Page 186 of Scarbound

Noeul looked toward the bathroom. “I can shower at home.”

“You’ve been complaining that everything hurts for the past hour. Take a hot shower while we wait for the food.”

Noeul almost refused. Again. Then he looked at Chung-Hee. No anger. No threat. Just exhaustion.

“Fine.”

The shower was quick. He kept the bathroom door locked. When he came out, he was wearing the clothes Chung-Hee had left for him and towel-drying his hair.

“Hyung, let’s eat first, yeah? I’m starving.”

“I already set the table.”

Noeul had heard the doorbell while he was in the bathroom. The food and tea had arrived.

Dinner was strangely uneventful. No accusations. No arguments. No attempts to touch him. They ate, complained briefly about work, and returned to the analysis.

For the first hour, Noeul remained tense. Then work took over. Chung-Hee gave instructions; Noeul followed them carefully.

Nothing happened. Noeul hated how relieved that made him feel.

By the time Chung-Hee finished reviewing the document, Noeul was curled into the corner of the sofa, fighting to keep his eyes open.

“Done,” Chung-Hee said.

Noeul made a tired sound that might have been an answer.

“You should sleep.”

“I should go home.”

“You can barely keep your eyes open.”

Noeul tried to sit up. The room seemed to sway around him.

Chung-Hee sighed. “Sleep on the sofa. I’ll drive you to work in the morning.”

Noeul wanted to argue. Instead, his head fell back against the cushion. “Just the sofa.”

“Just the sofa.”

Chung-Hee fetched an extra blanket and draped it over him. Noeul watched him walk toward the bedroom.

“Goodnight, Noeul.”

“Goodnight, hyung.”

The bedroom door closed. Noeul lay still for another minute. Eventually, exhaustion won.

Noeul woke before Chung-Hee the next morning, his neck stiff from sleeping on the sofa. It was still dark. For a moment, he didn’t remember where he was. Then he saw the enormous windows and the city beyond them.

Chung-Hee’s apartment.

Noeul sat up. He was alone. Still on the sofa. Still dressed. A quiet breath escaped him.

He stretched his aching neck and headed toward the kitchen. After the steak Chung-Hee had bought him the night before, Noeul decided to prepare breakfast for both of them. Something warm. Something ordinary.

The fresh vegetables and lean beef in the refrigerator gave him an idea.