One night, a storm came in our area, producing a heavy rain outside. As for me, I was in our house’s library room, standing while scanning for a new book to read.

“What should I read next?” I thought to myself as I look at the different spines lined up, placed in order on the big bookshelf before me.

Then, the door opened and Bella entered the room. She was wearing light yellow pajama while carrying two books in her hand. I learned recently that she was also an avid reader but not as passionate as me.

“Prince? Looking for something to read?” she asked with a smile and walked towards me.

“Yeah? How about you?” I asked after I returned my gaze to the shelf.

“Only returning these books. It’s already late so I will call it a day and hit the sack.”

“I’m still good so I guess I’ll read something for an hour before sleeping,” I answered and grabbed the book I chose.

“Beginner’s Guide to Learning Chinese?” Bella muttered as she peers on the cover. “You’re studying Mandarin?”

“Increasing my knowledge. Who knows? Maybe it will be useful in the future,” I answered in seriousness.

“I see,” she followed with a smile.

“Anyway, I’ll now go back to my room.”

“Okay. Good night,” she muttered and I exited the library. Then, I walked towards my room and when I recumbent on my bed, I immediately opened the book and started reading.

“So ‘Ni Hao’ means hello...and ‘Xie Xie’ means thank you,” I muttered and after a couple of seconds, the lights went out.

The heck? A blackout?

I immediately closed the book and placed it on the nightstand next to my bed.

“Look at you still sleeping so soundly,” I whispered with a smile after seeing Pixie on top of the pillow next to me.

After that, I grabbed my phone on the drawer and set the torch on for a flashlight.

“Is Bella sleeping already?” I whispered and stood up.

Then, a roar of lightning echoed from outside.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Bella?” I reacted after hearing her faint scream from outside.

I exited my room as fast as I could and saw Bella sitting on the floor while covering both her ears. She was there shaking while in front of her room’s door. Because the emergency lights were lighting the hallway a little, I decided to turn the torch off. Then, I placed my phone inside my pocket.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked, worried after I stopped before her.

"F*ck off..." she whispered, her gaze fixed to the floor.

"Eh?" I reacted with widened eyes.

Did she just...

"The lights...are off..." she muttered.

Oh...so I only misheard her. Bella has the image of someone who can't even curse anyone so hearing her say f*ck off out of the blue took a toll to my heart.

"Yeah...it looks like a blackout."

Bella looked at me with teary eyes and gave me a forced smile. One look at her and you could see sweat on her forehead.

“Can you stand up?” I asked and offered a hand.

“Thanks,” she replied and took my hand. Then, she stood up and staggered right away.

“Hey,” I said and caught her in my arms. Even though she was leaning on my chest and my arm was around her waist, her legs were still shaking. “You definitely can't stand.”

“I tripped...that's all,” she answered, still forcing a smile.

Even though the lighting is not that bright here, I can see the pale color of your face, you know.

“Bella...” I said with a serious face as I look straight into her eyes.

“W-what is it?” she asked with slightly blushed cheeks.

“Can I stay in your room for the night?” I asked without changing expressions.

“Wh-what?” she reacted in surprise. Then, she started squirming and darting her eyes around.

“Is that okay?”

“But that’s...” she muttered with a flustered expression. “I’m a teacher and you’re a student, you know. Something like that is...”

Huh? Is that relevant in this situation?

“We’re already staying under one roof, you know,” I followed, clueless.

Hearing that, her whole face became red.

“I-I-I get that boys around your age are pent up in their sexual frustrations. But...that doesn’t mean...you can invite me to have...have...sex with you. I may not look like it but I’m still a virgin, you know,” she explained with a face as red as a tomato, her eyes not locked to me.

Pent up? Sexual urges? SEX?!

“Th-th-th-th-th-that's not what I meant?!” I retorted and let go of her. Because of that, she staggered again and started falling. Seeing that, I immediately hugged her, making her hug me too in the swoop.

“...”

“Th...thank you...” she whispered, with her face buried on my chest.

Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what the heck should I do now? It looks like I gave her a very bad misunderstanding!

“Uhmm...that’s not what I meant. I...only want to stay with you for the night. Because...you look...very scared...because of the storm,” I explained in a nervous tone.

“...”

“Do you...have an Astraphobia or something?” I asked out of curiosity.

Her shoulders twitched because of that question. Then, after a couple of seconds, she asked, “Want to hear a story in my room?”

As a reply, I gave her a nod.

With that decided, we entered her room and sat side by side on her bed. It was not my first time in the guest room but since Bella started staying in the house, the smell inside changed. I could smell a refreshing scent wafting throughout the place.

Is she using some sort of air refreshing gel?

It took a couple of minutes before Bella started telling a story. As for me, I continued staring at her with a serious look.

“My late mother was a mountain hiker,” she started and looked down on the floor with anxiousness. “She was part of a group of mountain climbing hobbyists back when she was still alive. Even though my siblings and I were still at a young age, we could see her love for it. That was also the reason why the whole family supports that passion of hers. Without knowing that mountain climbing will be the one who’ll take her life.”

Hearing that, I became surprised and made a sad expression right after.

“Sorry...I didn’t think that it’s a sensitive topic.”

She shook her head and looked at me with a sad smile.

“It’s okay,” Bella responded and averted her gaze to the cabinet in front of her.

