Love and War

6. In the Face of Adversity

As Haerin sprinted home as fast as her legs could carry her, her mind raced with worry for her mother. Bursting through the front door, she found her mother sitting on the couch, her face bruised and tear-streaked.

"Mom, are you okay?" Haerin asked, her voice trembling with concern as she reached for the first aid kit.

"I'll be fine, Haerin," she reassured, forcing a weak smile. "It's just a few bruises."

As she applied antiseptic to her mother's bruises, Haerin couldn't help but feel a surge of anger towards her father. This wasn't the first time he had lashed out at her mother, and she dreaded the thought of it happening again.

Haerin's mind drifted back to happier times, before her father's drinking and reckless behavior had torn their family apart. She remembered how her parents had once been deeply in love, their laughter filling the house with warmth and joy. Her father had once been a charming man, quick with a joke and a smile.

But as the years passed, his drinking had grown worse, his flirtatious behavior towards other women becoming increasingly unbearable for her mother to tolerate.

Haerin's mother had tried to shield her from the worst of it, but she couldn't hide the truth forever. Haerin had witnessed her father's drunken rages firsthand, his words cutting like knives as he hurled insults at her mother.

Eventually, her mother had reached her breaking point when she found out that her father had been having an affair; she then filed for divorce, determined to give Haerin and Hae-seong a better life away from their father's toxic influence.

But despite their separation, Haerin's father continued to be a thorn in their side, showing up unannounced and causing chaos whenever he pleased. And today was no exception. Haerin hated the fact that her father had come home, disrupting their lives once again with his drunken antics and violent outbursts.

As she finished tending to her mother's wounds, Haerin couldn't shake the feeling of anger and resentment that gnawed at her insides. She vowed to herself that she would never let her father hurt her mother again, no matter what it took.

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The next day at school, Haerin tried her best to put on a brave face, despite the turmoil that still raged inside her. As she walked through the halls, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that clung to her like a shadow.

Despite her efforts to focus on her studies, Haerin found her mind drifting back to the events of the previous day. She worried endlessly about her mother, her heart heavy with concern for her well-being.

During lunchtime, Haerin sat with Minji and Hyein in their usual spot, but her thoughts were far away, lost in a sea of worry and uncertainty.

Minji and Hyein exchanged concerned glances, noticing Haerin's distracted demeanor. "Hey, Haerin, are you okay?" Minji asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Haerin forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, her tone unconvincing. "Just tired, I guess."

Minji and Hyein exchanged worried looks, unconvinced by Haerin's response. They knew their friend well enough to sense when something was troubling her, but they also respected her enough not to push if she wasn't ready to talk.

"Alright, if you say so," Minji said, though her tone hinted at her skepticism. Sensing her discomfort, Minji quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation towards a lighter topic. "So, did you guys hear about that new cafe that opened up downtown?" Minji asked, her tone light and playful. "I heard they have the best pastries in town."