"hi mark, now is not really a good time sweetheart, Chaerin needs to be al-"
"I just came to drop off some textbooks and practice exams for her, I thought it would help with her study since she's doing it all alone" mark explained to her mother, lifting up a spare bag with books and papers inside
"she's so lucky to have you, you were always such a thoughtful kid" her mother said as she widened the door for him to enter the house
"do you mind if I give them to her myself? i wont take that long i promise" he pleaded and her mother hesitantly nodded
"by the way....has she spoken to you about anything recently? anything going on in school? has she been bullied or something because......she's shutting us out an-"
"Mrs.Park I really, really wish I could help but she's been quite distant to me as well, I think you're just going to have to ask her yourself" he said, lying to her mother just like he had been advised to by Chaerin herself.
"yeah I....I think it's just....hard because I feel like I've constantly neglected her all these years...I just-- god I don't know how to tall to my own daughter these days" her mother said with a shaky voice as tears slowly welled up in her eyes and mark sighed
"Chaerin has always been a strong, independent girl. she's used to being alone and keeping things to herself, she feels like she's a burden if she places her problems onto someone else.....I know it might seem like she's far away right now but....she's right upstairs and its...never too late, she'll understand. She's kind and forgiving, you just need to initiate the contact because she has tried and failed too many times. what she needs right now is someone to listen to her, not force anything out of her, but to truly listen, you're her mother, of all people it should be you" Mark said, slowly watching her mother nod, understanding his words. he had always known her like the back of his hand, they were best friends after all.
"maybe....you should give these to her yourself" he said, placing the back on the island counter where she was standing and she looked up at him slowly
"I'll tell her you stopped by" her mother said with a small smile and mark nodded
"and mark.......thank you" her mother whispered as the front door closed once more. she travelled her way up the stairs with the heavy bag in her arms and she slowly knocked on the door of the bedroom where the girl was silently working hard to solve physics equations.
"hey, how are you doing?" her mother's voice rang through her ears softly and she mumbled her answers without looking from the page
"alright"
"Mark dropped off some books for you, and some extra study materials" her mother said with a soft smile as she placed it onto the table
"why don't you take a break tonight? we can watch a movie and maybe order in, just you and me tonight" her mother said, nervously as she watched Chaerin slowly look up to meet her eyes. chaerin could sense the anxiety in her mother, she was wondering why she had even offered to spend time together, she thought both her parents were disappointed with her, but she was relieved that one of them weren't.
"yeah....I'd like that" she said with a small smile as she watched her mother drop her tense shoulders in relief
"I see you're working hard as usual, how's study going? is it hard on your own? we can hire a private tuto-"
"it's okay....its only revision so I'm not too bad" she said
"you always were the smartest in the family, SNU would be lucky to have you" her mother said, ruffling her hair but Chaerin bit her bottom lip
"mom...what if i...don't get into SNU?" she asked, with a shaky breath and her mother sent a sympathetic smile
"then it's okay....college isn't everything chae...I'm sorry if I brainwashed you to believe that it was. truth is, I always wanted the best for you, and it may come off as harsh but....I only ever wanted you to be happy...I realised that college isn't the only thing that can make you happy" her mother said and Chaerin smiled slowly
"that haechan boy, he's making you happy isnt he?" she asked and Chaerin nodded with a small chuckle
"good, that's all I ever want for you" her mother said patting her head slowly
"maybe you should invite him tonight?" her mother suggested but she shook her head slowly
"no I....I just want to spend time with you tonight...its been a long time" chaerin said, hugging her mom slowly and softly, enjoying the warm moment between them but she couldn't stop herself from asking the one question she had been curious about
"are you and....dad going to get divorced? you're both fighting a lot and-"
"that's between me and your dad okay? the problem is in our marriage, not you. you never were and never will be the problem chae" her mother said, patting her head to comfort her, the endearing actions of her mother definitely made her feel safe. she had finally got what she always wanted, what she was always jealous of Hyesoo for. she finally got a taste of what it was like to be cared about by a parent figure, even if it was only for a moment, she would cherish this day until the day she died.
YOU ARE READING
Enemies With Benefits | Lee Haechan
Fanfiction*currently re-editing* She was a fallen angel, and he helped her tear off her wings. A book in which Lee Haechan had fully corrupted Park Chaerin, the class president, and no one was going to stop them from continuing their secret affairs. "So what...
