Page 150 of Scarbound

CHAPTER 46

Meanwhile, back at Kija’s place, Chung-Hee was drinking. Agitated, he tapped his fingers against the glass, muttering something Kija couldn’t understand.

“First of all, nothing happened between us…” Kija began, but Chung-Hee cut him off.

“I know.”

Kija stared at him. That wasn’t the answer he had expected.

“Then why were you jealous?” he asked. “Why did you treat him so harshly? I don’t understand.”

He set a bottle of whiskey on the table between them, along with three glasses. Kija dropped four ice cubes into one and handed it to his friend. Chung-Hee downed it almost immediately.

“You’re asking because you don’t know the truth about him.”

Kija said nothing, but the question was written clearly across his face. Chung-Hee took a breath, as if trying to arrange years of anger, grief, and confusion into something another person could understand.

“We didn’t know each other back then, but you probably know my younger brother took his own life.”

“I suspected as much,” Kija replied quietly. “From things you and Jun have said.”

“My brother was abused by someone.” Chung-Hee stared into the empty glass. “That person did terrible things to him, Kija. Repeated abuse. Physical, psychological, sexual.”

Kija’s expression changed. He couldn’t imagine the weight Chung-Hee had been carrying all these years. There were no words that could make such a revelation lighter, so he simply stayed beside him and listened.

“That person destroyed him,” Chung-Hee continued. “Two years ago, he killed himself too.”

Kija frowned slightly. “And that person was…?”

Chung-Hee’s eyes filled with tears. “Jung Gong.”

The name meant nothing to Kija… until Chung-Hee continued.

“Noeul’s twin brother.”

Kija stared at him. “What?”

“Noeul’s twin drove my brother to suicide,” Chung-Hee said, the words becoming harder now. “And Noeul was Haneul’s best friend. His best friend, Kija. Yet he failed to protect him from Gong.” His hand tightened around the glass. “Do you really think he didn’t know what was happening? How could he not know?”

Kija remained silent for a moment. He thought of Noeul sitting on his couch less than an hour earlier, carefully turning the pages of his younger brother’s portfolio. The paintings of Haneul. The grief in his voice when he spoke of him.

“He told me Haneul’s death destroyed his life,” Kija said carefully.

“It destroyed all of our lives.”

Chung-Hee looked at him. Kija held his gaze.

“If you believe Noeul is partly responsible for your brother’s death, then why are you with him?”

Chung-Hee didn’t hesitate. “I need him.”

“Need him?”

“Yes.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “Not because you love him?”

Chung-Hee poured himself another drink. “Love?” He stared into the whiskey. “What does love even mean?”