Hello there! It's been a month since I published the previous chapter. I took a break to take care of myself, finding peace and healing, after going through real-life issues. I'm doing well now, though I suffered from writer's block so I had no idea what to write next to keep this story going.

I posted a blog on Tumblr about my plan to have Balan and Peyton visit another world for this chapter, but I didn't know which one. Fortunately, a good friend of mine from the Balan fandom suggested having them visit a bug-themed world. Admittedly, I always wanted to write about conquering the fear of insects, so this is what this chapter is going to be. Huge thanks to kayssweetdreams for the suggestion.

Keep on Buggin'

I was in Balan's bedroom, sitting on the chaise longue and reading a book. I gradually took an interest in reading thanks to his remarkable collection of books on his bookshelf. I thought that I might do something to pass the time while Balan is busy doing paperwork, managing the theatre, and entertaining the guests before letting them proceed with their heart-healing quests. All of a sudden, I heard the door open which didn't bother me as I already knew who it was.

"Hi, Peyton! I'm back!", Balan greeted as he entered the room and walked towards me.

"Hello, Balan!", I greeted in return as I stood up and we kissed on the lips.

"How is my love doing?", he asked as we sat down.

"Great as always. I've been reading a lot lately", I answered.

"What are you reading now?", he enquired whilst cuddling me affectionately.

"A book about nature", I replied as I caressed his arms.

"Ah! That's a fine choice", he commented.

"By the way, I've been wondering about something", I said.

"What is it?", he asked.

"I've always wanted to learn about insects, but my fear has hindered me from doing so", I admitted.

"Is that so? Tell me, dear. When did this fear start?", he queried out of concern.

"For as long as I can remember. I've encountered roaches several times, especially flying ones. I had to immediately leave the room whenever I see them flying around. When they remain still on the wall or floor, I smacked them with a slipper and either threw them out of the window or flush them in the toilet. I also experienced those critters on my skin a few times and thankfully, they didn't crawl. If they do, I would be scared to the point of passing out", I recounted.

"Good heavens! That sounds quite terrible", he remarked.

"Yeah, no kidding. Roaches give me anxiety while maggots give me unbearable nightmares. They're stuck in my head either by thinking about them or looking at them", I furthered and shuddered out of disgust.

"I'm so sorry. I had no idea how intense your fear is", he empathized.

"I just don't know if I could conquer my entomophobia or not", I said and let out a frustrating sigh.

"Let me help you", he offered.

"Pardon?", I wondered.

"As the ruler of Wonderworld and your significant other, it is my duty to help you solve whatever problems you have", he sincerely expressed whilst holding my hand.

"That's thoughtful of you as always, Balan", I stated with a smile.

"There's a world that revolves around an inhabitant's passion for bugs. I'd be more than happy to take you there. I can assure you that the bugs there aren't as scary and harmful as you think", he explained.

"Oh, that sounds interesting. Can we go now?", I asked.

"Of course! But first, let's go to the isle to pick Tori up. We wouldn't want to forget our travel buddy", he suggested.

"Right!", I responded as we stood up from the chaise longue.

I put the book back on the shelf and headed to the shoe rack to put on my heels. Balan and I exited the bedroom and went downstairs to go to the main stage. After opening the curtains, we made our way to the Isle of Tims. I let out a blissful sigh to relish the gentle breeze as we strolled along. Suddenly, we heard a familiar sound coming from a mile away. We looked around until we saw Tori hopping towards us.

"Timu timu!", Tori excitingly chirped.

"Hi Tori!", I gleefully greeted with my arms stretched out.

They hopped on my arms as I gave them a hug, petting them on the head softly.

"We missed you so much, you lovable and adorable furball", I expressed.

"Timu!", Tori chirped and nuzzled my cheek, conveying they missed us too.

"Are you ready to learn about bugs, Peyton?", Balan asked.

"I sure am!", I replied.

"Alright then! Off we go!", he exclaimed as he snapped his finger, teleporting us to a bug-themed garden.

Once we arrived, I gasped at how gigantic the garden appeared. Looking at the surroundings, the area was full of greenery, the walls were made out of wood, and there were different shapes and sizes of mushrooms. Judging from the details of the wood, it looked like we were on the inner part of a tree. Either way, it was an enchanted garden that was pretty much straight out of a fairytale.

"Dazzling, isn't it?", Balan remarked whilst spreading his arm to exhibit its beauty.

"It certainly is", I answered as I got misty-eyed.

