix your mess.”
Ling sighed again but this time with a soft smile, wrapping her arms around both Orm and Rak. "Fine, fine, you win. But seriously, next time, just talk to us instead of plotting like some evil genius.”
Rak smirked proudly. “Where do you think I learned that from?”
Ling and Orm both froze for a second before glancing at each other.
"She’s got your genes," Orm teased.
"P'orm?" Ling sulked playfully.
Rak rolled her eyes. “Ugh, there they go again.” She then grabbed both their hands and started walking towards the exit. "Come on, moms, let’s go home before you two start another fight. I’m hungry.”
Orm and Ling chuckled as they let Rak drag them outside, their hearts full. Whatever misunderstandings had existed before had melted away, and as a family, they were whole again.
As they stepped out of the lecture hall, the soft evening breeze brushed against their skin, carrying the scent of rain-kissed earth. The campus was quieter now, the golden hues of the setting sun painting everything in a warm glow.
Ling walked beside Orm, their hands still linked, the silence between them now comforting rather than heavy. Rak walked ahead, her usual energy unfazed, twirling on her heel to face them, walking backward as she smirked.
“You two are too cute, you know that?” she teased, hands stuffed into her pockets.
Orm chuckled, shaking her head. " Yeah, because our mom's name is Rak"
“Mom!” Rak scoffed. “I live for the drama. But fine, I’ll spare you some privacy. Just don’t get too gross, okay?” She shot them a wink before jogging ahead, leaving them in a moment of quiet solitude.
Ling exhaled softly, glancing at Orm, who was gazing at the sky, lost in thought. The golden light kissed her face so gently, making her look almost ethereal.
"P'orm" Ling murmured, squeezing her hand.
Orm turned to her, a small, knowing smile gracing her lips. “Hmm?”
Ling hesitated for a moment before pulling Orm closer, pressing their foreheads together. “I don’t ever want to hurt you again.” Her voice was raw, filled with the weight of everything she couldn’t say. “I was stubborn. I was stupid. And I let my pride come before us. I never want to do that again.”
Orm lifted a hand to cup Ling’s cheek, her thumb tracing soft, soothing circles. “I know,” she whispered. “I know you didn’t mean to. But Ling, love isn’t about never making mistakes. It’s about choosing each other, even after we do.”
Ling swallowed hard, her arms wrapping around Orm’s waist, holding her close. “Then let me keep choosing you. Again and again.”
With that, the three of them made their way out of the quiet parking lot, the sound of their footsteps in sync as they walked toward the car. The tension from earlier, the weight of the unsaid things, all melted away with each step they took together.
As they slid into the car, Rak immediately turned her head, a wide grin plastered on her face. “So... what now? Are you two officially a thing, or am I still gonna be your unpaid therapist?”
Ling looked over at Orm, her heart light and full. “I think we’ve always been a thing.” She then glanced at Rak, eyes twinkling. “But, for the record, we’ll always need a therapist, even if it’s just for Rak’s sarcasm.”
Rak gasped, clutching her chest. “I am deeply offended, but I’ll let it slide—this time.”
As the car rolled forward, the road ahead stretching long and inviting, Orm leaned in slightly, her voice a soft whisper that only Ling could hear. “We’ve got a lifetime of moments ahead of us, don’t we?”
Ling squeezed her hand, her voice full of certainty.
“As long as you’re with me, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”