Page 241 of Scarbound

He stopped touching him.

“Noeul hyung?”

Duri said his name gently.

Noeul blinked. Once. Twice. His gaze returned slowly.

Dr. Daniels waited. “We can stop.”

Noeul stared at him, then shook his head faintly. “Head.”

“You want me to finish checking your head?”

Another pause. “Yes.”

Dr. Daniels continued.

When Dr. Daniels finished examining the wound, he stepped back. “I’m done with your head.”

Noeul’s shoulders loosened slightly.

“Your wrists are injured too.”

Noeul looked down. For a moment, he seemed surprised to see the raw skin there.

Dr. Daniels noticed. “I’d like to clean them.”

Noeul stared at his wrists.

“Is that okay?”

Silence.

“Yes.”

Dr. Daniels didn’t move.

“Mr. Jung.”

Noeul looked at him.

“You can say no.”

Noeul frowned. “No?”

“Yes.” Dr. Daniels nodded. “If you don’t want me to touch your wrists, say no.”

Noeul stared at him. After several seconds, Noeul looked down at the wounds again. Then back at Dr. Daniels.

“It hurts.”

“I know.”

“Clean?”

“Yes.”

Another long pause. This time, when Noeul answered, the word came with slightly more intention.