Page 264 of Scarbound

Noeul stared at him.

Ji-Woo’s voice became quieter. “I can call them. Or not. You decide.”

The words made something tighten in Noeul’s throat. “No.”

“Okay.”

“Not yet.”

“Okay.”

Noeul looked away.

The shower took most of the afternoon to decide. Noeul stood outside Duri’s bathroom twice before walking away. The third time, Duri noticed. “Do you need something?”

Noeul stared at the bathroom door. “I want to shower.”

“Okay.”

Duri waited.

Noeul didn’t move. After several seconds, he said, “I don’t want…”

The rest disappeared.

Duri understood enough. “I can stay outside.”

Noeul looked at him. “Outside the bathroom?”

“Yes.”

“No one comes in?”

“No one.”

Noeul swallowed. “Lock.”

“You can lock it.”

Another pause.

Duri pointed toward the small stool beside the hallway wall. “I’ll sit here.”

Noeul stared at it. “You’ll stay?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

Duri sat down. Noeul entered the bathroom and locked the door. For several minutes, he simply stood inside. His reflection waited in the mirror. Noeul looked away immediately. He removed Duri’s clothes slowly. Bruises emerged. Some yellowing. Some dark. Finger-shaped marks. His breath stopped. No.

Noeul turned away from the mirror and stepped into the shower. The water hit his shoulders. He flinched. Too warm. He made it colder. Still wrong. He adjusted it again, then stood beneath it. Water ran down his body. Noeul watched it disappear into the drain. His hands began to shake. He reached for the soap. Stopped.

His breathing quickened. Dirty. The thought appeared without warning. Noeul squeezed his eyes shut. “No.”

Outside the door, Duri heard him. “Hyung?”

Noeul’s hand flew toward the tap. “Don’t come in.”