4 LOVERS

The evening sky had dimmed by the time we returned to the bar, our hands still tightly intertwined. Louise's fingers were warm, gripping mine with that sweet, possessive touch. Those same fingers that hadn't stopped brushing my cheek, ruffling my hair, or teasing my heart with "accidental" touches all day.

I was still carrying the shopping bag filled with clothes he insisted on buying. Every time I peeked into it, my face flushed again. How could it not? There were pastel outfits, complete with ribbons and lace—totally not my usual style.

But… when Louise looked at me like I was some rare treasure and told me I was beautiful with a straight face, all that embarrassment melted into this soft, bubbly warmth in my chest.

As we stood in front of the bar, a strong breeze blew past. The sky had gone gray. I looked up.

"Looks like rain," I murmured.

Louise opened the door and replied, "If it pours, you're not allowed to leave your room. I don't want you getting sick."

"I'm not a kid."

He pinched my cheek. "Your face says otherwise."

---

After a simple but cozy dinner—rice, mushroom soup, and a few sweet snacks—we took turns showering. Louise went in first. When he came out with wet hair and only a towel around his neck, I nearly choked seeing his bare chest and that smug look in his eyes.

"You can go in now," he said casually.

I nodded quickly and slipped past him, avoiding eye contact. But just as I was closing the bathroom door, he added, "Don't take too long. The thunder's coming. And I know you hate it."

I didn't answer. But he wasn't wrong.

---

Warm water ran down my body, easing some of the tension. But the rumble outside was getting louder. I shut my eyes, trying to block it out. But then the first flash of lightning lit up the tiny bathroom window, followed by a thunderclap that shook the walls.

I flinched, dropping the soap. My heart was racing. My breathing, uneven. I rinsed off quickly, wrapped myself in a towel, and rushed out.

Just as I finished putting on my pajamas, another loud boom echoed through the sky.

I hugged a pillow tight.

Nope. I couldn't stay alone like this.

I walked out of my room, passing down the dimly lit hallway. The sound of rain poured harder outside, and flashes of lightning occasionally lit the windows.

Louise's room was at the end of the hall. I approached, hugging my pillow, then knocked gently.

"Lou... can I come in for a bit?"

No answer. But the door was unlocked.

Slowly, I opened it.

Darkness.

"Lou…?"

The room was pitch black, only lit by the occasional lightning strike casting moving shadows across the walls.

I stepped in cautiously, closing the door behind me. "If you're asleep, I just wanted to—"

THUD.

The door slammed shut.

"KYAAA!"

Suddenly, strong arms yanked me from behind, pulling me into a hug.

"I knew you'd come."

"LOUISE!!" I spun around, seeing that mischievous smile in the dim light. "You scared me to death!"

"You should've seen your face," he whispered in my ear, making me shiver from the tickle and the sheer embarrassment. "So freaking cute."

"I'm being serious. I hate thunder and lightning!"

His expression softened. He lifted me gently and set me on his bed. "Sorry... I just wanted to break the tension."

I clutched my pillow tighter. "I seriously can't sleep alone when it's storming like this."

"Then sleep here tonight," he said as he sat beside me. "Like always."

I glanced at the bed. "But… your room's super dark."

Louise smiled and turned on the bedside lamp. Warm light flooded the room, instantly making it feel way cozier.

I slid under the blanket, still hugging my pillow. Louise lay down next to me, not too close this time.

"You can sleep first, if you want," he said softly.

I nodded.

But when the third flash lit the sky—even brighter and louder than the last—I reflexively jumped into his arms.

"UWAHHH!"

Louise held back a laugh. "Airi, you really are like a little bunny scared of thunder."

"I'm not joking. Don't laugh!"

He stroked my hair gently. "Alright, no more laughing."

I buried my face in his chest, my breathing still shaky.

"You know, ever since I was a kid, I've always been scared of loud noises... so whenever there was a storm, I'd hide in closets or under the bed," I said quietly.

"You don't need to hide anymore," he replied, hugging me tighter. "Because I'll always be here."

I looked up, meeting his glowing eyes in the soft light. "Don't leave, okay?"

He kissed my forehead. "Never. Even if the whole world's falling apart."

We stayed quiet for a while. Only the sound of heavy rain and my slowly calming heartbeat filled the room.

Then Louise said out of nowhere, "You know, that pillow's stealing my place."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"That pillow you're hugging. It should be me in your arms."

I held the pillow tighter. "This pillow doesn't make me blush."

Louise instantly wrapped his arms around me from behind, sliding between the pillow and me. "Then I'll replace your pillow."

I squirmed, trying not to laugh. "Louise, stop messing around…"

"I'm not messing around," he whispered. "I'm being romantic."

"There's a thin line between those."

"But you like it, right?"

I didn't answer. But my body snuggling back into his arms said enough.

Amid the endless rain, in that small, warm room, I felt like I was in the safest place in the world. Louise gently stroked my arm, calming me down, heating me up, and teasing me all at once.

When lightning flashed again, I just cuddled closer to his chest.

"You know, my hugs can chase storms away."

I mumbled, "You're too confident."

"No. I just know... you're mine."

I pulled the blanket higher, hiding my face. "Tomorrow I'm kicking you out of bed if you keep talking like that."

"If it means you're still in my bed tomorrow... go ahead."

And that night, for the first time, I slept peacefully... even in the middle of a storm.

Because someone's embrace was stronger than any thunder.

And my heart... was finally starting to realize,

That there was no place I'd rather be than right beside him.

"You still thinking about those bite marks?" he teased with a cheeky grin.

I hugged my pillow tighter. "If you do that again tonight, I'm jumping out the window!"

He chuckled. "Alright. I promise. No biting. Just cuddles."

I hesitated. But when the thunder roared again and my body flinched from fear… I gave in. Slowly, I crawled under the blanket—still clutching my pillow.

"Do you always do this?" I asked softly.

"Do what?"

"Be someone's warmth during their coldest nights?"

"No," he said. "Only for you."

I fell silent.

His words slipped into my heart like a quiet light in the dark. Burning gently. But warm.

My hand that had been hugging the pillow… now reached out to hug him. Slowly. Shyly.

Louise returned the hug, even tighter.

"I'm glad you're here," he said.

I pressed my face against his chest. "Me too…"

Lightning cracked again. But this time, I didn't even flinch.

"Lou?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you… for making me feel safe."

He ran his hand slowly down my back. "And I'll keep doing it… tonight, tomorrow, every time you need me."

His voice sounded so real.

And that night, between the thunder and the soft tapping of rain on the window, I fell asleep in the arms of a man who—somehow—always knew exactly when to be my shield, and when to be my softest comfort.

I don't know when the storm ended. But I knew, as long as Louise was beside me… no storm would ever feel too scary.

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