Chapter Text
Ling stepped through the grand entrance of Ratchaphurek International School (RIS), her posture straight, her expression unreadable. The chatter of students filled the spacious hallways, but she barely paid attention, her sharp eyes scanning her new surroundings with quiet curiosity.
She had arrived in Thailand just a week ago, a decision made entirely on her own. Unlike most students who transferred schools due to their parents’ work or other obligations, Ling had chosen to move. Thailand had always intrigued her—it was her mother’s birthplace, a country she had only visited a few times in her childhood. Now, she wanted to experience it on her own terms.
A soft breeze fluttered through the open corridors, carrying the scent of blooming jasmine from the school gardens. RIS was prestigious, known for its elite students, top-tier education, and an environment where social status often dictated the unspoken hierarchy. Ling, however, cared little for that.
She adjusted the strap of her black backpack, her every movement deliberate and unhurried. She wasn’t nervous. New environments never intimidated her. If anything, she welcomed the unfamiliar—it kept life interesting.
As she walked toward the administration office, whispers trailed in her wake. The new girl was already the center of attention. It wasn’t just because she was unfamiliar—it was because of her presence.
Ling carried herself differently.
She wasn’t just another pretty face. She was striking. With sharp, well-defined features, deep-set eyes that held an unreadable depth, and a confident posture that suggested she knew exactly who she was, Ling stood out without even trying. Unlike the typical uniform adjustments some students made—shortened skirts, loosened ties—her attire was impeccable.
And then there was her hair—jet black, slightly tousled, yet effortlessly stylish, adding to her handsomely beautiful appeal.
“She looks like a character straight out of a drama,” one girl whispered to her friend.
“She looks like she could be famous,” another murmured.
But Ling paid no attention. She had grown accustomed to stares, to quiet conversations that followed her when she entered a room. It didn’t affect her.
“Lingling Kwong?” A voice called out, breaking through the murmurs.
She turned to see a staff member waiting by the office door. With a small nod, she stepped forward. Her first day at RIS had begun.
“Welcome to RIS.” The staff said, shuffled through some forms, she remarked, “Settling in alright? Bangkok is quite different from Hong Kong, I imagine.”
Ling offered a small, polite smile. “It is. But I am looking forward to exploring.” She didn't elaborate on the deeper reasons for her move, the quiet curiosity that had nudged her across borders. It was a personal journey, a silent exploration she wasn't yet ready to share.
With the necessary paperwork signed, Ling stepped out of the office and into the crowded hallway. Lockers slammed, laughter echoed, and the air buzzed with the nervous energy of teenagers. It was the familiar rhythm of high school, albeit with a different melody.
As she navigated the crowd, her gaze swept over the faces, trying to decipher the unspoken social codes. She wasn't looking to immediately fit in, but rather to understand the landscape. Her composure remained unbroken, a silent shield against the unfamiliarity. Ling knew she would find her place, in her own time, in her own way. The world was vast, and she had only just begun to explore its corners, starting with this new chapter in a land that held the echoes of her past.
Eventually, she found her assigned locker and stopped in front of it, adjusting the strap of her bag before opening it. She placed some of her belongings inside—her books, an extra notebook, and a sleek black pen—before exhaling softly.
Just as she shut the locker door, she nearly bumped into someone standing beside her.
Her gaze lifted, locking onto a pair of captivating amber eyes. They were warm yet intense, holding a confidence that seemed effortlessly natural. The girl standing before her had ash-gray hair, sleek and slightly tousled, framing her delicate yet sharp features. She was slender, her posture relaxed, and from the subtle smirk playing on her lips, she exuded an air of self-assurance.
Ling didn’t need anyone to tell her—this girl was someone important here. The type of person others naturally gravitated toward, someone who belonged at the very top of the school’s social hierarchy.
The girl parted her lips, seemingly about to say something, but before she could—
“Orm!” A voice called out from across the hallway.
The girl—Orm—glanced toward the sound, her smirk fading slightly as she turned her head. A group of students stood a few meters away, clearly waiting for her. With one last lingering look at Ling, she turned on her heel and strode toward them, her confidence apparent in every step.
Ling stood there for a moment, watching as Orm seamlessly rejoined her friends, laughing at something one of them said. Even from a distance, it was clear—Orm belonged in the center of attention, and she knew it.
Ling exhaled, the corners of her lips curling into a subtle smirk. The name lingered on her tongue as she watched Orm disappear into the crowd, effortlessly slipping into the center of attention like she belonged there.
“So, her name is Orm.” She tasted the name on her tongue, it suited her—bold, sharp, and impossible to ignore.
Ling tapped her fingers against the cool metal of her locker, her gaze still lingering on the spot where Orm had stood just moments ago. There was something about her. Something intriguing. Not just her striking looks, but the way she carried herself—so confident, so sure that the world revolved around her.
With a quiet chuckle, Ling shook her head and slung her bag over her shoulder. She had only been at RIS for less than an hour, and she was already getting the feeling that this girl, Orm, would be impossible to avoid.
Ling eventually found her classroom after a couple of wrong turns and a helpful pointer from one of the students. She stepped into her new classroom, scanning the room briefly before making her way inside. The moment she entered, a hush seemed to fall over the students. Curious eyes trailed after her, some whispering quietly to their seatmates, others outright staring. It wasn’t unexpected—new students always drew attention, but Ling had long since learned to ignore it.
Unbothered, she walked further in and stopped beside the nearest table. A student sitting there, a petite girl with glasses, blinked up at her in surprise.
“Hey,” Ling said, her voice steady and composed. “Do you know which table is available?”
The girl hesitated for a second, then pointed toward the back. “That one. No one sits there.”
Ling gave her a small nod of thanks before heading over. She set her bag down beside the chair and took a seat, leaning back with an easy confidence. The chatter around the room picked up again, but she paid no attention, her focus shifting to the large windows beside her, where sunlight streamed in, casting soft golden hues across the floor.
For a brief moment, she allowed herself to relax. New school, new city, new faces. This wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle.
Then, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. Ling straightened slightly, expecting the teacher to walk in at any moment. Instead, the door swung open, and she walked in.
Orm.
She entered with the same effortless grace as before, her ash-gray hair catching the light as she tossed it back slightly. Behind her, a few of her friends followed—Ling recognized them from the group that had called her earlier.
The noise level in the class didn’t lower; if anything, it increased. Students greeted Orm with casual familiarity, some calling out to her, others merely watching as she walked in like she owned the place. And from the way she carried herself, Ling suspected she probably did.
Orm made her way toward her seat, which was in the third row—and to Ling's slight surprise, it was on her right side, only a couple of desks over.
And then, as if sensing it, Orm turned her head.
Their eyes met.
For a second, neither of them looked away.
Amber eyes locked onto Ling’s, filled with something unreadable yet undeniably intense. Ling held the gaze, unfazed, her own expression calm but observant. It wasn’t often that someone openly stared at her like this—not with that kind of energy.
Orm raised a single brow, her lips curling ever so slightly. A smirk.
Ling? She simply tilted her head, unreadable, before looking away first.
This new chapter was proving to be more interesting than she had initially anticipated.