Page 163 of Scarbound

The certainty of it made something ache inside him.

Carefully, he turned around. Duri stirred but didn’t wake, and Noeul found himself studying him from only a few centimeters away. Without the piercings catching the light, the teasing smile, the deliberately careless clothes and all that confidence, Duri looked younger while sleeping.

He is younger, Noeul reminded himself.

Four years.

It had always seemed enormous when Duri was a child trailing after Noeul, trying desperately to keep up with him.

It didn’t seem enormous now.

Duri’s hair had fallen messily across his forehead. Noeul resisted the urge to brush it away.

Then Duri opened one eye.

“Are you watching me sleep, hyung?”

Noeul immediately rolled onto his back. “No.”

Duri laughed sleepily. “You were.”

“I was trying to figure out where I was.”

“For five minutes?”

Noeul turned his head sharply. “You were awake?”

“Long enough.”

“You little brat.”

Duri smiled and stretched beside him before rubbing his eyes. “How’s your head?”

“Fine.”

“That means terrible.”

“It means fine.”

“Do you feel sick?”

“No.”

“Dizzy?”

“No.”

“Regretting your life choices?”

Noeul stared at the ceiling.

Duri waited.

“That one requires further evaluation.”

Duri laughed. Noeul tried not to smile.

He failed.