Chapter 79
Morning light slowly seeped through the curtains.
I frowned slightly and turned my face to the side. For a brief moment, I almost forgot where I was.
Then it all came back to me.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. Outside, I could hear faint sounds of voice and the soft clinking of dishes.
They were already awake.
I slipped out of bed and carefully opened the door. The hallway was quiet. At the end of it, warm light spilled out from the living room.
When I stepped closer, I saw Ms. Lee in the kitchen, her back facing me as she moved between the counter. Mr. Kim was sitting at the dining table, reading something on his phone. Haemin sat beside him, his legs swinging slightly as he hummed to himself.
Mr. Kim noticed me first.
"Oh, Harin, you're awake. Did you sleep well?"
"Y–Yes. Thank you for last night."
Ms. Lee turned around then. "Good morning, Harin. Have a seat first. Breakfast will be ready soon."
Haemin peeked at me from beside his father, then smiled shyly.
"Good morning, noona."
My expression softened at the sight of him.
"Good morning, Haemin."
Then I walked toward Ms. Lee in the kitchen.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
She shook her head lightly. "Oh, no… it's alright. You don't have to."
I paused, then glanced at the counter. Without really thinking, I rolled up my sleeves.
"It's okay, let me help you."
Ms. Lee blinked, caught off guard. "Ah— well… if you say so."
I washed my hands quickly and stepped beside her. Without needing much instruction, I picked up a knife and began slicing the vegetables evenly. After that, I cut the carrots into neat cubes, then moved on to the onions, slicing them thinly. After rinsing the spinach, I trimmed and separated the leaves, then cracked the eggs cleanly.
I had helped my mother in the kitchen since I was young, so this kind of work was nothing new to me.
Ms. Lee watched me for a moment, little bit surprised.
"Oh my, you're really good at this, aren't you?"
I shook my head slightly, a little embarrassed.
"Not really. I just did this a lot with my mother back home. I'm just doing what I know."
"You're very reliable, Harin. Your mother must be proud of you."
I didn't know how to respond to that and just smiled.
A few minutes later, breakfast was ready, and we brought the dishes to the dining table.
Mr. Kim looked at the spread and let out a small chuckle.
"Wow, it looks great. I think I might have to eat more than usual this morning."
"You should. Thanks to Harin helping me, I made a little extra today."
Mr. Kim turned to me right away. "Then I should thank you properly. Thank you, Harin. Breakfast looks even better today."
I shook my head lightly.
"It's really nothing. I just helped a bit. Ms. Lee the one doing all the hard work."
Ms. Lee laughed softly.
"See? Much better than when you tried to help last time."
Mr. Kim sighed in mock defeat.
"That was an accident. I only turned away for a second and the eggs burned."
"You burned them while they were still in the pan."
"That just means the fire was too strong. It's safer for everyone if I stay out of the kitchen."
Ms. Lee smiled, and even Haemin let out a small giggle beside her.
Watching them, I felt something loosen in my chest.
Before I realized it, I was smiling too. If only my family could be like this. Perhaps, one day.
_____
"Appa, let's go to the playground today."
After we finished breakfast, Haemin spoke up right away, his eyes bright with excitement.
Mr. Kim looked at him and smiled. "That sounds good. It's been almost two weeks since we last went there, hasn't it?"
Ms. Lee nodded as she began clearing the table. "It couldn't be helped. You've been busy with the school event and meetings lately. You've been coming home late every day."
It seemed like Mr. Kim worked as a teacher or something?
Mr. Kim let out a quiet sigh. "I know. I feel bad about it too, but the timing was terrible."
Then he suddenly turned toward me. "In that case, why don't we invite Harin along? We can all go together."
I froze for a second.
"I–I'm sorry," I said quickly, shaking my head. "I think I'll have to decline this time."
"Noona?"
Haemin looked at me, clearly disappointed. I gave him a small, gentle smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Kim. Ms. Lee. For everything you did for me yesterday. I've already troubled you enough already. I think it's time for me to leave."
