Sunshower

Chapter 29: Reckoning

"Do I need to call Dr. Park?" Hoseok stood across the counter from Cassia, watching her closely. Her eyes were still swollen from the continuous threat of a breakdown. Cassia shook her head but didn't try to speak.

Cassia had so much on her mind. She needed to let Jungkook know what their dad found out. She actually needed to see Dr. Park, but she couldn't motivate herself to do much of anything other than pour herself a glass of water, much less leave her apartment.

Memories about life with her mom came flooding back to her consciousness. She always wondered how her mother was able to afford to get drunk so much-every night when she couldn't even pay the rent. Now it all made sense. She got money from Mrs. Jeon to pay for her escapades. Cassia always assumed it was the guys her mom hooked up with that paid for all the alcohol.

As she watched the stream of water flow into her cup she remembered how her mother  would ask for money. She promised to pay the rent. Cassia only trusted her a couple of times, then she refused to give her mother any money at all. She took over paying the bills with the money from her part time jobs. They struggled so much to live because of her mother's drinking. And all this time she had enough money to take care of them, but she spent it all on alcohol.  Suddenly, she was hit with a realization.

Cassia snapped back to the present as water flowed out of her glass and onto her hand. She stepped back and turned the water off, taking a huge gulp from the glass.. She knew what she needed to do, she just didn't want to. She turned and looked at Hoseok, giving him a microscopic smile.

"What are you thinking, Cass? You are scaring me. Please talk to me." Hoseok's voice quivered as he pleaded with Cassia. She looked up at him, meeting his eyes with a sorrowful look. She seemed to find her voice.

"I have to go back to America, Hobi," she said, fear flooding her conscious, reminding her of everything she would have to face again.

Hobi shook his head, trying to disregard what she just said. "No, no you don't. We have proof. You don't have to go anywhere. We can just show Jungkook the file you showed me."

"That only shows that Mrs. Jeon was giving to another charity. Dad only found out it was going to my mom. He doesn't have proof of that. Jungkook may think he's trying to take my side over his. I don't want this to hurt Jungkook in any way. I want to make sure I have the proof." Cassia looked down at her hands and then back up at Hoseok. He knew she was right. He knew she had to get the evidence from her mother. He shook his head in disbelief.

"How can anyone be so evil?" He spoke low as if he were talking to himself.

Cassia sat down at her computer and began to search for tickets to Atlanta. Her hands shook as she typed in the information.

"Don't you want me to go with you?" Hoseok questioned. She shook her head.

"No. Thank you, but I need to do this on my own. For my own mental wellbeing." Hoseok rubbed his hands together nervously and sighed again.

"I don't like this, Cass. Not at all," Hoseok responded.

"You don't have to like it. But I need you to honor my wishes and let me do this. I need you to trust me like I have come to trust you." Cassia took Hobi's hand in hers and he held onto her hand as if she were disappearing.
"I would love to say everything will be fine, but I know what I'm going back to," she paused for a moment and took a deep breath. She looked at Hoseok and took his face in her hand. "I WILL be back, Hobi. I promise. And I will have the evidence that I need." Hoseok looked at her, apprehension flowing through his veins. He gave one nod without speaking and Cassia went back to finding a ticket home.