Page 312 of Scarbound

Noeul laughed. “Go.”

Ji-Woo disappeared into the hallway. The apartment became quieter.

Duri looked at Noeul. Noeul looked back. Neither seemed in any hurry to break the silence.

Duri stepped closer. “Can I?”

Noeul knew what he meant. He nodded.

Duri wrapped his arms around him, warm and steady. Noeul relaxed into the embrace.

“Ich habe dich gern,” Duri murmured.

Noeul understood exactly what he meant. He hesitated only a second.

“Ich dich auch, Duri.”

Duri went completely still. Noeul pulled back enough to see his face.

“What?”

“You said it.”

“Yes.”

“You never say it.”

“I just did.”

Duri’s smile grew slowly. Noeul rolled his eyes, though his face had begun to warm.

“Now go. You’re going to be late.”

Duri continued staring.

“Duri.”

“Right.”

He finally stepped away. At the door, he looked back once.

Noeul was still smiling.

CHAPTER 63

Hours later, Noeul found Yujin in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in one hand and her phone in the other. She looked up the moment she saw him.

“Oh.”

Noeul stopped. “What?”

Yujin lowered the phone slowly. “You’re going out looking like that?”

He glanced down at himself. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” Her eyes moved over his carefully styled hair, the scarf, and the clothes he had spent far too long choosing. “That’s the problem.”

Noeul frowned. “You’re starting to sound like Duri.”