Ling stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her cufflinks with precise irritation. Black blazer. White shirt. Immaculate. Untouchable.
Behind her, Rina lounged on the bed, swinging her legs like she owned the room.
"So," Rina said casually, "shall we go?"
Ling didn't look up. "We?"
Rina grinned. "Yeah. I'm coming in your car today."
Ling finally turned. "Not again."
Rina sat up, eyes bright with mischief. "Oh come on. I'll keep you entertained. Or annoyed. Same thing."
"You have your own car," Ling said flatly.
Rina shrugged. "Boring. Yours is faster. And—" she smirked, "—it scares people."
Ling grabbed her watch. "Get out."
Rina hopped off the bed instead, blocking Ling's path. "Nope. Not until you accept your proposal."
Ling froze.
Slowly. Dangerously.
"My what?"
Rina blinked innocently. "Proposal."
Ling's eyes narrowed. "What proposal?"
Rina tilted her head, pretending to think. "Hmm. The one where you finally admit you're interested."
Ling laughed once, sharp. "Interested in what? Power? Grades? Winning?"
Rina leaned closer, whispering like a secret.
"In her."
The air shifted.
Ling's expression didn't crack—but something in her eyes did.
"Who," Ling said slowly, "is she?"
Rina's grin widened. "Oh, so there is a she."
"There isn't," Ling snapped. "You're imagining things."
"Sure," Rina said cheerfully. "Just like you imagined dragging a certain girl into your changing room."
Ling's jaw clenched. "Careful."
Rina laughed. "Relax. I like her."
Ling paused mid-step. "You've never even met her."
"I don't need to," Rina replied. "Anyone who makes you this defensive is already special."
Ling grabbed her keys. "Get in the car."
Rina gasped dramatically. "So I win?"
Ling shot her a glare. "You're insufferable."
Rina skipped toward the door. "And you're obvious."
At the threshold, Rina glanced back, smirking.
"So," she teased, "when are you proposing?"
Ling didn't answer.
She walked past Rina, expression cold, control restored.
But as they headed toward the garage, one thought burned louder than all the rest:
When did one girl become noticeable enough for my family to see?
The door shut with a soft, expensive thud.
Ling pulled out of the gates smoothly, one hand on the wheel, jaw set. The city blurred past like it knew better than to slow her down.
Rina sat beside her, far too comfortable.
"So," Rina said sweetly, buckling in, "do you like it?"
Ling didn't glance at her. "Like what."
Rina grinned. "That you pretend not to care."
Ling exhaled through her nose. "You're talking too much for someone riding for free."
Rina laughed. "Relax. I'm just curious."
She leaned back, eyes sharp. "You enjoy the attention, don't you? Acting cold while everyone loses their mind."
Ling's grip tightened slightly on the wheel. "Stop projecting."
"Oh, I'm not," Rina replied lightly. "I have sources."
Ling shot her a look. "What sources."
"Mira," Rina said, too casually.
The car stayed steady. Ling didn't miss a beat.
"Mira talks too much," Ling said flatly.
Rina hummed. "She told me everything. The pool. The changing room. The distance problem."
Ling's voice dropped. "She was jealous."
"Exactly," Rina said. "Which is why it was honest."
Ling scoffed. "Mira confuses proximity with importance."
Rina turned fully toward her now. "Then why don't you pay attention to her?"
Ling braked a little harder than necessary at a red light.
"What?"
Rina tilted her head. "If you don't like that Miss Attitude—"
she smirked,
"—why not choose the girl who's been orbiting you forever?"
Ling stared straight ahead.
"Because," she said coldly, "I don't reward entitlement."
Rina studied her face. "And what do you reward?"
Silence stretched.
The light turned green.
Ling accelerated.
"Control," Ling answered finally. "Loyalty. Discipline."
Rina laughed softly. "Funny. Sounds like the exact opposite of the girl you're pretending not to notice."
Ling shot her a glare sharp enough to end the conversation.
"Drop it."
Rina raised both hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright."
A beat passed.
Then, gently—but deadly accurate—
"She scares you," Rina said.
Ling didn't answer.
But the silence was loud enough.
Rina smiled to herself, looking out the window.
So Mira was wrong about one thing, she thought.
This wasn't a crush.
This was something Lingling Kwong had never learned how to dominate.
And that made it dangerous.