Page 189 of Scarbound

Noeul shook his head. “He was my brother.”

“That doesn’t make it yours.”

“I defended him.”

“You didn’t know what you were defending.”

“I should have.”

“How?”

“I should have seen something!” His voice broke completely. “Haneul was right there. He was my best friend, and I didn’t see it.”

Chung-Hee crouched a short distance away, careful not to touch him. “Haneul didn’t tell anyone.”

Noeul looked at him. “No one?”

Chung-Hee shook his head. “I found out from this.” He lifted the note slightly.

The grief on Noeul’s face changed. Not smaller. Deeper.

“That bastard,” he whispered. His mouth trembled. “That bastard of a brother.”

He covered his face again.

“My Haneul…”

Chung-Hee closed his eyes. Noeul’s next sob seemed to tear through him.

“Why did he do that to him?”

There was no answer.

“How could Gong do that to him?”

Noeul bent forward until his forehead almost touched his knees.

“I loved him.”

Chung-Hee didn’t know which one he meant.

“I loved them both.”

The room became quiet except for Noeul’s crying.

“Hyung…”

Noeul looked up. His face was wet with tears.

“I’m sorry.”

Chung-Hee flinched. “No.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Noeul, stop.”

“There’s nothing I can do to make this right.”