Chapter 4 The Rules of Pretending #3
If asked about how they met, they would tell the truth.
They met through work. If asked who made the first move, they would redirect.
If asked how long they had been together, they would give the approved timeline.
If asked about their relationship, they would say they were getting to know each other.
Nothing too specific.
Nothing too dramatic.
Nothing that could trap them later.
It was all carefully planned.
Professional.
Controlled.
Safe.
Or at least that was what Orm kept telling herself.
By the time the meeting reached the final page, she was exhausted.
She dropped her pen onto the table.
"Are we done?"
Khun Dew nodded.
"For today."
Orm groaned.
Fluke stood.
"I think you two are doing surprisingly well."
Orm looked at him.
"We almost fought over holding hands."
"Exactly."
"How is that good?"
Fluke smiled.
"You already look comfortable enough to fight."
Ling looked at him.
"That makes no sense."
"It will."
Fluke walked toward the door.
Then stopped beside Ling.
He lowered his voice.
"You know..."
Ling looked at him.
"What?"
"You're smiling."
Ling's expression immediately disappeared.
"I'm not."
Fluke grinned.
"Right."
He left.
Ling watched him go.
Orm noticed.
"He's annoying."
"Yes."
"But you like him."
Ling looked at her.
"He's been with me for years."
"So you tolerate him."
"Something like that."
Orm smiled.
"That explains a lot."
"What does?"
"The confidence."
Ling raised an eyebrow.
"You think I'm confident?"
"I think you think you're always right."
"And you don't?"
"No."
Ling smiled.
"You're wrong."
Orm laughed.
"There you are again."
"Where?"
"Looking at me like that."
Ling paused.
For a second, neither moved.
Then Ling looked away.
"You're going to have to be more specific."
Orm sighed.
"Forget it."
?
By the time they left the conference room, the office had become quieter. Most of the afternoon rush had passed. Orm walked beside Ling toward their respective desks. They were not holding hands. They were not touching. They were simply walking beside each other.
Just colleagues.
That should have felt normal.
It didn't.
Because now there were rules.
And because Orm had become painfully aware of every movement Ling made.
Ling stopped.
Orm stopped too.
Ling looked at her.
"What?"
Orm frowned.
"You stopped."
"I forgot something."
"What?"
Ling pointed toward the conference room.
"My folder."
She turned back.
Orm followed.
"Wait."
Ling stopped.
"What?"
Orm looked at her.
"Rule five."
Ling's eyebrow lifted.
"The one you added?"
"No."
"The falling in love one?"
Orm's face warmed.
"Yes."
Ling smiled faintly.
"I remember."
"Good."
Ling looked at her for a moment.
"I don't intend to break it."
Orm nodded.
"Me neither."
"Then we're safe."
Orm smiled.
"Exactly."
They stood there for another second.
Then Orm said,
"Good."
Ling nodded.
"Good."
They walked back toward their desks.
Neither of them noticed Fluke watching from the other side of the office.
He glanced toward P'Cherry.
P'Cherry had noticed too.
She smiled.
"Interesting."
Fluke nodded.
"Very."
Khun Dew walked past them.
"What are you two talking about?"
P'Cherry immediately straightened.
"Nothing."
Khun Dew looked between them.
Then toward Ling and Orm.
She understood.
"Don't interfere."
Fluke smiled.
"We're not."
P'Cherry nodded.
"We're observing."
Khun Dew sighed.
"That's what worries me."
?
Orm sat down at her desk.
Bow immediately leaned toward her.
"How was it?"
Orm stared at her.
"Awful."
Bow laughed.
"What happened?"
"They made rules."
"Rules?"
Orm nodded.
"Lots of them."
Bow waited.
Orm counted them off on her fingers.
"No kissing."
Bow nodded.
"Reasonable."
"No sleeping together."
Bow nearly choked.
"Okay."
"No unnecessary touching."
"Fair."
"No jealousy."
Bow smiled.
"That one's going to fail."
Orm frowned.
"Why?"
Bow shrugged.
"Nothing."
Orm continued.
"And no falling in love."
Bow stared at her.
Then slowly smiled.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Bow's smile widened.
"Like what?"
Orm froze.
For one horrible second, she thought of Ling.
Then she shook her head.
"Don't."
Bow laughed.
"I'm just saying..."
"Don't say anything."
Bow raised both hands.
"Fine."
Orm turned toward her computer. Then she remembered the last rule. The one she had added herself. She looked across the office. Ling was sitting at her desk, reading through a report. Orm watched her for a moment. Ling looked up. Their eyes met. Orm immediately looked away.
Bow noticed the interaction but she didn't say anything. For once.
Orm returned to her work.
The rules were simple.
They were clear.
They were supposed to protect them.
No kissing.
No sleeping together.
No unnecessary touching.
No jealousy.
No falling in love.
And, most importantly—
Don't look at me like that.
Orm smiled faintly to herself.
That one, she was sure, would be easy.
Probably.