Page 252 of Scarbound

Dr. Daniels sat down. “How is your head?”

“Hurts.”

“More than yesterday?”

Noeul stared at him. “I don’t know.”

“That’s okay.”

Dr. Daniels asked his name, the year, and where he was. Noeul answered each question. He was uncertain of the exact date after three days confined in Chung-Hee’s apartment, but he knew it was the weekend and understood how much time had passed.

“And why am I here?” Dr. Daniels asked.

Noeul touched the bandage carefully. “I was struck in the head.”

“Do you remember being examined last night?”

Noeul looked at him. “You checked my head and my wrists.”

Dr. Daniels nodded. “That’s right.”

He checked his pupils again, then his pulse and blood pressure, explaining every movement before touching him. Noeul tolerated the examination better than the night before.

When the stethoscope appeared, his breathing changed.

Dr. Daniels stopped. “Same thing as yesterday.”

Noeul looked at it. “Heart?”

“Yes.”

After several seconds, Noeul nodded.

This time, when the cold metal touched his chest, he flinched but didn’t panic.

Duri watched from across the room.

Noeul’s eyes found him anyway.

Duri smiled faintly.

Dr. Daniels finished and moved away. “Your vital signs are better this morning.”

Ji-Woo exhaled.

“But,” the doctor continued, “I’m still concerned about the confusion and the head injury.”

Noeul’s expression hardened immediately.

“I want you evaluated at a hospital,” Dr. Daniels said. “You lost consciousness after a head injury. Your condition is stable now, but I cannot rule out internal bleeding without imaging.”

“No.”

The answer came without hesitation.

“Noeul hyung…” Ji-Woo began.

“No.” Noeul pulled the blanket closer. “I don’t want people touching me.”