Page 108 of Scarbound

Noeul hesitated. “Sixteen.”

“And you believed calming him down was your responsibility?”

Noeul frowned. “Someone had to.”

Dr. Kim didn’t respond.

“He started saying I didn’t want him there. That I wanted to be with Minho and Haneul instead.” Noeul rubbed both palms against his trousers. “He thought they were taking me away from him.”

“Had he said things like that before?”

“Yes.”

“But not this intensely?”

“No. Not like that.” He stared down at his hands. “I told him they were our friends. That we’d all been together since we were kids. Haneul and Minho were his friends too.”

“What did Gong say?”

“That they weren’t.” Noeul’s voice became quieter. “He shouted that they were trying to take me away from him. That I always chose them. That I didn’t care about him anymore.”

“And how did that make you feel?”

Noeul hesitated. “Guilty.”

Dr. Kim’s expression changed slightly. “Even then?”

“Yes.” Noeul looked surprised by the question. “He was my twin.”

“That doesn’t answer why you felt guilty.”

Noeul’s jaw tightened. “Because he believed I was abandoning him.”

“Were you?”

“No.”

“Then why did his belief become your guilt?”

Noeul looked away. “I don’t know.”

Dr. Kim let the silence remain.

Noeul continued before it became too uncomfortable. “I kept telling him I loved him. That nothing would change that. But he wasn’t listening anymore.”

“He became violent?”

Noeul nodded. “He pointed at Minho and Haneul and told them to get out. Then he hit them.”

“Haneul too?”

“Yes.” Noeul’s mouth tightened. “Blood came from his mouth. His cheek was red. Haneul still tried to talk to Gong.”

“What did he say?”

“He said, ‘Gong, please. It’s us. Your friends.’” Noeul paused. “That was Haneul.” A faint, painful smile crossed his face. “Still trying. Even while Gong was hurting him.”

“What did you do?”