Unwanted GirlFriend

The tension in the house had been brewing for days. The exams, the stress, and the looming realization that their lives were changing all created an unspoken pressure, and it was only a matter of time before something snapped.
Ling was sitting at the kitchen table, her books spread out in a neat row. Her face was calm but focused, her pen gliding across her notebook as she reviewed her notes for the final exam. Orm sat on the couch across the room, her textbook lying forgotten on her lap.
"Ling," Orm called, her voice soft but tinged with frustration.
Ling didn't look up. "Hmm?"
Orm shifted, leaning forward. "You've been studying for hours. Can't we take a break? Just… spend some time together?"
"I can't," Ling replied, her tone clipped. "There's too much to do."
Orm frowned. "You always say that."
Ling sighed, finally glancing up. "Because it's true. I'm balancing exams, my presidency duties, and trying to make sure you pass."
The last word hit Orm like a slap. Her face flushed, and she sat up straighter. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Ling said, her voice growing sharper, "that if I don't make time to teach you, you'll fail. You're barely keeping up as it is."
Orm's fists clenched. "So now it's my fault you're too busy for us? That's what you're saying?"
Ling's pen stilled in her hand. "I'm saying that if you took things seriously, I wouldn't have to babysit you on top of everything else."
"Babysit?" Orm's voice rose, her anger bubbling over. "Are you serious right now? Do you even hear yourself?"
Ling leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing. "You're acting like a child. I'm doing everything I can to keep things together, and all you want is—"
"Love?" Orm cut in, her voice trembling. "Yeah, I want love. I want time with you. Is that so much to ask?"
Ling scoffed, standing up. "You're so selfish, Orm. I'm juggling a thousand things, and all you care about is your stupid feelings."
Orm shot to her feet, tears brimming in her eyes. "Because I love you, Ling! I want us to matter more than your stupid presidency or exams or whatever else you're prioritizing over me!"
"You think I'm not trying?" Ling snapped, her voice rising. "You think this is easy for me? Balancing everything while you sit there and complain about not getting enough attention?"
Orm's tears spilled over, her voice breaking. "You're making it sound like I'm some burden you're stuck with."
Ling froze for a moment, her jaw tightening. Then, in a low, cold voice, she said, "Maybe you are."
The words hung in the air like a knife, sharp and unforgiving. Orm staggered back as though she'd been physically struck.
"I… I can't believe you just said that," Orm whispered, her voice trembling.
"Well, maybe you should stop making everything about yourself," Ling said, turning away.
Orm's chest heaved with suppressed sobs. "You're the one who's been pushing me away, Ling. Don't act like this is all on me."
Ling turned back, her eyes blazing. "And don't act like I'm the villain just because I'm trying to hold everything together while you—"
"Stop it!" Orm shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Just stop!"
Without waiting for a reply, Orm stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
The days that followed were marked by an icy silence. Orm avoided Ling at every opportunity, retreating to her room and keeping her interactions with the rest of the house to a minimum. Ling, for her part, threw herself even deeper into her work, but the tension weighed heavily on her.
Sia and Tina noticed immediately.
"This is bad," Tina said, glancing at Orm's closed door.
"Really bad," Sia agreed. "They've never fought like this before."
Tina crossed her arms. "We need to do something."
Sia shook her head. "Not yet. They need time to cool off. Let's give them space for now."
A few days later, with exams finally over, Sia and Tina called everyone into the living room. Ling and Orm sat on opposite sides of the couch, their eyes avoiding each other.
"We have something to tell you," Sia began, her voice unusually serious.
Tina cleared her throat. "We're leaving. We've both made plans to move out."
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
"Wait," Orm said, her voice cracking. "You're leaving? Why?"
"Our year's over," Sia explained. "I got a job in the city, and Tina's going to grad school with Nod. It's time."
Ling's expression hardened, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of emotion. "You're really going?"
Tina nodded. "Yeah. And you two need to figure out what you're going to do next. Either find new roommates or look for another place."
Saint, who had joined them for dinner, chimed in. "If you need help finding a place, I can pull some strings at my agency. Just let me know."
Orm nodded silently, her throat too tight to speak.
The day of Sia and Tina's departure arrived, and the house felt emptier than ever. Boxes were stacked by the door, and the once lively rooms now echoed with the weight of goodbye.
Sia and Tina stood in the living room, looking at the group with watery smiles.
"Well," Sia said, her voice trembling, "I guess this is it."
Orm couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She threw her arms around Sia and Tina, sobbing into her shoulder.
"I'm gonna miss you so much," Orm said, her voice muffled.
"Me too," They said, her own tears falling freely. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Ling stood stiffly by the door, her arms crossed tightly. Sia approached her, pulling her into a hug.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," Sia whispered. "And don't let her go."
Ling nodded, her throat too tight to reply.
As the van pulled away, the group stood in silence, watching until it disappeared down the street.
Orm wiped her eyes, her heart aching with the weight of loss. Ling turned away, retreating to her room without a word.
That night, the house was eerily quiet. Orm sat alone in the living room, her face buried in her hands as silent tears fell. Ling could hear her from the kitchen, her heart clenching with guilt.
For a long moment, Ling hesitated, torn between her pride and the pain of seeing Orm so broken. Finally, she stepped into the living room, her footsteps soft but deliberate.
"Orm," Ling said quietly, sitting beside her.
Orm didn't look up, her shoulders shaking. "What do you want?"
Ling hesitated, then placed a hand on Orm's back. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Orm sniffled, finally meeting Ling's gaze. Her eyes were red and swollen, but her expression was filled with vulnerability. "Do you really think I'm a burden?"
Ling's chest tightened. "No," she said, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean it. I was angry, and I said something I shouldn't have."
Orm let out a shaky breath, fresh tears streaming down her face. "You hurt me, Ling."
"I know," Ling said, pulling Orm into a hug. "And I'm so, so sorry. I love you, Orm. I'm just terrible at showing it sometimes."
Orm clung to her, burying her face in Ling's shoulder. "I love you too. I just… I hate fighting with you."
Ling pressed a kiss to the top of Orm's head. "Me too. Let's not do this again, okay?"
Orm nodded, her grip on Ling tightening.
And as the night deepened, the two of them sat together, their bond stronger than ever despite the scars of their fight.