Page 29 of Scarbound

Noeul turned sharply toward the entrance, toward the man who had spoken to him in Korean.

Chung-Hee studied his stunned expression. “It seems you recognize me.”

Noeul tried to sit up, to reach the call button, but his hands wouldn’t cooperate.

“Damn it,” he whispered. “Please, leave,” he said in Korean, his voice breaking. “I can’t see you right now.”

Chung-Hee stepped inside. With a glance, he dismissed Jake, leaving them alone. His tone was almost playful.

“How inhospitable. I just arrived.”

Noeul bent forward, covering his face. Why was he here? Why now?

“I can’t… please. Go.”

Chung-Hee stepped closer and lifted Noeul’s chin, forcing him to look up. “Why can’t you face me?”

Noeul remained silent.

“Who am I?”

Noeul swallowed but said nothing.

“Say it.” His voice lowered. “Say my name.”

Tears filled Noeul’s eyes. The brother of his best friend stood before him. His first love. After all these years, he was finally meeting the man who had stolen his heart. Not in some beautiful moment he might once have imagined, but in a hospital room, his hands wrapped in bandages, after Haneul’s death.

“You look so much like Haneul, Mr. Chung-Hee Lee.”

Satisfaction flickered across Chung-Hee’s face. “So you recognized me.”

Noeul’s cheeks flushed. “Haneul used to show me your photos,” he said softly. “He talked about you all the time.”

Seconds stretched between them.

“So what’s the truth?” Noeul asked.

“The truth is that you’re depressed and you tried to end your life. Have you lost your mind?”

Chung-Hee grabbed Noeul’s hand and squeezed close to the wound.

A pained sound escaped him.

“Did you feel satisfied when the blade touched your skin?” He pressed harder.

“Stop…” Noeul gasped.

Chung-Hee released him.

“You cut deeply. Not deep enough to damage the nerves. You’d be dead now if Jake hadn’t found you.”

“Then why do you care?”

“I don’t,” Chung-Hee replied immediately.

Noeul kept his face blank despite the disappointment. Why would Haneul’s brother care about him when he had been one of those blamed for his death?

“But my brother did,” Chung-Hee continued.