Page 263 of Scarbound

Yujin looked over from the counter. “All right.”

She took the bowl away. Noeul watched her rinse it. “Thank you.”

Yujin turned. “You’re welcome.”

Ji-Woo woke late. He had spent most of the night on the sofa despite Yujin repeatedly telling him to use the guest room. When he saw Noeul sitting at the kitchen table, he stopped so abruptly that Duri nearly walked into him.

Noeul looked up.

Ji-Woo smiled. Too quickly. Too brightly. “Morning, hyung.”

Duri glanced toward the window. “It’s almost four.”

“Afternoon, then.”

Noeul stared at Ji-Woo. Something bothered him. “Did you sleep?”

Ji-Woo blinked. “Yeah.”

“Liar.”

The word left Noeul before he could think about it. Ji-Woo froze. Then laughed. A real one. Not loud, but real.

“There he is.”

Noeul frowned. “What?”

“Nothing.”

Ji-Woo pulled out the chair across from him but stopped before sitting. “Can I?”

Noeul looked at the chair, then nodded.

Ji-Woo sat. For a while, neither spoke. Noeul’s gaze moved toward Ji-Woo’s hair. He remembered touching it. Maybe yesterday. Maybe years ago. The memory wouldn’t settle.

“Are you okay?” Ji-Woo asked.

Noeul almost laughed. Instead, he looked down. “No.”

Ji-Woo’s expression changed.

Noeul rubbed his thumb against his palm. “But I don’t know what that means.”

“You don’t have to.”

Noeul looked at him.

Ji-Woo leaned back. “You can just be not okay.”

That sounded strangely simple. Noeul nodded. His eyes drifted toward the window. Snow still covered parts of the garden.

“Did you call our parents?”

Ji-Woo hesitated. “No.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t know if you wanted me to.”