Haein sits at her desk, gazing at the mountain of paperwork that seems to multiply daily. The room is filled with the soft hum of a clock, its ticking growing louder in her mind as her eyes dart between the documents. The numbers blur, shifting on the page like waves. She blinks, trying to steady herself, but the hallucinations are getting worse. She sees her younger self in the reflection of the window, staring back with wide, curious eyes. Haein grips the edge of her desk, fighting to stay grounded. She mutters to herself, "Stay focused, Haein... Stay here."
Her phone buzzes, snapping her out of the momentary lapse. It's an email from her assistant, a reminder about an important meeting with shareholders later in the day. Haein’s heart races. She hasn't prepared as much as she should have; she’s been too distracted by the relentless visions and phantom voices that fill her mind when she’s alone. But she knows she must push through, maintain the façade of control. She takes a deep breath, reminding herself that no one must ever know.
Soobin bursts through the door without knocking, her uniform slightly rumpled from a day at school. “Mum, I need money for a party tonight” she demands, her tone impatient. Haein looks up, her vision still somewhat hazy from the recent hallucination. For a moment, she sees a younger Soobin, a little girl in pigtails asking for ice cream. She blinks, refocusing, and sees the teenage Soobin, waiting with a scowl.
“How much do you need?” Haein asks, keeping her voice even. Soobin rattles off a figure without hesitation, one that would make most people flinch, but Haein nods. She reaches for her wallet, but her hand trembles slightly, the result of another phantom pain that shoots through her skull. Soobin doesn’t notice, too busy texting on her phone.
“Thanks, Mum” Soobin mutters without looking up as she snatches the cash from Haein’s hand. She turns on her heel and leaves, her mind already on the party, the night ahead, the fun she’s going to have. Haein watches her daughter go, a deep pang of worry mixing with the frustration.
Later, at the shareholder meeting, Haein finds herself struggling to concentrate. The faces around the table seem distorted, and she swears she hears whispers even though everyone is silent. She feels sweat bead at her temples. “Stay calm,” she tells herself, mentally rehearsing the points she needs to cover. She pushes through, answering questions, outlining plans, maintaining her composure through sheer force of will. But inside, she is crumbling, the effort taking more out of her than anyone could see.
Back at home, Haein collapses onto the sofa, exhausted. She glances at the clock, then at her phone, checking for a message from Soobin. There’s nothing. She wonders, not for the first time, what she’s doing wrong, why her daughter remains so distant, so uncaring. As she closes her eyes, she sees her hallucinations again—this time, her own reflection looking older, more tired, a ghost of herself. Tears sting her eyes, but she forces them back. She has to be strong.
Soobin comes home late that night, the sound of the front door jolting Haein awake. She pretends to be asleep on the couch as Soobin sneaks past her, giggling softly to herself, not sparing a glance at her mother. Haein remains still, tears finally escaping, as she realises just how far apart they’ve become.
Alone in the quiet of the night, Haein’s suffering deepens, her body aching and her mind fraying at the edges. But she knows she cannot stop. Not yet. Not until she finds a way to reach her daughter again, to bridge the gap that feels like an endless chasm between them.
YOU ARE READING
Pieces Of Us
Random"Pieces of Us" follows the tumultuous relationship between Baek Soobin, a sixteen-year-old who lives a life of luxury and rebellion, and her mother, Hong Haein, a powerful CEO known for her cold, distant demeanour. As Soobin continues to push her mo...
