Page 170 of Scarbound

Dr. Kim nodded.

“Gong started crying. I think that was when he understood what he’d done. He grabbed my arm so hard it hurt. He was shaking so much.” Noeul rubbed the same arm without seeming to notice. “And everyone started shouting.”

“What were they saying?”

“One of them asked what the hell was wrong with him. Someone else said he could have killed Haneul. They were telling me to get him out of there.”

“And what did you do?”

“I stood in front of Gong.”

“Why?”

“To protect him.”

“From what?”

Noeul frowned. “Them.”

“Were they trying to hurt him?”

“No. Not yet, anyway. They were angry.”

“So you thought they might.”

“Yes.”

“What did you say?”

Noeul stared at the floor. “I told them he didn’t mean it. That it was an accident. That he was scared.”

“Was that all?”

“I tried to explain that he was sick.”

“And Haneul?”

Noeul looked up. “What about him?”

“What did you say about Haneul?”

Noeul’s lips parted. He looked back down. “I don’t remember.”

“Did you ask whether he was all right?”

“I must have.”

“Do you remember doing it?”

Noeul searched the memory. People surrounding Haneul. Gong’s fingers digging into his arm. Blood. Shouting. His own voice.

He didn’t mean it. It was an accident. He was scared.

“No,” he admitted.

Dr. Kim let the silence settle.

“I cared about him,” Noeul said.