Page 347 of Scarbound

“You don’t have to explain.”

Noeul watched him for another second. Then some of his tension eased.

“It’ll cost you,” he said at last, a sly smile curving his lips. “I’m very high-maintenance.”

Chung-Hee laughed. “I remember that too.”

Noeul reached for his own coat before Chung-Hee could take it for him and slipped it on.

Outside the bar, Noeul stopped before reaching Chung-Hee’s car.

“Where are we going? I’ll take a taxi, since I came with Minho,” he said, a small cloud of breath escaping his lips in the cold March air.

Chung-Hee glanced toward his car. “If you want, you can ride with me.”

Noeul smiled awkwardly. He tried not to show his hesitation, but Chung-Hee noticed immediately.

The memory came without warning.

Another car. Locked doors. No escape.

Noeul’s fingers tightened around the strap of his bag.

Chung-Hee saw it. “It’s completely fine if you say no,” he said calmly. “Take a taxi. I’ll send you the address.”

No persuasion. No irritation. No demand for an explanation.

Noeul released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Then…better not. Let’s meet at the restaurant.”

“Okay.”

That was all.

Inside the taxi, Noeul called Duri. The moment he heard his voice, some of the tension dissolved from his body.

“Hey, hyung. Did you have fun with Minho hyung?” Duri asked. Voices echoed in the background. “Do you want me to come get you?”

“No need, Schatz,” Noeul replied in German, a habit that had become one of Duri’s favorites. “Since you’re still in class at music college, I took a taxi.”

“You were supposed to call me so I could pick you up,” Duri protested.

Then he stopped.

Silence.

“Oh.”

Noeul closed his eyes. Duri knew him too well.

“Oh,” Duri repeated, more slowly this time. “Something happened.”

“I’m fine.”

“Hyung.”

“I really am.”

The background noise disappeared. Duri had clearly stepped somewhere quieter.