Page 107 of Scarbound

Noeul’s fingers stilled. “Yes.”

“But not much about the first time he hurt you.”

Noeul looked away. For several seconds, he said nothing. Dr. Kim didn’t push.

Finally, Noeul exhaled. “I remember it. Of course I remember it.”

Dr. Kim leaned back slightly. “What happened?”

Noeul stared at the floor. “That afternoon was perfect.” A faint smile touched his lips. “Minho and Haneul came over to our place. We were playing video games, laughing… just being stupid. For a while, everything felt normal. Like we were ordinary kids spending a lazy afternoon together.”

The smile disappeared. “But perfect moments never lasted long with Gong.”

“I heard our bedroom door open,” Noeul continued. “Then his footsteps.”

“Did you know something was wrong before you saw him?”

“Yes.” The answer came immediately. “My stomach tightened. Gong had been having a hard time. He’d been shutting himself in his room more often than usual. So when I heard him coming toward us, I already knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That something was wrong.”

“Noeul,” Dr. Kim said gently, “that’s different from knowing what he was going to do.”

Noeul glanced at her. “I suppose.” He looked away again.

“When Gong appeared in the doorway, he looked at Minho first. Then Haneul. Then me.” Noeul swallowed. “There was something in his eyes.”

“What?”

“Suspicion. Anger. Maybe fear too.”

“Fear?”

“He thought everyone was leaving him.”

Dr. Kim nodded once.

“His jaw was clenched. His hands were already curled into fists.” Noeul gave a small shake of his head. “And I still smiled at him.”

“What did you say?”

“I asked if he wanted to play with us.” His voice softened as the memory returned. “I said, ‘Hey, Gong. We’re just playing for a bit. Do you want to join us?’”

“And?”

“He didn’t answer. He just kept looking at us.” Noeul’s fingers tightened around the ring. “Then he asked why I hadn’t told him they were coming.” He let out a slow breath. “I told him I thought he was resting. That we didn’t want to bother him.” His mouth twisted bitterly. “That was the wrong thing to say.”

“What happened?”

“He heard the word bother. And suddenly it became, ‘So I’m a bother now? Is that what I am to you?’”

Dr. Kim watched him carefully. “And what did you do?”

“What I always did.” Noeul gave a small shrug. “I tried to calm him down.”

“You were how old?”