Faking It, Lovin' It || Lingorm

Chapter 5: First Real Tension

Lingling had always been a planner. She liked knowing what was coming, scheduling her day down to the minute, and avoiding surprises at all costs. So when she and Orm had agreed to their fake relationship, she made sure to set clear boundaries and expectations. This was supposed to be simple—Orm would play the role of her girlfriend when necessary, and Lingling could keep her family at ease without too much chaos. It was a perfect plan.

But, as she was quickly learning, nothing with Orm was ever that simple.

It started small. Little gestures that seemed innocent at first—Orm brushing her fingers along Lingling's arm when they were out together, lingering a little too long when they hugged for their "relationship" photos. It was subtle, but enough to make Lingling feel like Orm was testing her limits. Every time, Lingling would remind herself that this was all just an act. But then Orm would flash her that mischievous grin, and Lingling's resolve would waver just a little.

Things came to a head during one of their outings. They had gone to a cozy café, a favorite spot of Lingling's that she hadn't shared with many people. It was quiet, the perfect place to relax away from the city's bustle. Lingling had planned for it to be a calm, low-key "date" where they could stay under the radar.

But, as usual, Orm had other ideas.

Orm was in a particularly playful mood, teasing Lingling about the meticulous way she arranged her food, making exaggerated comments about how "domestic" she was acting. Lingling had chuckled at first, trying to keep things light, but then Orm leaned closer, resting her hand on Lingling's thigh. It was casual—too casual—and the warmth of Orm's touch sent a jolt of confusion through her.

Lingling immediately stiffened, glancing around the café to make sure no one was watching. "What are you doing?" she hissed, her eyes narrowing.

Orm tilted her head, looking far too innocent. "What? We're supposed to be dating, right?"

"There's no one here we need to impress," Lingling whispered, pulling Orm's hand away. "You don't have to keep up the act."

Orm smirked, not bothering to lower her voice. "Maybe I just like touching you. Does everything have to be an act?"

Lingling felt her face flush, the heat creeping up her neck. This was exactly what she had been worried about—Orm pushing boundaries, making her feel things she wasn't supposed to feel. "Yes, it does," she snapped, her voice harsher than she intended. "This is fake, remember? We agreed on that."

Orm leaned back, raising an eyebrow. "Relax, Ling. I'm just having a little fun. You don't always have to be so serious."

"That's the problem," Lingling shot back, her frustration boiling over. "You don't take anything seriously. This was supposed to be a straightforward arrangement, but you keep... you keep acting like it's something else."

Orm's playful grin faded, and for the first time in a while, Lingling saw something like hurt flicker in her eyes. "And what if it's not just an act to me?"

Lingling's heart skipped a beat, the words hanging in the air between them. She stared at Orm, her mind racing, trying to make sense of what she had just heard. It was the first time Orm had openly acknowledged that maybe—just maybe—this wasn't all pretend for her anymore.

But Lingling wasn't ready to deal with that possibility. She had worked so hard to keep her life in order, and letting her feelings get tangled up with Orm's unpredictable nature felt like inviting chaos into her carefully constructed world. She couldn't afford to lose control now, not when things were already so complicated.

"Orm, we agreed on boundaries," Lingling said, her voice softer but still firm. "I need us to stick to them."

Orm's jaw clenched, and she gave a small nod, though the lighthearted energy from earlier had completely vanished. "Got it. No more blurring the lines."

They finished their coffee in awkward silence, neither of them willing to break the uneasy truce. Lingling could feel the tension building between them, and she knew this wasn't the last time they'd butt heads over what was real and what was fake.

As they left the café, walking side by side but with a noticeable distance between them, Lingling couldn't shake the nagging feeling that things were starting to slip out of her control. What scared her more than anything was the realization that, maybe, part of her didn't mind.