“It happened when a strong storm entered the city. They got stranded in the mountains with no rescue team trying to save them. It was because of how strong the wind and thunderstorms were on that night. We were so worried and nervous for her. We prayed hard for her safety. So she could return home safe and sound,” she continued and tears dropped from her eyes. Then, her smile disappeared and a lamenting expression took over. “But...that didn’t happen. Instead, we received the news of her getting struck by lightning...losing her life in the disaster.”

“Bella...” I whispered, anxious.

I’ve got no handkerchief to offer. That’s why I decided to wipe a tear on her face using my hand. Then, I hugged her as gentle as I could. She became surprised at first but soon after, she grabbed my shirt with both hands. After that, she whimpered on my chest.

“Because of that...*sniff*...I became scared of lightning. Sorry for showing this side of me,” she muttered and made a dry chuckle.

“It’s okay. I’ll stay with you for the whole night so...you don’t need to worry about a thing,” I whispered to her.

As a reply, she nodded and drew away for me. She managed to smile at me after her tears stopped. Seeing that, I stood up.

“I’ll sit here so you can sleep on the bed,” I said and started heading to the chair in front of the dressing table. But before I could get away, she tugged the hem of my shirt. Then, I looked at her.

“You can sleep with me here on the bed,” she suggested with a warm smile.

Wait, what?

“I can’t do that,” I followed with a flustered expression. “I mean...I’m a man, you know.”

Out of nervousness, I unconsciously glimpsed on her chest. Even though it was on the small side, you can see the curve present as a sign of her adulthood. Flustered, I decided to change my gaze, only for it to fell on her neck, glistened by light sweat.

“Are you going to do something then?” she asked with an honest look, staring right into my eyes.

“That’s...” I whispered and coughed to regain my composure. “I won’t.”

Hearing that, she smiled at me and patted her bed twice with her other hand.

Guess I’ll take the offer. It’s not like I’ll do something indecent anyway.

“Okay then,” I responded after averting my gaze with blushed cheeks. After that, we lay down on the bedside by side without using the blanket.

Then, the two of us stared at the ceiling for some time.

“We should go to sleep...right?” she asked in a strained tone.

“Okay,” I replied in a nervous tone and both of us closed our eyes.

For some time, the silence echoed throughout the room, with only a faint sound of rain from outside.

I can't sleep! What should I do at a time like this? Should I count imaginary sheep to get sleepy? Yup. Let’s try that.

With that decision, I imagined dozens of running sheep around a barn while the weather was cloudy.

One sheep...two sheep...three sheep...four sheep....five sheep...

“Six sheep...” Bella whispered, her eyes closed.

Hearing that, I opened my eyes and looked at her.

Is she...counting sheep too?

Failing to hold it back, I let out a chuckle. Because of it, Bella opened her eyes and look at me with a surprised face.

“Why did you laugh?”

“Sorry...I mean...you’re counting sheep too, right?”

Surprised from my question, she also let out a chuckle.

“So we both can’t sleep yet,” she whispered in a smile.

Without notice, a thunderclap rumbled outside, making Bella shock again. She immediately closed her eyes and clenched both her fist while shaking.

Bella...

Seeing that, I grabbed her hand and entwined my fingers with hers.

“Prince...” she muttered, surprised from my action.

Then, I looked straight into her eyes and with a serious expression, I said, “It will be fine. I’m here.”

“I...see,” she followed and gave me a gentle smile. “Thank you.”

“Y-You’re...welcome,” I replied and looked at the ceiling.

Her hand was cold. But soon after, it became warmer. I don’t know if it was because of me but at that time, I’m only relieved that her fear disappeared for the night.

“You’re nice...you know,” she whispered with a sudden warm smile as she looks at me. "I hope there's no hidden motive behind your actions."

“Did you say something?” I asked and looked at her, not hearing her words.

“Let’s sleep,” she continued and closed her eyes.

“Yeah,” I responded with a smile and did the same.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, the rays of sunshine from the window woke me up. For some reason, my body was heavy so I opened my eyes and saw the ceiling.

“That’s right. I slept with Bella last night and...” I said and felt something touching my member.

Are you kidding me?

There, the sleeping Bella was beside me, faced at me while hugging me like a body pillow. And what’s worse, she was sandwiching my ‘something’ in her knee pit or popliteal fossa to be exact. Don’t get me wrong...I was still wearing my pants. But it was...it was morning and...’it’ can get trapped easily considering its state. Sorry, I can’t narrate the situation anymore!

“Hmmm...” Bella mumbled in her sleep with a smile.

“Ughh...” I moaned instinctively because of Bella’s sudden movement.

This is bad! Any more of this scene and this fiction will have a content warning! Sexual content is the last thing I want to get included here!

Finally, Bella opened her eyes and looked at me drowsily.

“Good morning...Prince...” she greeted with an unusual unsophisticated smile while still half-asleep.

“Uhmm....Ms. Bella...” I called, trying my best to make a kind smile while sweating.

“Miss?” she asked and noticed the position of her legs.

“I’ll appreciate it if you can get off now...please?” I whispered in embarrassment while maintaining my smile.

“Eeeeek!” she reacted and her scream echoed throughout the house.

That morning, I arrived at a certain conclusion. And that is...I hate 'that' natural phenomenon.