Page 98 of Faking the Goal

I turn back around before he can answer, laughing under my breath as Harumi leads me upstairs.

Oh, yeah.

I'm never letting that nickname die.

CHAPTER 15

KENTARO

The call from Mom's clinic comes a little after four while I'm at my desk going through film from our opponent's last few games. I answer it without thinking much of it, assuming it's something about an appointment, paperwork, or one of the million administrative things that seem to come with her treatment.

Instead, the woman introduces herself from billing and tells me there's an outstanding balance on Mom's account.

"How much?"

She gives me the amount, then explains that the last two months of treatment haven't been paid. They've already tried reaching the person responsible for the account several times without success, and since I'm listed as one of Mom's authorized contacts, they're reaching out to me.

For a second, I'm confused more than anything.

My father pays her medical bills. Whatever else I can say about him, he's never fucked around when it comes to paying for Mom's treatment.

Until now.

The realization comes slowly, followed by an anger so sharp I have to set my pen down before I snap the damn thing between my fingers.

He actually fucking did it.

The threat he made the last time we spoke wasn't just something he'd thrown at me because he was angry. He stopped paying two months ago and has apparently been sitting back waiting for me to find out.

I ask the woman how soon the balance needs to be settled and whether it affects Mom's upcoming treatment. Once I have the information I need, I tell her I'll take care of it and end the call.

Then I call my father.

No answer.

I call again.

Nothing.

By the third attempt, I'm grinding my molars hard enough that my jaw aches.

Of course he isn't answering. Why would he? He doesn't need to explain himself because I already know exactly what this is.

He's found another way to pressure me.

He wants me to panic. He wants me thinking about what happens to Mom if I keep refusing to come home and take my place in the company. More than anything, he wants to remind me that as long as he's the one paying for everything, he can tighten the leash whenever he fucking wants.

I pay the outstanding balance myself.

Watching that much money disappear from my account makes my stomach turn, but thankfully I have it. I've been saving most of the allowance my father sends me every month since I started college, spending only what I need and letting the rest accumulate for almost three years. I never had a specific plan for it. I just hated the idea of having nothing of my own when nearly every part of my life was still being funded by him.

Turns out that paranoia was useful.

I can cover two months.

What I can't do is pretend I don't understand the message he's sending me.

Mom still has more treatment ahead of her, and what I've saved over three years isn't an endless supply of money. My father knows that too. He knows I can handle this bill, maybe the next one, maybe even a few after that, but eventually the numbers will catch up with me.