Chapter 80
I couldn't breathe.
For a split second, my mind went completely blank.
"Mom—!"
I screamed her name and ran to her, dropping to my knees beside her. My hands hovered over her body, trembling, unsure where to touch, afraid I might hurt her more.
"Mom, wake up… please, wake up…"
But her eyes stayed closed. Her breathing was shallow.
Behind me, I heard a sharp intake of breath.
"Harin…? You're… you're back."
My father took a step toward me.
"Don't come near!" I screamed.
My voice was raw, filled with fear and anger. He froze mid-step.
At the same time, Mr. Kim stepped forward, positioning himself slightly in front of me, his body tense and alert.
"Sir, calm down… and please step back."
My father looked at him, confused, as if only now realizing there was someone else inside the house.
"Who… who are you?"
Then his gaze dropped… to his own hand.
To the knife he was holding.
Stained with blood.
His eyes widened in horror.
Mr. Kim noticed it immediately. "Sir, please… release the knife."
My father's fingers trembled. For a moment, it looked like he didn't even realize he was holding it. Then his grip loosened.
The knife slipped from his hand and clattered onto the floor.
His legs gave out, and he stumbled back, collapsing onto the floor, his head dropping into his hands.
"I—I didn't do it… I… didn't do it…"
Mr. Kim moved quickly, kicking the knife farther away, out of anyone's reach.
I turned back to my father, tears streaming down my face.
"What have you done to mom?!"
He didn't answer. He just sat there, shaking.
"No… I didn't—"
Before I could say anything else—
Loud sirens echoed outside.
Red and blue lights flashed through the windows.
I froze, my heart pounding even harder.
Ambulance? Police? They were already here?
Why… so fast?
Who called them?
Did a neighbor hear the screaming?
I didn't even have time to process anything before the front door burst open and several police officers rushed in. Almost immediately, paramedics followed close behind, carrying medical bags and a stretcher.
"Miss, step back—please step back."
One of the paramedics guided me away as they knelt beside my mother. They worked quickly, pressing down on the wound, fitting her with an oxygen mask and applying gauze. I stood there, frozen, my hands stained with blood, unable to stop shaking.
"Mom…" I whispered, my vision blurring.
Behind me, I heard the sound of handcuffs.
"Sir, please stand up."
My father didn't resist. He looked dazed as the officers pulled him to his feet and cuffed his hands behind his back. He turned his head slightly, his eyes finding me.
"Harin… I didn't—"
"Sir, you have the right to remain silent," an officer said, guiding him toward the door.
I couldn't speak. Tears streamed down my face as I watched him being led away, my chest aching so badly it felt like it might split open.
Mr. Kim had brought Haemin with him and stayed close to me the entire time. One of the officers eventually approached him and gestured for him to step aside. They moved a short distance away, and I could see the officer asking him a few questions.
Outside, the stretcher was wheeled past us. I caught a glimpse of my mother's pale face before the ambulance doors closed.
"She's stable for now, but we need to get her to the hospital immediately," a paramedic said to me.
I nodded numbly.
My mind was in chaos. What was really going on? Why had it turned out like this? Why would my father do something like this to my mother? How had things escalated this far?
Just… why?
_____
*Ding*
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside, heading back to Mr. Kim's place.
After what had happened earlier, the three of us went straight to the hospital to see my mother.
She was still unconscious when we arrived.
The doctor told us she had lost a significant amount of blood. They managed to stop the bleeding, but she needed to be monitored closely for the time being.
I stood there, staring at her pale face, listening to the beeping of the machines.
In the end, there was nothing more we could do but wait. Since it was already late, we decided to leave and come back later.
Before we parted ways, Mr. Kim stopped me.
He told me it would be better for me to stay with him and his family for the time being. I tried to refuse again. I truly didn't want to burden them any more than I already had. Besides that, I felt deeply ashamed and guilty toward him because he had to witness something so horrifying within my own home. But this time, Mr. Kim insisted firmly. He said he was worried about leaving me alone in that house after everything that had happened.
Haemin looked up at me with worried eyes and quietly asked me to come with them too.
In the end, I agreed.
And now… here I was again.
*Ding*
The elevator open again and I followed them out of the elevator.
My legs felt weak. I didn't know what I was supposed to feel anymore right now. Everything seem blurred until all that was left was a heavy emptiness pressing against my chest.
Mr. Kim unlocked the door.
Before he could even turn the knob fully, the door opened from the inside.
Ms. Lee stood there.
The moment her eyes landed on me, her expression changed as if she already understood.
She stepped forward and pulled me into her arms, holding me tightly. The warmth of her embrace felt overwhelming.
"Sorry I had to trouble you again, Ms. Lee."
She pulled back slightly, just enough to look at my face, then shook her head.
"Please stop saying that, Harin. You don't need to think like that anymore."
Her hand moved gently through my hair.
"It must have been so hard for you, going through all of this. Don't worry… you're not alone. We're here with you."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Lee. You barely know me, and yet you have to take care of me like this. I've already caused you so much inconvenience."
She let out a small sigh and hugged me again.
"You silly child… does it really matter how long we've known each other? We care about you. And we're doing this because we want to, not because we have to."
Her words settled over me like a gentle promise, and I felt a quiet gratitude swell inside. I leaned into her shoulder, letting her warmth surround me.
After a while, Ms. Lee gently let go.
"You've had a long day. Come on… let's go to your room and get some rest."
I nodded silently.
_____
I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my body still but my mind refusing to rest. Every time I closed my eyes, the same scenes replayed in my mind.
Mother's scream. The floor dark with blood… and my father… holding the knife.
I squeezed my eyes shut again, but it only made things worse. My breathing grew shallow as the voices I thought I had forgotten crept back into my mind. I just couldn't help but blame myself again.
I couldn't help but think that if I hadn't left last night… would this have happened?
Was this because I ran away?
Did I… push them on the edge?
I never thought my father would—
My chest hurt.
I turned onto my side, curling in on myself. Sweat dampened my forehead as tears welled up, despite my efforts to hold them back.
I didn't want to cry again.
I was so tired of crying.
Then—
"Noona…?"
The small voice startled me.
I quickly turned my head and saw Haemin standing by the door. His eyes were filled with worry as he looked at me.
I couldn't hold it in anymore.
The moment our eyes met, I broke down, sobbing quietly.
Seeing me like that, Haemin's eyes widened slightly. He came closer to the bed, climbing up carefully.
"Haemin… you're not asleep yet?" I said, quickly trying to wipe my tears. I didn't want him to see me like this.
But then—
I felt a small, soft hand pat my back gently, though a little awkwardly.
"Shh… shhh…"
Haemin looked at me with worry, but his eyes softened.
"Umma said… when someone's sad, doing this can help them calm down."
I looked at him, tears still sliding down my cheeks, feeling the heaviness in my chest pressing down. But seeing his tiny, trembling hands and the way his big, worried eyes were fixed on me made something in my chest soften. Despite the sadness, a small smile formed on my lips.
"Haemin… can I… hug you?"
He gave a soft smile, then nodded, and moved closer without saying a word.
I pulled him into my arms, holding him tightly as I cried into his shoulder. He didn't say anything and simply stayed by my side, letting me cry as much as I needed.
And we stayed like that, just holding onto each other, as the night went on in silence.