Page 155 of Scarbound

Chung-Hee covered his face with his hands.

“If he heals…”

Neither man answered.

His hands slowly dropped.

“If he heals, he might realize he doesn’t need me. I can’t do that,” Chung-Hee whispered. “If he doesn’t choose me…” He shook his head. “No. I can’t let him go.”

Jun looked at his friend as if seeing a stranger.

“That isn’t love, Chung-Hee. It’s control. You don’t keep someone’s loyalty by taking away their choices. You just make their exit inevitable.”

Chung-Hee said nothing.

“Chung-Hee.”

His friend looked up.

“You’re destroying him.”

Chung-Hee’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Kija stood. “There’s a psychologist I know. Dr. Seojun Park. I saw him a few times during my divorce. He helped me.”

He crossed to a drawer, searched through it, then returned with a business card.

“He’s very good.”

Chung-Hee stared at the card.

“Take it.”

After several seconds, he did. Chung-Hee stared at the name printed on the card.

Kija headed toward the hallway to prepare the guest room for his two closest friends, then stopped.

“No one is judging you for hurting, Hee.” Chung-Hee lifted his eyes. “But you don’t get to turn Noeul into a canvas for all the things you can’t face.” Kija’s gaze fell to the card in Chung-Hee’s hand. “He’s already paid enough for your grief.”

CHAPTER 47

On the other side of the city, Noeul was drinking at the bar where Duri worked.

Even though Noeul hadn’t opened up about what had happened, Duri had picked up on his gloomy mood. He knew the cause.

Him. Always him.

Why did Noeul have to choose Chung-Hee?

No matter how hard Duri tried, Noeul’s heart was never his. And he had tried, God knew how much. Not only to win his heart; he had tried to become the man Noeul deserved. He had worked hard to bridge the four-year age gap between them, to prove that he wasn’t only the child Noeul remembered.

Duri took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Whatever he wanted didn’t matter tonight. Noeul was clearly hurting. He would be there for him as a friend, if that was all Noeul could give him.

But he also had to protect himself from further pain.

“Noeul hyung, what’s wrong? Why are you so down?” he asked when he finally found a moment between orders.

Noeul didn’t answer.