Page 231 of Scarbound

Noeul stared at him as though trying to place the face in front of him inside a memory that refused to settle. “Duri…”

“Yes, hyung.”

His eyes filled with tears. Duri didn’t move. Noeul’s hand lifted uncertainly. Stopped halfway. Duri waited. Then Noeul reached toward him. Not confidently. Almost blindly.

Duri extended his hand but stopped before touching him. Noeul closed the remaining distance himself. His cold fingers wrapped weakly around Duri’s.

Duri had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from crying. “Okay,” he whispered. “I’m here.”

Noeul looked toward the door again. “Go.”

“You want to leave?”

A faint nod.

“Okay.”

Duri squeezed his hand only after Noeul tightened his fingers first. “We’ll go next door.”

Noeul’s brow furrowed. “Home?”

Duri thought about it. “No.”

Noeul looked at him.

“Not home yet.” He kept his voice gentle. “Just somewhere away from this room.”

Noeul stared at him. “Away?”

“Yes.”

That word made sense. Noeul nodded. “Away.”

Duri looked down at their joined hands. “Okay.”

Dr. Kim’s voice came quietly through the phone. “One step at a time, Duri.”

Duri nodded. “One step at a time.”

Duri looked down at him. Getting the cuff off had been one thing. Getting him out of the bed was another. Noeul was naked except for the blanket gathered loosely around his body. Duri glanced toward Chung-Hee’s closet.

“I’m going to get you something to wear.”

No response.

Duri stood slowly. “I’ll be right there.”

He pointed toward the closet so Noeul could follow the movement. Noeul’s eyes drifted after him. Duri found a loose pair of sweatpants and returned. “Hyung.”

Noeul looked at the clothes, then at him.

“Can I help you put these on?”

Duri waited. No answer.

He looked at the phone still connected to Dr. Kim. “He’s not answering.”

“Then don’t assume,” she said. “If there’s no immediate need to dress him fully, use the blanket and move slowly. Tell him what you’re doing.”