Soojin hadn't told a single soul about the phone call. 

And as she was ushered into the meeting room in the police station, behind the bulletproof glass wall, she saw that woman again. 

Those dyed hair now turned grey, that botoxed, flawless skin now carrying wrinkles, those malicious eyes now tired -- but that sickly sweet grin was everchanging; it was still sitting atop that old face, with eyes that held the sparkle of evil. Soojin shuffled on the spot, swallowing down the memories of her childhood that still caused the majority of her nightmares. 

From the other side of the glass, her mother smiled wider, "Look how grown up my darling is! Come, Soojin! Talk to your mother dearest, won't you?" 

The police officer accompanying Soojin looked at her, and then at Soojin, and then motioned for her to sit before the glass. She quietly sat down, eyes barely reaching her mother's. 

"So," her mother questioned, the smile never getting off her face, "How has life been, my lovely?" 

Soojin kept quiet. 

"I heard in the news that you are some idol's girlfriend. Is that so?" 

"...Yes." 

The mother gasped mockingly, "Then why am I still in here? I should be out there with you." 

"What do you mean?" Soojin finally looked up at her, tears welling up in her eyes as she did. Getting a closer look at her insanity-driven, psychotic smile terrified her further, but by now, she had learned how to live with nightmares. 

"Your father and I left to bless your life with such wonderful things! You're with one of the richest men in South Korea right now, with so much fame, and look! You're pregnant with his child, too!" 

"'Blessed my life'?" Soojin let a tear fall, "You blessed it? You tortured me!" 

"Oh, please!" the mother swatted her hand before her, "We married because our parents willed us to. Having a child was never our plan, but we still fed you and clothed you for nine fucking years! Be glad that we even gave you food to eat, Soojin." 

"So you mean," she wiped her tears, even though more were welling up in her eyes, "You mean that you fed me just to use me? That I was unwanted?" 

"My smart girl finally put two and two together," the mother mocked her, "And for all that burden you gave us, you even had the guts to get us arrested! What an ungrateful swine!" 

"You don't know the shit I have been through!" Soojin stood up, her eyes rimmed red, her heart beating faster and faster and tears escaping her eyes at the speed of light, "After you, I was dragged into prostitution! I was used all my life! By you, by dad, by countless other men! And what did I get, huh? What the fuck did I get? Tell me! Tell me right now!" 

"You got a kid," the mother spoke calmly, sitting at ease on her chair, "You got to be the girlfriend of an idol, you got money. Do not blame us for the shit you brought upon yourself. Ah, did you forget? You called up the cops. You let us go. You are the only one responsible for what happened to you." 

"Mom!" 

"And here we are, eleven years later, with you still calling me 'mom' and crying before me," she chuckled, "We never changed, did we?" 

"You haven't. Not a bit," Soojin firmly spoke, even if her sobs were internalized, "But I have. I am stronger." 

"Ah, shut the fuck up," the mother scoffed, "You're about to become a parent, and you still don't know shit. Listen now, my darling -- children are just a reflection of their parents. You are what I am." 

"Fuck, no!" she let herself sob freely, "I can never be you! I was hurt by you!" 

"Hurt people can only hurt people. And now, you'll give birth to a child who will continue to hurt more people. Well done, Soojin, well done." 

"Shut up! Shut up!" Soojin screamed, tipping her chair off, "I will never be like you!" 

"Oh, but my love, you already are." 

"Ma'am," the police officer gently grabbed Soojin's elbow, pulling her away from the glass wall, "Please come with me. The meeting time is over, and I don't think you should be here." 

Soojin, as she was dragged away from the chamber, saw her mother one last time -- standing up with ease, the same plastic smile plastered on her face, and she called out for her daughter,

"You'll always be my shadow, Soojin! Never forget that!" 

(a/n: i don't know why but i almost shed a tear writing this. 

how was this?? we're almost at the end of this book! 

thanks for reading! i love you!)