Page 171 of Scarbound

“I didn’t say you didn’t.”

“I went to the hospital.”

“I know.”

“I loved Haneul.”

“I know that too.”

Noeul’s jaw tightened. “Then why does it matter what I said in those few minutes?”

“Because those few minutes may have mattered to the people who were there.” Noeul didn’t respond. “You were looking at Gong. You saw your brother frightened, unwell and losing control. What do you think your friends were looking at?”

“Haneul.”

“And what did they see?”

Noeul swallowed. “Their friend unconscious on the ground.”

“Yes.”

“And me defending the person who put him there.”

Dr. Kim didn’t answer for him.

Noeul rubbed his thumb against his palm. “I wasn’t defending what Gong did.”

“Did they know that?”

He looked at her. “I knew what he did was wrong.”

“Did they know you knew?”

Noeul opened his mouth, then stopped. That question was harder. “I don’t know.”

“You told them Gong was scared. You told them it was an accident. You told them he didn’t mean to hurt Haneul.”

“Because those things were true.”

“They may have been.”

“They were.”

Dr. Kim nodded. “But did you ever tell your friends that they had a right to be angry?”

Noeul said nothing.

“Did you tell them Gong had frightened you too?”

“No.”

“That what he’d done to Haneul was wrong?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Then perhaps they couldn’t see the distinction you were making.”

“What distinction?”