Page 272 of Scarbound

His fingers drifted unconsciously toward Gong’s ring, turning it slowly. Duri noticed. He said nothing. He waited.

“How am I supposed to live with all of this, Duri?”

Duri went still.

“The shame. The bitterness. The guilt.” Noeul swallowed. “Some days, I feel like I’m drowning in my own feelings. I can’t breathe.” His thumb stopped against the ring. “And what Chung-Hee did…” His voice broke, and he looked away.

Duri sat across from him. “You don’t have to finish.”

Noeul pressed his lips together. “I’m tired of hurting.”

“I know.”

“No.” His eyes lifted. “I mean I’m really tired. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life like this.”

Duri nodded slowly. “Then don’t.”

Noeul frowned. “As if it were that easy.”

“I didn’t say it was.” Duri wrapped both hands around his coffee. “But you don’t have to solve it alone.”

Noeul looked down.

“Dr. Kim. Dr. Daniels. Ji-Woo. Me. Eomma.” Duri shrugged faintly. “Use us.”

Noeul almost smiled. “That sounds terrible.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.”

Duri’s expression became serious again. “You don’t owe us anything for helping you.”

Noeul’s fingers tightened around the ring. “Do I even have the right to get better?”

Duri stared at him. Noeul’s gaze remained fixed on his hands.

“What if I haven’t suffered enough?”

“Enough for what?”

Noeul didn’t answer.

“For Haneul?”

Silence.

“Gong?”

Noeul swallowed. “For everything.”

Duri leaned back. “Are you angry with Ji-Woo and me?”

Confusion crossed Noeul’s face. “What?”

“Are you angry with us?”

“Why would I be?”