Mr. Kim and Ms. Lee exchanged a glance, both of them slightly surprised.
"Aww, that's unfortunate. But…" Ms. Lee hesitated as she studying my face. "Are you going straight home after this?"
"I… yes."
That was what I said, but the truth was, I didn't really know where to go. The thought of going home still made my chest feel heavy. I wasn't sure if I was ready to face my parents yet. Still, it didn't feel right to stay here any longer. I didn't want to take advantage of their kindness.
Ms. Lee let out a quiet sigh.
"No, we can't let you go alone like this."
"You don't have to worry about me. I—"
"Harin," Ms. Lee interrupted gently, her voice calm but firm. "It's okay. How about we do this instead? We don't know why you were out there alone last night, and we won't force you to tell us either. But how about later, let my husband accompanies you home?"
"N-No, it's really fine. You don't have to trouble yourselves."
"There's no trouble at all," Mr. Kim interupted. "At least we'll know you got home safely."
I fell silent. I didn't know how to refuse anymore.
Ms. Lee looked at me with a soft smile.
"Okay, Harin?"
…In the end, I could only nod quietly.
_____
Ms. Lee crouched down in front of Haemin, straightening his jacket and brushing his hair aside before he went out.
"Haemin, stay close to Appa, alright?" she reminded him gently.
"And don't run around too much."
"Okay, Umma," he replied obediently, nodding his head.
Only then did she stand up and turn to me.
I stepped forward and bowed politely. "Thank you, Ms. Lee, for letting me stay here. I truly appreciate it. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you."
"Oh dear, it's nothing at all. Take good care of yourself, alright? And if we ever meet again somewhere, don't hesitate to call out to me."
I nodded and bowed once more.
Haemin, who had been standing quietly beside Mr. Kim, suddenly tugged on his father's sleeve.
"Appa… does Noona really have to go?"
Mr. Kim gently caressed Haemin's hair.
"Yes. Noona has parents waiting for her at home. They must be worried right now."
"…Oh."
Haemin's expression dimmed slightly as he continued holding onto his father's sleeve.
Seeing that, I crouched down in front of him and smiled softly.
"Don't be sad, Haemin. I'm sure we'll meet again someday. This won't be the last time."
"Really?"
I nodded. "Yes."
Then I added, "And before I go… how about I accompany you to play at the playground for a bit?"
A smile immediately returned to his face, and Mr. Kim and Ms. Lee couldn't help but smile as well when they saw Haemin light up again.
"We'll head out first," Mr. Kim said.
"Bye, Umma," Haemin said as he waved.
"Be careful," Ms. Lee replied, waving back at us.
The door closed softly behind us.
The evening air greeted us the moment we stepped outside. Warm lights along the corridor cast a gentle glow, illuminating the walkway. As we walked toward the stairs, I saw a few neighbors pass by, stopping to exchange brief greetings with each other. A couple of children ran laughing down the corridor, while a few elders stood by their doors, chatting quietly. The building felt alive and welcoming.
Further down the hallway, more neighbors walked past us, nodding or offering quick smiles.
"Oh, Mr. Kim, heading out?" one of them greeted warmly.
"Yes, just taking Haemin out for a bit."
"Haemin-ah, behave yourself, alright?" another neighbor added, chuckling as he ruffled Haemin's hair.
Haemin smiled shyly in response.
Their eyes then shifted to me, and I bowed politely. They smiled back, seeming curious, but they did not ask anything further.
One after another greeted Mr. Kim as we walked past.
Watching the way everyone greeted him so naturally, I couldn't help but think that Mr. Kim seemed quite well known in this building.
We were almost at the ground floor when raised voices echoed from near the entrance.
"I told you already, I didn't do anything wrong!"
An elderly woman stood near the lobby. Her voice trembled with anger and disbelief. Across from her was a man in a dark jacket, his expression stiff and impatient.
Mr. Kim slowed his steps.
"…Mrs. Lim?"
