Page 154 of Scarbound

“Yes.”

“Then why hasn’t anyone taken this seriously?”

“He…”

“No. I mean seriously. Professional help.”

Chung-Hee stared into his glass. Again, silence gave Kija his answer.

“You cannot fix this yourself, Hee.”

“I can take care of him.”

Jun scoffed.

Kija shook his head. “That isn’t enough, Hee.”

Chung-Hee looked up.

“He needs psychological support. And after everything Jun just told me, I think you do too.”

“I’m not crazy.”

“I didn’t say you were.” Kija’s answer came immediately. “I’m saying you’re a mess, Chung-Hee. You miss Haneul. You hate Gong. And you’re punishing Noeul for both. You keep grabbing tighter because you’re scared he’ll disappear too.”

He leaned forward.

Chung-Hee looked away.

“With the way you’re treating him now,” Kija continued, “the first chance he gets, he’ll leave you.”

Chung-Hee slammed his glass onto the table. “I won’t allow him to leave.”

Jun closed his eyes.

“Never,” Chung-Hee continued. “He’s mine. You may not fully understand what I’m capable of, or how far I’ve already gone, but make no mistake: he will stay by my side.”

Jun stared at him. “Listen to yourself.”

“I don’t care.”

“You should.”

“He will always be bound to me. Always!” Chung-Hee shouted. “I won’t hesitate to defend what belongs to me against anyone who tries to take him away.”

“No one is taking him from you!” Jun snapped.

Chung-Hee fell silent.

Jun leaned forward. “That’s what you still don’t understand. Noeul isn’t something someone can steal.”

Chung-Hee’s eyes narrowed.

“He is a person,” Jun continued. “He can walk away all by himself.”

Chung-Hee looked toward him.

“You need to deal with what Haneul’s death did to you, before you turn Noeul into another thing you ruin.” Kija paused. “And Noeul needs space to deal with his own grief. He needs help, Chung-Hee. Especially after what you’ve put him through.”