Page 211 of Scarbound

“Love and fear are not opposites.”

Noeul said nothing.

“Neither are love and anger. Or love and harm.”

His eyes dropped.

“You don’t have to decide today what loving Gong says about you.”

Noeul swallowed. “What if it says something terrible?”

“Then we’ll examine that when you’re ready.”

Noeul stared at his hands for a long time. “What if I never am?”

Dr. Kim picked up her pen again but didn’t write. “Then we start with what you can say.”

Noeul looked at her.

“And today,” she continued, “you said he hurt you.”

Noeul’s breathing caught. For a second, he looked as though he might take the words back. He didn’t.

“Yeah,” he whispered.

Dr. Kim nodded. “That’s enough for today.”

CHAPTER 53

Jun leaned against the bar, watching the night unfold around him—the clink of glasses, the low hum of overlapping conversations, the music playing beneath it all. Duri stood in his usual place behind the counter, mixing a cocktail. Surprise crossed his face the moment he noticed the familiar businessman. Jun’s polished appearance stood out among the students and office workers scattered around the bar.

He spoke first. “We haven’t met properly, Mr. Duri Kaiser, but I’ve heard a great deal about you. My name is Han Jun. I’m the CFO at the company where Noeul works.”

His tone was light, almost playful, but something underneath it made Duri straighten. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Han.” He set the cocktail aside. “Has something happened to Noeul?”

Jun raised an eyebrow. “You’re a sharp one.”

Duri didn’t smile.

Jun’s expression changed. “Yes. Actually, I’m here because of him. He hasn’t shown up to work since Tuesday. Today is Friday. I’ve called him repeatedly, but he isn’t answering.”

Duri stared at him. “Three days?”

Jun nodded. “Have you seen him? Spoken to him?”

Duri hesitated. A few days earlier, Noeul had told him he would be buried under preparations for a major presentation. Duri had believed him.

Mostly.

Then, the previous morning, a message had arrived.

I’m okay. I just need some time to think.

At the time, Duri had assumed Noeul needed space after everything that had happened between them. Now the message felt different.

“When we last spoke properly, he told me he’d be extremely busy all week because of the presentation,” Duri said. “Yesterday he texted me. He said he was okay, but needed some time to think.”

Jun frowned. “About what?”