He let out a quiet sigh and turned toward them.
"This clearly violates the tenant agreement, ma'am. Subletting part of the unit is strictly prohibited."
"I didn't sublet anything! It's just my niece. She stayed with me for a few weeks when she had nowhere else to go."
"That still counts as an unauthorized occupant. You should have reported it. The owner has the right to terminate the contract."
"Mrs. Lim," Mr. Kim called out gently as we approached. "What's going on here?"
The old woman turned at the sound of his voice, relief flickering across her face.
"Oh, Seojun. Thank goodness you're here."
Mr. Kim stepped forward, placing himself between them.
"What exactly is the problem?" he asked calmly.
The man sighed, tapping the papers in his hand. "She breached the lease. We received a complaint that someone else has been staying in her unit. According to Clause 7, long-term occupants must be declared. The landlord is considering termination."
Mrs. Lim hands shook. "I didn't think it mattered. She's my family. She didn't even pay me anything."
Mr. Kim frowned slightly. "Clause 7 is usually meant to prevent illegal subletting, not temporary family stays, right?"
"That's not for you to decide. I'm just delivering the notice."
I let out a quiet sigh. Everywhere was the same, wasn't it? Some people really think rules are weapons to scare others, don't they? As if no one would know what their rights are. It was always exhausting to watch.
I stepped forward slowly.
"…Excuse me."
Everyone turned to look at me.
I bowed politely. "May I see the contract for a moment?"
The man hesitated. "And you are?"
"I'm nobody important. I just want to understand the rules properly. May I look at the contract?"
Mr. Kim's eyebrows rose, surprised by my sudden interruption.
After a brief pause, the man reluctantly handed me the papers.
I skimmed through the pages quickly, my eyes stopping at the relevant clause.
"Clause 7," I said slowly, reading aloud, "prohibits subleasing or granting tenancy rights to a third party without written consent."
I looked up. "But it doesn't define temporary family stays as subleasing, nor does it mention a time limit for guests."
"That's implied," the man argued.
I shook my head. "Contracts don't work on implications. If there's no definition or duration stated, it can't be enforced as a breach."
The lobby fell quiet.
I flipped another page. "And Clause 12 states that termination requires written warning and a grace period, except in cases of illegal activity or unpaid rent. None of that applies here."
Mrs. Lim could only stared at me, speechless, while Mr. Kim looked at me with open surprise.
The man's expression stiffened. "…You're saying this notice isn't valid?"
"I'm saying it doesn't meet the requirements stated in the contract."
"Look, miss, we've handled plenty of cases like this. If the landlord decides to end the lease, that's his right."
"Only if the process is lawful," I said. "If you proceed without following Clause 12, it would be considered wrongful termination. If Mrs. Lim is forced to vacate without proper notice or legal grounds, she would have the right to dispute it. That includes filing a formal complaint… or taking legal action for damages."
The man frowned. "So are you threatening to file a lawsuit now?"
"No. I'm explaining the consequences. They're different."
I handed the papers back to him.
"I'm sure the landlord wouldn't want unnecessary legal trouble over a clause that isn't clearly violated."
For a moment, the man said nothing.
Finally, he exhaled. "Fine… I'll report this back to the landlord."
He gathered his papers and left without another word.
Mrs. Lim knees nearly gave out. Mr. Kim quickly supported her.
"Thank you… thank you, I thought I was going to lose my home."
I shook my head gently. "You didn't do anything wrong, auntie."
Mr. Kim looked at me again, disbelief.
"…Harin, you're incredible!"
"Oh, no. It's really nothing like that," I said quickly. "I just read what was written in the contract."
"But still. To understand it and speak up like that… that's not something anyone can do."
Haemin looked up at me, his eyes shining.
"Noona… you're so cool."
I turned my face slightly, embarrassed. Maybe I was overdoing it a little. I mean, for a fourteen-year-old to know this much, it probably did seem strange.
But this really wasn't anything impressive at all.
