Page 121 of Scarbound

By noon, when Chung-Hee still hadn’t contacted him, the tension in his shoulders began to ease. Perhaps he had finally understood. Perhaps the small smile at the exhibition had been exactly what it looked like. Nothing. The thought should have reassured him. But it didn’t.

The rest of Friday passed quietly.

On Saturday morning, Noeul found Mr. Choi in the kitchen with a small suitcase beside the counter.

Noeul stopped in the doorway. “Are you going somewhere?”

Mr. Choi looked up from the cup of coffee in his hands. “Dr. Cho said you no longer need daily assistance. My work here is finished.”

“You make it sound like you’re being fired.”

A faint smile appeared on Mr. Choi’s face. “Perhaps I am.”

Noeul walked to the counter and reached for the coffee pot. His hands still ached if he used them too much, but he could pour himself a cup now. He did it slowly, careful not to spill.

Mr. Choi watched him without saying anything.

“I can do this,” Noeul said.

“I know.”

The apartment was quiet for a moment.

Mr. Choi cleared his throat. “I will still be nearby. If you need anything, you call me.”

Noeul looked down at his coffee. “Even if it’s not something important?”

“Especially then.”

That made him smile.

Mr. Choi picked up his suitcase, but Noeul stopped him. “Wait.”

He hesitated.

“Thank you,” Noeul said quietly. “For staying. For helping me when I couldn’t do anything myself.”

Mr. Choi’s expression softened. “You don’t have to thank me, Mr. Jung.”

“I know.” Noeul swallowed. “I still want to.”

For a moment, Mr. Choi looked as though he might say something else. Instead, he reached out and squeezed Noeul’s shoulder.

“Take care of yourself,” he said.

“I’ll try.”

Mr. Choi nodded once. “And don’t pretend your hands are fully healed just because you can hold a coffee cup now.”

Noeul laughed. “You sound like Dr. Cho.”

“I’ve spent enough time with him.”

Noeul walked him to the elevator. When the doors opened, Mr. Choi stepped inside, then turned back.

“Call me.”

“I will.”