The phone call came in the middle of Haein’s meeting. She had been reviewing a proposal, her concentration split between the numbers in front of her and the persistent throb at the back of her head. Her secretary, Aera, handed her the phone with a look that said it was urgent.
"Hello?" Haein's voice was steady, though internally, she braced herself.
"Mrs. Hong, this is Principal Weber from Soobin's school. I need you to come in immediately. Soobin’s been involved in... an incident."
Haein's heart sank. Soobin had been unpredictable lately, her moods swinging wildly, her attitude more defiant than ever. But this was the first time it had escalated to a school emergency. Without hesitation, she excused herself from the meeting and rushed to the school.
When Haein arrived at the principal’s office, she was met with cold stares from the other parents seated across from her. Their daughter sat between them, her face swollen, a fresh bruise blossoming across her cheek. Soobin was sitting in the corner, arms crossed, expression defiant. She didn't even bother looking at her mother when she entered.
“Mrs. Hong,” Principal Weber began, his tone serious, “Soobin punched a classmate during class today. We have a zero-tolerance policy for violence here.”
Haein felt her stomach twist. “I’m so sorry,” she began, but before she could continue, the other parent cut in.
“This isn’t just about school policy,” the woman snapped. She was elegantly dressed, her posture rigid with barely contained anger. “Your daughter assaulted mine. She’s a menace. This isn’t the first time she’s been rude or disruptive. And now, physical violence?” The woman’s voice grew sharper with each word. “Where is the discipline, Mrs. Hong? Do you even know how to parent?”
The accusation stung more than Haein could have imagined. She tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She had always been aware of the growing distance between her and Soobin, but hearing another parent blame her so openly felt like a slap to the face.
“I understand how upsetting this is,” Haein finally said, trying to remain calm, “but I assure you, I will handle this. Soobin will face consequences for her actions.”
The other woman’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not enough. My husband and I are considering legal action. Your daughter needs to learn that actions have consequences. Violence is not acceptable—ever.”
The room went cold. Haein’s chest tightened, her mind racing. Legal action? Her breath came short.
“I—” Haein glanced at Soobin, who remained stubbornly silent. There was no remorse in her expression, no recognition of the gravity of what she had done. Haein could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on her, waiting for her next move.
She swallowed her pride. “Please,” she said softly, turning to the other mother, her voice cracking with desperation. “I’m begging you—let’s not escalate this further. Soobin is still a child. She made a mistake, but I will make sure she learns from it. Please, for both our daughters’ sake.”
The words tasted bitter on her tongue. Haein had never imagined she’d find herself begging in front of strangers, but for Soobin’s future, she would. The humiliation burned in her chest, but she kept her eyes down, trying to hide the shame she felt.
The woman eyed her coldly before exchanging a look with her husband, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. After a long moment, she spoke again.
“Fine,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “But only because I don’t want this to drag on in the courts. If it happens again, we won’t hesitate.”
Haein exhaled a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. She nodded gratefully, her voice quiet. “Thank you.”
The other parents left without another word, their daughter trailing behind them. The principal watched them go before turning his attention to Soobin.
“Soobin,” Principal Weber said, his tone still firm, “I hope you understand how serious this is. You’re suspended for three days. We expect better from you.”
Soobin shrugged, completely unfazed. Haein couldn’t believe it. Not a single word of apology, not a flicker of regret.
On the way home, the silence between them was suffocating. Haein felt as though she was losing control—of her daughter, of her life, of everything. She wanted to scream, to demand an explanation, but her exhaustion and the weight of humiliation held her back.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “Why, Soobin? Why did you do it?”
Soobin didn’t look at her. “She deserved it,” she muttered. “She was talking trash about me, so I hit her.”
Haein blinked, incredulous. “You hit someone because they said something you didn’t like?”
Soobin rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
Haein’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to reach her daughter anymore.
As they pulled into the driveway, Soobin opened the door before the car had fully stopped.
“I’m going to my room,” she said flatly, slamming the door behind her.
Haein sat in the car for a moment, the weight of the day crashing down on her. The humiliation she had endured, the disdain in Soobin’s eyes, the feeling of complete helplessness—it was too much.
She rested her head against the steering wheel and closed her eyes, fighting back tears. Soobin was slipping further away from her, and no matter how much she gave or how hard she tried, it never seemed to be enough.
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...
