BESIDE OF YOU

"Since childhood, it was my grandfather who educated me. His job as a king didn't make him forget to play with me. My father is very busy taking care of the people. Until sometimes, when my father came home from work, I was fast asleep. Mother is starting to get overwhelmed taking care of Rain."

"Cloud, don't make your late grandfather's death a burden for you. But make him proud of your hard work that continues his struggle."

Cloud broke away from me. He wiped the tears with his handkerchief. He quickly finished the tea and then ate a cake.

"You know, Ara. Only in front of you do I dare to cry. I have never in my life trusted anyone this much. I hope you won't tell anyone about this," he pleaded.

"Take it easy. You can entrust it to me."

I smiled brightly at him and made him laugh. We spent the night without any misunderstandings. Now I understand a little why Cloud's attitude changed at that time.

"Hey, that time you said I was heavy, right?"

I suddenly remembered a question I had been holding on to for a long time. I immediately asked him what he meant by that.

"Heavy? Time on the hill?" he asked.

I nodded. It looks like my diversion worked tonight. Cloud is not sad anymore. The change in his facial features implies it.

"Hm, are you angry, Ara?" he asked fearfully.

"I'm not angry, just curious why you can say that when I'm not fat!"

I deliberately raised the intonation of my speech so that Cloud was sure that I wouldn't say I liked his words at that time. And hope that Cloud can forget his sadness replace the joy of being with me.

"Eh! I didn't say fat. I just said heavy, right? It's because you're on top of me." Cloud defends himself.

"But how heavy am I?" I asked again.

Cloud then asked me to stand up. He asked me to spread my arms. A little strange, but I obeyed.

"Ara, aren't you aware of your body shape? You don't see your waist is slender while your hips and chest look full."

Cloud held my waist a little, to tell. However, he did not dare hold on to the hips and chest. Cloud is truly a man who can protect a woman's honour.

"Oh my, what have I done." Cloud seemed to regret his actions. "Ara, we should rest. I'm afraid this chat will continue."

Cloud walked away, leaving me laughing to himself. I don't want to miss him either. I immediately chased Cloud then walked in front of him.

"So it turns out… I didn't expect it, huh. I didn't expect this tonight."

I tried to tease Cloud about what just happened.

"Ara, don't tease me." Cloud looked uncomfortable.

"It turns out, oh it turns out…."

"Stop it, Ara!"

Cloud seemed to want to catch me, but I quickly dodged. I ran from him while he chased me down this path. The night fireflies are witnesses to our pursuit.

"Ara, wait for me!"

I saw the happiness hidden in his face. However, because the fatigue hit me, I was caught by Cloud. He then hugged me from behind. We laughed together tonight.

"Base!" he said, then let me go.

We then walked together to our respective rooms. The bright moonlight warms the cold night.

The next day…

Today I have a day off from Cloud. But not for him. He seems to be busy with a lot of work.

I deliberately ignored the rooster crowing this morning. I woke up lazily then went back to sleep. I have to enjoy my free time well.

I closed my eyes again and enjoyed my dream destination. I don't know how long I've been sleeping, and I faintly heard someone's voice from far away. Over time, the voice grew louder.

"Ara, wake up! You are so lazy!"

He pulled my blanket. However, I pulled the blanket back. I was so lazy to open my eyes, and sleepiness still locked me in bed.

"You bastard, huh!"

Someone pulled back my blanket. This time, my blanket was thrown by him on the floor to see I was wearing a nightgown in the form of a dress-up to the knee with a vest covering my arms.

"Ara!"

My body was pulled again by him, I sat down, but I fell asleep again. He sat me down again, but I fell asleep again. That someone seemed annoyed with me.

"Ara, if you don't wake up too…."

I suddenly felt like I was floating in the air. Slowly I realized that my body was being carried on the shoulder of a man I seemed to know.

"Hey! Let me go!"

Realizing who was carrying me, I immediately struggled to be put down.

"Put me down, Rain! Put it down!" After knowing that it was Rain who disturbed my sweet dreams in the morning, I said.

"Not. I won't put you down until you wake up."

"Where are you taking me, huh?" I asked, confused because Rain just kept walking.

"I'll take you to the bathroom. I will bathe you so that you wake up from your sleep," he answered.

"Wh-what? N-no! Do not! Don't mess with you, Rain!"

He opened the bathroom door. He ignored my screams. Of course, none of the guards dared to harass us inside. I know they must have heard my screams.

"I will drop you off if you promise to accompany me today."

What is my urgency? Inevitably, I promised him that he would put me down and not bathe me.

"Y-yes. Yes, I promise."

I was in such a hurry to say it. Rain didn't even move on. He dropped me off right in front of the bathroom door.

"You are. It's so hard to wake up."

He pinched my cheeks passionately. He seemed to be enjoying the innocent sight of a girl who had just woken up in the morning.

"You're beautiful even without make-up, Ara." Rain praised me.

"Huh! It was morning for me. Go there, and I want to take a shower!"

I shooed him away, but he wouldn't go, which just pissed me off. Maybe it's his skill to irritate people.

"I'm still here," he said.

"Hah! What? You want to peek at me taking a shower, huh?!" I asked, annoyed.

"I didn't peek. I just saw it." Rain smiled mischievously.

"Rainnn!!!"

I was annoyed by him. My sleep was disturbed, and I was asked to leave the room. I also didn't want to. Maybe I should follow the game.

"You don't want to go out? Okay."

I then took off my nightgown vest in front of him. Suddenly it took him by surprise. I tossed my hair and started lowering one strap of my nightgown. Rain seemed to swallow his saliva.

"You still don't want to come out?"

I deliberately acted like this so that he would come out of my room and leave me in peace.

"Ara… you are exaggerating."

I knew something was reacting to my actions this time. One rope has fallen. It looks like I should add it again. I began to lower the strap of my other nightgown.

"Ar-ar-ara. Enough. Do not continue. I'm afraid I can't control myself. I am out. I give up."

Rain immediately came out of my room and closed the door. I ran to peek at him through the bedroom window. I saw his chest heaving up and down like he was holding something. He repeatedly rubbed his head.

"Hmm, feel it! Don't blame the women if we are already in action."

A triumphant smirk crossed my innocent face. I felt like I wanted to fall asleep again after Rain came out of my room. But the promise has been made. Like it or not, I have to fulfil it.

I took a cloth and a towel and immediately refreshed my body. It's also not good if you take a shower too late, it can make the blood vessels unable to function properly.