Sunshower

Chapter 10: Secrets

Hoseok leaned forward and touched Cassia's lips softly with his own. She didn't move at first, like she was shocked by his actions. He pulled away just barely, afraid he made another mistake. To his surprise, however, she didn't pull away from him. He leaned back in and lightly kissed her again. To Cassia's surprise, she felt the desire to kiss him back, and she did. Where was this coming from? She thought. The feeling was so foreign to her that it immediately scared her just as she started to enjoy it. She tried to force the thought from her mind and concentrate on Hoseok's lips on hers. But just as she squashed one bad feeling, visions from that night ran behind her eyelids in a blur.  She jumped back from him, just as he placed his hand on her knee, and she covered her mouth.

"I'm so sorry!" She talked behind her hand. Hoseok grinned at her slightly.

"What are you sorry for?" he asked, still squatting in front of her. A crisp gust of wind blew through them and he reached up and pulled her coat tighter around her.

"I'm just...." She tried to think of what to say without telling him what actually had gone through her mind. "I guess I'm just not use to this."

"Can I really not talk you into staying a little longer?" Hoseok asked looking up at Cassia. She shook her head.

"I really need to go. I need to figure out what I'm going to do. I need to decide where I'm going to go."

"Can we just talk through the night then, and you leave in the morning?" Hoseok looked hopeful as Cassia contemplated the idea.

"Okay. I guess I can give you that much." Another gust of wind whipped around them, blowing leaves along the ground.

"Come on," Hoseok said, standing up. He extended his hand out to Cassia, who sat for several seconds before taking it. "Let's go back to the hostel where it's warm."

When they opened the door, the hostel was dark and quiet. It seemed everyone had already gone to bed. They walked to Cassia's door and she stopped in front of it, turning to Hoseok.

"You're coming back?" she asked quietly just to make sure she understood the plans. She didn't need any surprises.

"Yes. You promised we could talk." Hoseok answered her while she looked at the floor. "Just let me take a shower and I'll be back." Cassia nodded and felt her heart flip. She refused to let Hoseok see it though. He reached down and opened her door and placed his hand on her back, guiding her through. She was acutely aware how she didn't flinch when he touched her. It was not lost on him either.

"Are you getting use to me now?" he grinned at her. She grinned back awkwardly, still trying to adjust to these new feelings.

She walked in, closing the door behind her, and sat at her desk. She stared at the mirror in front of her and touched her lips where Hoseok's lips had been. She felt her heart skip a beat. She slammed her fist against her chest telling her heart to get it together. Yes, she liked Hoseok. Yes, she felt safe around him. Yes, she loved it when he kissed her, but she was about to leave. Who knew if she would ever see him again. She didn't want to even think about that.

She didn't know how long she had been sitting at the desk when the knock came at her door.

"Come in," she said quietly. Hoseok walked into her room wearing a black shirt and gray sweatpants. She glanced up as he walked in and her breath caught in her throat. His hair hung messily over his forehead, still wet. The dark brown almost looked black to her and it made his facial features even more prominent. She found herself focusing on his lips. When she realized that she was staring, she stood quickly and tried to see if he needed anything.

"I can get you something to drink," she said walking to the door. She wanted to escape the desire to kiss him again, but he told her he didn't need anything. He just wanted to talk to her. He sat down on the floor in front of her bed, cross-legged, and waited for her to crawl up on the bed, like when they had talked last time. But she surprised him by sitting in the floor with him. She also sat cross-legged, their knees almost touching.