As Ling left the meeting, one of her nerdy friends caught up to her, his expression anxious."Ling, wait!" he called out.Ling stopped, turning to him. "What is it?""I overheard something," he said hesitantly, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "It's about the rumors. I think... I think Orm might be involved."Ling froze. "What are you talking about?"The boy hesitated before continuing. "I was passing by the classroom yesterday, and I heard Orm talking to some other students. She said something about how she made you fall in love with her to get help with her studies. And then she said she figured out you like girls."Ling's blood ran cold. Her mind raced as she tried to process his words."Are you sure you heard that correctly?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.He nodded. "I didn't want to believe it either, but... I thought you should know."Ling's hands shook as she clenched them into fists. Her chest felt tight, her thoughts spiraling out of control. Was it true? Had Orm really said those things? After everything they'd shared, after everything they'd been through, could Orm have betrayed her like this?Her vision blurred with tears, but she quickly blinked them away. She wouldn't cry. Not here. Not now."Thanks for telling me," she said curtly before walking away, her mind a storm of anger, confusion, and hurt.As the meeting ended, Ling walked back to the classroom to grab her bag. The room was quiet, the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway outside. When she entered, her eyes immediately landed on Orm's bag, sitting on the desk, unpacked and untouched.Ling frowned, her chest tightening with unease. Orm was never the type to leave without her things, especially in such a careless way. Something wasn't right."Where is she?" Ling murmured to herself, slinging her own bag over one shoulder and grabbing Orm's as well. The weight of the bag only added to her growing concern.With both bags in hand, Ling left the classroom, her eyes scanning the hallways and courtyards for any sign of Orm.Meanwhile, in a secluded corner of the campus, Orm was desperately trying to escape Phon. He had cornered her again, his presence looming over her like a shadow."Phon, stop it!" Orm shouted, trying to push him away. "What's wrong with you?!""You don't understand, Orm," Phon hissed, grabbing her wrists and pinning her against the cold wall. "You belong with me. I've loved you for years. How can you choose her over me?!""I don't belong to anyone!" Orm yelled, struggling against his grip. Her heart was pounding, fear coursing through her veins as she twisted and turned, trying to break free.Phon leaned closer, his face inches from hers. "Stop fighting me, Orm. Just accept it."Orm turned her head away, her voice trembling. "Let me go, Phon. This isn't love. This is insane!"But Phon didn't listen. His grip tightened as he tried to force a kiss on her, his face pressing closer.Ling had followed the faint sounds of voices, her footsteps slowing as she approached the secluded spot. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Orm and Phon, their bodies close against the wall. From her angle, it looked like they were… kissing.Ling's chest tightened, a bitter pang of hurt and confusion stabbing through her. She clutched the straps of their bags, her knuckles turning white."They're… together?" Ling thought, her eyes stinging as she stepped back quietly, trying not to make a sound.But then, she froze."No!" Orm's voice rang out, sharp and desperate.Ling's head snapped back toward them just in time to see Orm twisting her face away from Phon. She was struggling harder now, her body pushing against him, her voice trembling with panic."Let me go, Phon!" Orm cried.Phon's face twisted with rage. "Why can't you just love me?!" he shouted, raising his hand.Before Ling could react, Phon's hand came down hard across Orm's face, the sound of the slap echoing loudly in the quiet corner.Orm gasped, her head snapping to the side. Her vision blurred as pain shot through her skull, and the world around her seemed to spin. She stumbled, her knees buckling as her strength gave out.Phon's grip loosened just slightly as Orm's body sagged, her consciousness slipping away.As Orm's body sagged against the wall, her vision blurry and her strength slipping away, she could faintly hear a familiar voice-one she had been desperately longing for."ORM!"It was Ling.Ling's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. Orm's face was pale, blood trickling from her nose and the corner of her lip. She looked broken, her usually sharp, fiery eyes dull and unfocused. Phon was standing over her, his hand still raised, his face twisted in anger.In that moment, everything else faded away. The rumors, the pain, the misunderstandings-they didn't matter. All Ling could see was Orm, hurt and trembling.Her chest heaved as a deep, primal rage coursed through her veins. Without a second thought, Ling dropped both bags and stormed toward Phon."What the hell do you think you're doing?!"she yelled, her voice booming with fury.Phon barely had time to turn before Ling grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back with such force that he let out a pained grunt."Let go of me!" Phon shouted, trying to free himself, but Ling's grip was ironclad."You think you can hurt her and walk away?" Ling hissed, her voice cold and dripping with venom. "You think you can put your hands on her, force yourself on her, and not pay for it?"She yanked his hair harder, dragging him away from Orm and slamming him into the wall. Phon let out a strangled gasp as his back hit the hard surface, his hands shooting up to try and push Ling away.But Ling wasn't done."Is this how you show love?!" Ling growled, her hand twisting painfully in his hair. "By hurting her? By forcing yourself on her like some pathetic coward?"Phon glared at her, his jaw tightening. "She's mine! She belongs to me!"Ling's eyes darkened. She grabbed the collar of his shirt with her free hand and yanked him closer. "She doesn't belong to anyone, you disgusting piece of trash. Least of all you."Phon swung his arm, trying to shove her off, but Ling anticipated the move. She ducked and landed a swift knee to his stomach."Ahh!" Phon groaned, doubling over in pain."You think you're strong?" Ling spat, shoving him back against the wall. "You think you can control her because she's kind and soft? Well, guess what? I'm not kind, and I'm not soft."She grabbed his wrist, twisting it painfully until he cried out. "You should've thought twice before laying a hand on her," she said, her voice low and dangerous.Phon squirmed, trying to free himself. "Ling, stop! Let me go!""Stop?" Ling repeated, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "Did you stop when she begged you to let her go? Did you stop when she was crying, bleeding, struggling to get away from you?"Phon's silence only fueled her anger. She let go of his hair and grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back with brutal precision."You're pathetic," Ling hissed into his ear. "You call this love? Love isn't about control. It isn't about hurting someone because you didn't get what you wanted. You don't love her. You just want to own her."Phon let out a pained yell as Ling shoved him to the ground, his knees hitting the dirt hard. She stood over him, her chest heaving, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles were white."If you ever come near her again," Ling said, her voice steady and cold, "I swear, you'll regret it."Phon glared up at her, his face red with anger and humiliation. "You can't stop me," he spat. "She'll never choose you over me."Ling leaned down, her face inches from his. "She already has."Ling turned her back on Phon, her heart racing as she rushed to Orm's side. Orm was slumped against the wall, her eyes half-closed, blood staining her face and shirt."Orm," Ling said softly, crouching in front of her. Her voice, once filled with rage, was now trembling with worry. "Hey, look at me. Are you okay?"Orm blinked slowly, her vision clearing just enough to see Ling's face. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Ling..." she whispered weakly.Ling's heart ached at the sound of her name. "I'm here," she said, brushing a strand of hair away from Orm's face. "You're safe now. He's gone."Orm let out a shaky breath, her body leaning against Ling's for support. "I thought... I thought he...""Shh," Ling murmured, wrapping her arms around Orm. "He won't hurt you again. I promise."Orm's hands trembled as she clung to Ling's shirt, her tears soaking into the fabric. Ling held her tightly, pressing her forehead against Orm's."You're safe," Ling whispered again, her voice breaking. "You're safe with me."Orm let out a soft sob, her tears finally falling freely. "Thank you, Ling," she whispered.Ling's arms tightened around her. "Always."