The Price Of Redemption

3.

The chair swiveled around with an eerie slowness, revealing the figure sitting comfortably, legs crossed, an amused smirk playing on her lips. Haerin.

"Seriously, Dad? Is this how you greet your only daughter?" she teased, her voice light but edged with sarcasm as her eyes took in the sight of her father standing there, gun in hand, looking rattled.

Taehyung's brow furrowed deeply at first, but as recognition set in, his tense features softened, and he let out a long breath, tucking the gun back into its holster. He stepped closer, his face still carrying the weight of irritation. "Well, Haerin, what do you expect when you show up unannounced and sneak in like a thief?" His tone was stern, almost scolding, though underneath it was a faint trace of relief.

Haerin scoffed, standing from the chair with an air of defiance, meeting her father's gaze head-on. The tension in the room grew thick as they stared each other down, father and daughter, neither willing to break the silence. It felt like a battle of wills, a silent war they had fought countless times before.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and the room was flooded with warmth and cheerfulness that felt out of place. "Haerin-ah!" Jisoo's voice rang out, high-pitched and overly familiar. She rushed toward Haerin, arms outstretched, pulling her into an unwelcome embrace. Haerin stiffened immediately, her cat-like eyes narrowing in distaste.

"Don't touch me," Haerin warned coldly, her voice sharp as she pushed Jisoo away.

Jisoo's expression didn't falter. She just smiled that same sickly-sweet smile, retreating behind Taehyung and draping her arms around his shoulders as if to solidify her place in the room. "Oh, don't be like that, honey. I am your mom, after all."

Haerin's jaw clenched. "You're not my mom, You Witch."

The words cut through the air like a knife. Taehyung's patience snapped. "Haerin!" His voice boomed, echoing through the room, silencing everything else.

2018 - December 1st

The sky was a dull, lifeless gray, a soft drizzle falling as if the heavens themselves were mourning. A small group huddled under the shelter of black umbrellas, the sound of rain softly tapping against the fabric, blending with the whispered prayers of the priest. The cemetery was quiet, save for the occasional sigh of the wind or the shuffle of feet on the wet grass.

At the center of it all stood a young girl, no older than 18, staring blankly at the freshly dug grave before her. Haerin's hands trembled as she clutched a single white rose, her knuckles pale from the grip. She hadn't shed a tear, but the redness around her eyes betrayed the storm brewing inside her.

The gravestone read Kang Jennie, her mother's name etched into the cold stone, surrounded by wreaths of flowers from family and friends.

Haerin's eyes drifted to her father. He stood just a few feet away, but he felt miles apart. His arms were wrapped tightly around another woman. Who is she? Haerin's mind screamed. Why is he holding her like that? The questions burned inside her, but her lips remained sealed. A boy, around her age, stood next to them. Who is he? The unfamiliar sight added fuel to the fire of confusion and anger simmering beneath her calm exterior.

The priest finished his final prayers, and slowly, the small crowd began to disperse. Haerin's father gave one last glance at the gravestone, his face unreadable, before turning and walking away, arm in arm with the stranger. He didn't say a word to Haerin. Not a single word.

As the rain began to fall harder, Haerin stood alone, the weight of the world pressing down on her. Her mother was gone. And in that moment, so was her father.

2024

"So, let me get this straight. He invited you to a party?" Hyein asked, her brow furrowed as she and Dani walked side by side down the corridor, their footsteps echoing against the tiled floor.

Dani nodded, her expression distant, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Hyein stopped suddenly, causing Dani to pause mid-step. "Are you going to go?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Dani shrugged, unsure of herself. She didn't have an answer—not one that made sense, anyway. "I... don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Hyein leaned in, her voice softening. "He did say he had something you'd want to hear, right? Maybe you should go, see what it's all about."

Dani's eyes clouded, the weight of the past settling heavily on her shoulders. She sighed, feeling the gloom creeping in. Hyein, sensing the shift, wrapped her friend in a tight, comforting hug.

"Hey, if you don't go, just bake me a chocolate cake instead," Hyein teased, pulling back with a playful glint in her eyes, hoping to lift Dani's spirits.

Dani chuckled softly, though the sadness lingered in her expression. "How about we have a study session this weekend instead?" Dani offered, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice.

Hyein groaned dramatically, rolling her eyes. "Ugh, when did you turn into such a nerd?" She walked ahead, pretending to be exasperated, while Dani ran to catch up, laughing as she clung onto her friend's arm.

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Haerin quietly pushed open the door to her old room. The air inside was thick with stillness, untouched by time yet somehow warmer than she remembered. She stepped inside cautiously, as though her very presence might disturb the fragile peace that had settled there.

The carpet beneath her feet was soft, muffling her steps as she made her way to the small desk in the corner. It was covered in a fine layer of dust, a testament to the years that had passed. The objects scattered across it were exactly as she had left them—a notebook she used to scribble in endlessly, pens and pencils strewn about carelessly. Her eyes softened as they landed on a small photo frame, half-buried under the mess.

She picked up the frame gingerly, brushing away the dust to reveal the photo inside. It was of a younger version of herself, maybe 6 years old, grinning with crooked teeth as her mother, Jennie, kissed her cheek. Haerin's heart clenched painfully at the sight.

"I'm back, Mom," she whispered, her voice barely audible, her fingers tracing the outline of her mother's face. "This time, I'll find the answers."

She set the frame back on the desk with a bittersweet smile, her emotions swirling like a storm inside her. Moving toward the bed, she pulled off the white sheets that had covered it for years and sank into the familiar mattress. She closed her eyes, breathing in the faint scent that still lingered beneath the layers of dust.

"It still smells like you... Jihye," she murmured, her voice soft, almost wistful, before she let herself drift off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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