"Shall I show you around?", he offered as he laid his hand in front of me.

"Lead the way, my love", I accepted as he carried me and placed Tori on his back.

I held on to Balan securely as he started flying me and Tori around the area. I saw honeycombs, glowing and colourful illustrations of butterflies and dragonflies, vines, and spider webs on the walls. Surprisingly, there were objects that one would typically find in schools such as stacks of giant books, chalkboards, and lockers. My eyes widened and my mouth went agape, feeling astounded at the miscellaneous artifacts as our aerial exploration went on.

Afterwards, we landed on the grassy ground, sat down next to each other with our legs crossed, and I let Tori rest on my thigh. Out of nowhere, a trio of insects flew in front of us. A ladybug landed on my left thumb, a butterfly landed on the back of my left hand, and a dragonfly landed on the palm of my right hand.

"Woah! I can't believe I'm seeing them all at once", I intriguingly claimed.

"It looks like you're warming up to them, Peyton", Balan said with a comforting grin.

"They felt a bit ticklish on my skin", I frankly stated and let out a giggle.

"Any other insects that you want to see?", he enquired.

"Hmmm... How about a grasshopper, an inchworm, and a spider?", I suggested.

"Coming right up! I'll be back in a moment", he stood up and flew away to find the particular insects.

"Hello there, critters. So nice of you to drop by", I softly uttered whilst observing them carefully.

"Timu...", Tori chirped with focused eyes, looking at them astonishingly.

"I know right? They're quite cute and interesting", I remarked.

"I'm back! As per your request, Peyton", Balan knelt to show me the insects in his hands.

"Cool!", I exclaimed.

Balan gently put the grasshopper on my left arm, the inchworm on my right index finger, and the spider on my right arm.

"Pinch me, I must be dreaming", I delightfully expressed as I didn't expect to see five bugs and an arachnid in one day.

Balan couldn't help but chuckle at how much fun I was having. He then explained to me the purpose of each critter and its importance to the ecosystem. I immediately took an interest in the eye-opening information that he provided.

"Wow! I didn't realize they contributed so much to the environment. I'm learning a lot from you", I commented out of fascination.

"It's the least I could do to help you with your setback", Balan genuinely responded.

"By the way, I'm curious about that particular object over there. What does it do?", I queried as I looked up and pointed to something that had a yellow spherical top with four blue squares on the bottom.

"Ooh! I'm glad you asked. Allow me to demonstrate", he exhilaratingly said as he went towards the object.

Once Balan tapped one of the squares with the palm of his hand, the squares expanded to cubes, and the sphere split in half, emitting a couple of shockwaves that illuminated the entire garden with navy blue light. As I stood up to look around, it caught me completely off guard that everything was glowing.

"Say hello to the best part of this trip: bioluminescence", Balan asserted.

"Oh my gosh! It's even more beautiful!", I exclaimed as I got misty-eyed once more.

At that moment, the insects and the spider started to glow as well. Balan walked towards me and we both paid attention to their luminosity, leaving us in wondrous awe. The bug trio began to fly away, but not before making contact with my cheeks as a way of bidding farewell. I waved goodbye to them, hoping that I would see them again.

As Balan, Tori, and I relaxed under a tall mushroom, the grasshopper hopped away while I laid my arm on the ground for the inchworm and the spider to roam freely. Subsequently, we noticed a bunch of fireflies lighting up as they slowly flew around our resting spot, creating a pleasantly radiant ambiance.

"Hey, Balan?", I said.

"Yes, Peyton", Balan replied.

"Thank you for this breathtaking and educational experience. I wouldn't be able to overcome my entomophobia if it weren't for your help", I appreciatively expressed whilst giving him a warm hug.

"You're always welcome, sweetheart. I'd do anything for you", he acknowledged as he wrapped his arms around me.

Balan and I blushed as we enjoyed our romantic moment by locking lips for a prolonged time. He tenderly brushed my hair and I caressed his cheek while we went on tasting each other's breaths and tongues. Right after, I nuzzled my face on his chest as we continued with our cuddle session, feeling utterly satisfied that our adventure went well and concluded with a serene atmosphere.

End of Chapter 4

8 days of writing another challenging chapter definitely paid off. If this made you have a newfound appreciation for insects, you deserve a pat on the back. Although you have to be aware of the kinds that are harmful.

The next chapter will be another lemon. I already have some ideas for it such as Balan entertaining Peyton with a sensual performance on stage, followed by their wild and experimental love scene in the bedroom.

As always, see you soon.