Page 194 of Scarbound

Noeul continued before fear could stop him. “I don’t love you.”

Chung-Hee exhaled slowly. “That’s fine.”

Noeul frowned.

“Someday, you will.”

“No.”

Chung-Hee’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t want to love you. I don’t want a future with you. I don’t want this.” He gestured between them. “I want to leave.”

Chung-Hee knew exactly what was happening. Without guilt to bind Noeul to him, there was nothing left except Noeul’s choice and Noeul was choosing to leave. The old sequence unfolded inside him: fear, anger, control. This time, he recognized every step. He followed it anyway.

“You’re upset.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying.”

“You just found out what Gong did.”

“And somehow you still think that gives you the right to tell me what I feel.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

Noeul stepped closer now rather than backing away. For the first time, his anger was stronger than his fear.

“You tell me I love you.”

Chung-Hee’s eyes filled.

“You tell me I belong with you.”

“Noeul, please.”

“You decide when I stay. When I leave. When you touch me.”

“That isn’t…”

“But I don’t get to decide anything, do I?”

Chung-Hee’s voice broke. “You don’t get to define what I feel for you.”

Noeul stared at him. “But you get to define what I feel for you?”

Silence.

“No.” The word was quiet. Absolute. “You don’t get to do that anymore.”

Chung-Hee swept his arm across the counter. A plate hit the floor first. Then a glass. Ceramic and crystal broke around his feet.

“Shut up.”

Noeul flinched but didn’t move.

Chung-Hee struck the wall with his fist. The sound echoed through the apartment.