Since my father came from SNU and was the right-hand to a conglomerate leader, his room was stacked floor to ceiling with law books and contracts. I spent hours leafing through them just out of curiosity and read whatever caught my eye. It's just… how I grew up.
Mrs. Lim clasped my hands tightly again, her eyes still wet.
"Thank you… truly. I don't know how I could ever repay you."
I shook my head once more. "There's no need. It's really fine"
She turned toward Mr. Kim, still holding my hand.
"Seojun, who is this child?"
"She's my niece. She stayed with us last night."
"Oh my, then I really owe her. How about you all come over for a drink? At least let me thank her properly."
Mr. Kim bowed his head slightly.
"I appreciate the thought, Mrs. Lim, but I need to take her home right now."
Mrs. Lim's expression fell just a little.
"That's a shame… I didn't even get the chance to do anything for you."
I smiled softly. "It's really okay, Auntie. I'm just glad everything worked out."
She nodded, then turned to Haemin, reaching out to pat his head.
"This little cutie here. Take care of your appa, alright?"
Haemin nodded shyly.
Mrs. Lim smiled again, then waved at us.
"Be safe on your way."
"Yes, Mrs. Lim. Take care," Mr. Kim replied.
With that, he gently guided us away, excusing himself politely as we headed toward the exit.
_____
The playground was empty, with only the three of us there. Haemin's eyes lit up the moment he saw the swings.
"Appa! The swing!" he said, already tugging his father's hand.
"Alright, alright. Don't run."
He helped Haemin climb onto the swing, crouching down to adjust the straps carefully.
"Hold tight, okay?"
"Mm!" Haemin nodded firmly, gripping the chains with both hands.
Mr. Kim gave the swing a gentle push.
"One… two…"
Haemin's feet lifted off the ground, and a soft giggle escaped him.
"Higher, Appa!"
"Not too high," Mr. Kim said, laughing as he pushed again. "If you go any higher, you might touch the sky."
"I want to touch it!"
"Hahah, one day you will, Haemin."
I sat down on a nearby bench, quietly watching the two of them.
Places like this were never familiar to me. My father rarely had time to be with me, let alone take me out to somewhere like this. Even when he was around, moments like these were rare.
"Appa, look!" Haemin called out proudly as he stretched his legs straight on the swing.
"I'm looking. You're doing great."
Seeing him happy really put a smile on my face. After a while, Mr. Kim helped him down from the swing and accompanied him to play on the nearby slide and climbing bars. I stayed where I was, simply watching them from the bench.
.
.
"Be careful, alright? Watch your step."
"I will!" Haemin replied cheerfully.
After a moment, Mr. Kim walked over to me.
"Are you okay, Harin?"
"Yeah."
He just smiled and sat down beside me on the bench. For a while, neither of us spoke. We both watched Haemin play in silence, the sound of his laughter filling the air.
"Haemin… he's always like that," Mr. Kim said, breaking the silence.
"Usually, he's extremely shy when there are people around. But when it's just us, like now… he becomes like this. He laughs easily and shows his feelings without holding back."
I let out a small chuckle.
"He looks very happy."
Mr. Kim smile, his gaze never leaving his son.
"Haemin… he was a miracle, you know."
I turned to look at him.
"I don't know if you've notice it since she always acts fine in front of us, but my wife… she actually had a weak constitution."
I was slightly surprised by this revelation. Even though I had only known Ms. Lee for two days, she had never shown any sign of weakness.
"Before I married my her, I was already aware of this," he said calmly. "Sunhee… she got sick often. Even small things could exhaust her. Because of her health, the doctor warned us that the chances of her getting pregnant were extremely low. For that reason, both of our families opposed our marriage."
I looked at him, even more surprised.
"They kept asking me what I would do if something happened to her and told me that I would regret it one day. Her parents weren't any kinder either. They begged her not to marry me. They said she needed someone who could give her a stable life. Well, they weren't entirely wrong because we were still young back then."
