The cafe buzzed softly—students everywhere, low music, clinking cups.
Ling sat sprawled comfortably at the center table with Jian, Rawen, Rina, and—unavoidably—Mira. Laughter came easy today. Ling's mood was light, teasing sharp, eyes bright.
Rina was mid-sentence when Ling's gaze lifted.
Paused.
Rhea had entered.
With Zifa beside her, calm, unreadable, chin lifted like she couldn't feel the shift in the room.
Ling stood instantly.
No hesitation. No excuse.
Rina watched her go, lips parting. "There she goes."
Jian muttered, "Predictable."
Mira's smile tightened.
At the counter, Rhea scanned the shelves, picking up a packaged pastry.
Ling appeared at her side like she'd always been there.
"No," Ling said casually, reaching out and sliding it away. "Too much sugar."
Rhea didn't look at her. "I didn't ask."
"You need energy this week," Ling continued, unfazed. "Or you'll lose."
Rhea grabbed a protein bar.
Ling took it from her hand. "Processed. Bad choice."
Rhea's jaw clenched.
She reached for a sandwich.
Ling blocked it with two fingers. "Too heavy."
Zifa bit her lip, clearly trying not to laugh.
Rhea finally turned, eyes sharp. "Are you done?"
Ling tilted her head. "Not yet."
She picked up another item herself, inspected it dramatically, then put it back. "Nope. Also no."
Around them, the café had gone suspiciously quiet.
The manager froze mid-step behind the counter, watching **Ling Kwong—GOAT, captain, untouchable—**stand there deliberately teasing a fresher like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Rhea grabbed a juice.
Ling snatched it lightly. "Cold. You'll cramp."
"This is ridiculous," Rhea snapped.
Ling leaned in slightly, voice low, almost amused. "You're ridiculous. I'm invested."
Rhea exhaled sharply, snatched a small pack of dates and nuts, then another thing she clearly liked, stacking them decisively.
"I don't care," Rhea said flatly. "You're doing this on purpose."
Ling smiled.
Not wide.
Satisfied.
"Obviously," she said.
Rhea paid without looking at her and turned away, shoulders stiff.
As she passed Ling, she muttered, "You're impossible."
Ling watched her go, eyes darkening with something close to delight.
Behind them, Rina stared openly.
"She's feeding her," Rina whispered.
Jian nodded. "She's circling."
Mira's fingers curled around her cup, smile still in place—but cracking.
Ling returned to the table at last, relaxed, victorious.
Rina raised a brow. "So… nutrition policing now?"
Ling took her seat, unapologetic. "If she loses, it won't be because she was weak."
Rina smirked. "You're gone."
Ling didn't deny it.
Across the café, Rhea sat down beside Zifa, opening the pack of dates with unnecessary force.
Her heart was still racing.
Her pride was bruised.
And worse—
She'd let Ling decide what she ate.
She hated that.
Almost as much as she hated how safe it felt.
Ling texted Rhea.
Ling:5 PM. Don't forget. My place.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Rhea:Eager???
Ling stared at the screen.
Her thumb hovered.
She typed, erased, typed again.
Ling:Punctual.
A pause.
Rhea:Relax. I'll be there.
Ling locked the phone and exhaled—slow, controlled—as if she hadn't just felt something stupidly close to anticipation.
By 4:00 PM, Ling was already ready.
Black training joggers. Sleeveless compression top. Hair tied high. No jewelry except her watch.
She checked the mirror once.
Then again.
Rina leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching with a grin that kept widening.
"…You're ready," Rina said.
Ling didn't look back. "I'm always ready."
Rina glanced at the clock. "An hour early?"
Ling finally turned. "I like preparation."
Rina walked in, circled her slowly like an inspector. "You've never prepared for anyone like this."
Ling grabbed her water bottle. "Get out."
Rina laughed. "Oh I'm absolutely telling Dadi."
"Rina—"
Too late.
Rina was already halfway down the hall. "DADIIIIII—"
Ling groaned and followed, stopping short when she saw Dadi already seated in the lounge, knitting calmly like she hadn't heard everything.
Rina plopped down beside her. "Guess who's been ready since four for a five o'clock guest?"
Dadi didn't look up. "Mm."
Ling crossed her arms. "You're both annoying."
Dadi finally glanced up—eyes sharp, amused. "Who's coming?"
Ling hesitated exactly half a second.
"A… student," she said.
Dadi smiled like she'd been handed a gift.
"Ah," Dadi said. "The one who makes you forget time."
Ling scowled. "I don't forget time."
"Then why are you ready an hour ago?" Dadi asked gently.
Ling had no answer.
She checked her phone again.
4:18 PM.
Her jaw tightened—not with impatience.
With something worse.
Expectation.
Rina smirked. "If she's late—"
"She won't be," Ling said immediately.
Dadi chuckled. "Confident."
Ling turned away toward the window, pretending to stretch.
Outside, the gates stood quiet.
Inside, Ling Kwong—who never waited, never taught, never bent—
Was counting minutes.
And somewhere across the city, Rhea Nior was getting dressed fully aware that being on time meant walking straight into the lion's den.
4:25.
4:48.
4:52.
Each minute dragged like punishment.
Ling stood near the window, arms folded, eyes flicking to the gate more often than she'd ever admit.
Dadi clicked her tongue softly. "Waiting is good for the soul."
Ling shot her a look. "I'm not waiting."
Rina grinned. "Right. You're just… standing aggressively near the gate."
Victor entered the lounge, phone in hand, already heard enough. Took one look at Ling.
"Oh?" he said mildly. "So this is what karma looks like."
Ling frowned. "For what?"
Victor smiled. "For teasing me at breakfast."
Rina burst out laughing. Dadi nodded in approval. "Correct."
Ling turned away, jaw tight.
4:59.
Her phone stayed silent.
At 5:00 PM, Ling exhaled sharply.
"She's late," Ling muttered.
Rina checked her watch theatrically. "By exactly zero seconds."
Ling ignored her.
She glanced around.
No one at the gate.
No engine sound.
Nothing.
Ling's shoulders loosened just a little.
She thought—no one is looking.
She took one step back.
Then another.
And suddenly—
Ling Kwong jumped.
Once.
Twice.
A sharp, unguarded movement—half spin, half victory bounce—like a goal celebration she hadn't realized she was holding in.
She even laughed.
A real laugh.
Dadi's knitting stopped.
Rina's mouth fell open.
Victor blinked.
Ling froze mid-step.
Slowly—slowly—she turned.
Dadi stared at her like she'd just witnessed a miracle. "Oh."
Rina clutched her chest. "Did—did you just dance?"
Victor raised a brow. "In my house?"
Ling straightened instantly, face flushing. "I—no. I was—stretching."
Rina lost it. "Stretching?! You hopped."
Dadi smiled, eyes soft but sharp. "You're happy."
Ling crossed her arms defensively. "Temporarily."
Rina wiped her eyes. "She's not even here yet."
That hit.
Ling looked at the clock again.
5:02 PM.
Still nothing.
Her chest tightened—irritation rising, threaded with something more dangerous.
Don't care, she told herself.
You don't care.
Dadi watched her carefully.
Because Ling Kwong—who never waited, never danced, never let time touch her—
Was being undone by absence.
And somewhere on the road, Rhea Nior was still not there.
Late.
Deliberately or not—
And Ling was already losing ground without ever stepping onto the field.