Husband With Benefits

"Settle down, everyone!" Hannah called out, her voice barely audible above the din. "If you don’t quiet down, I’ll have to turn this bus around and take you all back to school!" she threatened, a playful twinkle in her eye as she looked at the excited children in the bus. The children giggled but began to quiet down, eager for their field trip and not wanting to return to the school just yet.

As they started to quiet down, Hannah brought her hands to her lips, as if intending to use them as a microphone as she called out," Come on, class! Let out a loud cheer before we begin!"

While she screamed and hyped the kids, the bus started moving with a lurch, causing Hannah to lose her balance. She stumbled and fell, landing in a man’s lap. She froze for a moment, feeling his hands reach out to steady her by the elbows. She turned her head then and their eyes met briefly as she whispered his name, "Erasmi..."

Realising that she’d fallen on top of him, she blushed and quickly scrambled to get off him, holding his shoulders for a better balance as she moved to sit beside him," I am so sorry, Erasmi. I lost my balance and..."

Erasmi shook his head and moved away making more space for her as he shifted closer to the side of the bus." It’s alright. No one’s hurt so makes no difference."

"Then, thank you for catching me." Erasmi gave a curt nod then, turning his head to look out of the window.

As the bus sped towards the destination, Hannah spoke to Erasmi," And I think I need to thank you for introducing me to Big Mama. She’s such a wondeful person. I’ve been there so many times after that. She won’t let me feel like I am a stranger."

Erasmi smiled at that. " Yes. She is like that. Good for you."

"It was. She even helped guide me about my mixed feeling about breaking up with my boyfriend. It makes me sad not to be able to talk to him and be with him, but she is right, it is better to break things off instead of hiding from each other."