"But, what do they know? We still got married in the end. And after they saw how well I took care of Sunhee, they gradually came to accept me. But later in the marriage, a surprising news came out. Sunhee was pregnant. Everyone, even the doctor was shocked. But as the happy news arrived, the bad news followed shortly after."
"The doctors said her pregnancy was high-risk and there was a high chance of miscarriage. He warned us that continuing could cause serious complications for her."
He let out a small breath.
"But she didn't hesitate, even after being advised by her family. She said she wanted to try. She said even if it was risky, she really wanted to meet Haemin."
"She spent the entire pregnancy in and out of hospitals. Every day felt like we were walking on thin ice, afraid something might happen to her or the baby."
His lips curved into a soft smile.
"But she endured it all. And in the end… Haemin was born healthy. Though, to be honest, we nearly had a heart attack because he didn't cry at first when he came out. Thank God, in the end, he did."
I glanced at Haemin, who was now trying to climb up the slide the wrong way.
"He's very precious to us. More than anything."
There was a brief pause.
"You know… parents aren't as strong as children think we are. We make mistakes. Sometimes we choose the wrong priorities, even when we think we're doing it for the family."
"But that doesn't mean we love any less. Sometimes… we just don't know how to show it properly."
My fingers curled slightly on my lap.
"…Do you think… that parents can hurt each other… even if they still love their child?"
Mr. Kim turned to look at me then, his expression calm and understanding.
"Yes. That happens more often than people realize."
I lowered my head, staring at my hands.
"Harin, I may not know what you're going through, but—"
"I ran away from home because of guilt," I said, cutting Mr. Kim off.
He looked slightly startled.
"I blaming myself for everything that's happening between my parents."
Mr. Kim stayed silent, giving me space.
"I… I heard them talking… about how they've been pretending all this time. About… how they stayed together… because of me."
My voice trembled despite my effort to keep it steady.
"They said they didn't love each other anymore and—"
I slowly spoke about everything that had happened. About my background, my parents, and everything that had led to this moment. I spoke carefully, almost as if unwrapping a fragile object, revealing piece by piece the truth I had never shared with anyone.
As I spoke, the memories grew heavier in my chest. By the time I had told him everything, I couldn't bring myself to say another word. Tears were already sliding down my cheeks, and my voice caught in my throat.
Mr. Kim didn't speak right away. He kept his eyes on Haemin, who was now running back and forth near the slide. Then, he let out a slow breath.
"I do assume you come from a good background… but I never expected you to have connections to this country's public figures."
I stayed silent.
"But let me tell you this first. What happened between your parents… that was never your fault."
"Parents might stay together for their child, but that doesn't mean the child trapped them. It means they chose to take responsibility. They chose to protect something they believed mattered to them…"
He turned to look at me.
"And that is… you."
The words settled heavily in my chest.
"You need to remember this… marriage doesn't fall apart because of a child. If anything, children are often the reason parents try harder than they think they can."
He paused.
"I don't know how things will turn out for your family. No one can promise that. But it doesn't mean there's no hope. Both of your parents can still talk things out. Sometimes, couples say the most painful things just to hurt one another, even when they don't truly mean them."
"But right now, the most important thing is that your parents are still here. Even if it's because of you, who knows, maybe one day their love will find its way back. And if, in the end, there really is no other choice and they decide to go their separate ways, please don't blame yourself, Harin. None of this is your fault. You care about their happiness, don't you? Then remember this. Their choices belong to them alone. But their love for you is real, and no matter what happens, it won't disappear."
My breath hitched. Mr. Kim's words struck me all at once, like a sudden realization I couldn't escape. Before I knew it, I was sobbing again. I covered my mouth, but the tears kept spilling through my fingers.
I had been so focused on blaming myself that I forgot how much my parents had done for me all this time. I realized how selfish I had been, wanting them to be happy while at the same time my actions had held them back and made them afraid to take the next step.
I wiped my tears hastily.
"T–Thank you, Mr. Kim. For listening to me. And… for saying all of that. I… I think I understand now."
Mr. Kim just smiled gently.
"I'm glad I could help you a little, Harin."
I nodded, forcing a smile through the tears.
"So… are you ready to go home now?"
"…Yes."
_____
The city lights passing by the window as the car moved through the streets. The ride didn't take long. It was only about twenty minutes from Mr. Kim apartment to my neighborhood.
Haemin pressed his face lightly against the window, his eyes wide as he looked around.
"Appa… the buildings here are really big," he said in awe.
Mr. Kim glanced at him through the rearview mirror and smiled. "They are, aren't they?"
I looked outside as well. The familiar skyline came into view, and before long, the car slowed and came to a stop in front of my house.
"We're here."
"Uwa, Noona's house is so big!"
I turned to them and smiled. "Let's go, Mr. Kim. Haemin."
"Hm?" Both Haemin and Mr. Kim looked at me, clearly confused by my words.
"Let's go inside. I want to introduce you to my parents."
"W-What?" Mr. Kim blinked in surprise. "No, it's alright. Thank you for the invitation, Harin, but we don't want to trouble your family. It's getting late too."
"It's really okay, there's no trouble at all. I want to introduce you properly."
I truly meant it. Mr. Kim and his family had helped me so much since yesterday. If not for what he said earlier, I don't think I would have found the courage to come back here at all. And besides… I didn't want our connection to end like this. I wanted to see them again.
Mr. Kim hesitated, his gaze shifting between me and the house.
"Please, Mr. Kim. Just for a moment."
Haemin looked up at him.
Mr. Kim let out a small sigh, finally giving in. "O-Okay… just for a bit."
"Appa, we're going to Noona's house?"
I smiled at Haemin. "Yes. And there's also going to be lots of chocolate inside."
Haemin's face brightened instantly at that.
The three of us stepped out of the car.
Haemin immediately tilted his head back, his eyes widening as he stared at the tall gate and the large house beyond it.
"Woah…" he murmured.
I gave a small, awkward smile.
I walked up to the gate and pressed the bell.
But—
There's no response.
I waited a few seconds, then pressed it again.
Still nothing.
That was strange.
Were they not home? Or…
Maybe they were out?
Or maybe… they had gone out looking for me.
I swallowed and stepped closer to the keypad. I still remembered the manual password.
*Beep*
The gate slowly opened.
We walked in together, the gravel crunching softly under our feet as we made our way toward the house.
Just as we were about to reach the front door—
We heard voices. A man and a woman voice. Loud and tense.
I froze mid-step.
"…Mom? Dad?"
But the voices didn't soften. If anything, they grew even more intense.
My heart began to pound.
Not again…
I clenched my hands at my sides. I didn't want this. I didn't want Mr. Kim or Haemin to see this side of my family. I thought that things might have calmed down by now.
The argument grew louder.
Wait… this wasn't a normal fight.
I turned slightly and met Mr. Kim's eyes. His expression had changed. He could feel it too. Something was wrong.
Then—
We heard a scream.
That was my mother's scream.
The voice was full of fear.
Everything went cold.
"Mom—!" I gasped, my body already moving forward.
Mr. Kim reacted instantly. "Harin—wait."
I stopped at the sound of his voice.
He moved quickly, crouching down in front of Haemin and gripping his shoulders gently
"Haemin, wait here, okay. Don't wander around."
"O-Okay."
"Good boy. I'll be right back."
Then he straightened and we both rushed inside together.
Just when we entered the house. We could still hear their voices. But now they were fading
We hurried, searching for where the sounds were coming from. My heart raced wildly. Every instinct screamed for me to stop, but I forced myself to keep moving.
Mr. Kim followed closely behind me.
Then we reached them.
But—
The sight before me made my breath catch painfully in my throat.
My mother—
She was lying on the floor, covered in blood.
And my father—
He was standing there, frozen in place. His face pale and shocked.
In his hand—
There's a knife.
Stained with blood.