Page 348 of Scarbound

“Where are you?” he asked. A pause. “And with whom?”

His voice had changed. Not jealous.

Anxious.

“It was a coincidence, I swear,” Noeul said quickly. “I didn’t want to meet him, and I don’t have feelings for him. You believe me, right? Please…don’t be angry.”

A few seconds of silence followed. Then Duri’s voice came through clearly, the background noise gone.

“You’re with Lee Chung-Hee?”

“Yes.”

“Are you serious, hyung? After everything he did to you?”

Noeul closed his eyes. He had expected this.

“I need to see him once. Not because I want him back in my life. I just don’t want the last version of me he remembers to be the one who was afraid of him.” He drew a breath. “There are things I need to say. Then I want to leave.”

“Where are you meeting him?”

“Celestial.”

“I’m coming too.”

Noeul fell silent. “You don’t trust me?” he asked quietly. “Do you think I’d betray you…betray us?”

Of course Duri trusted him. He knew what Noeul felt for him. That wasn’t what frightened him.

“I trust you,” Duri said immediately. “This has nothing to do with trusting you. I don’t trust him. I know what he’s capable of, hyung. I’m not going to pretend I’m comfortable with you being anywhere near him.”

“I understand.”

“I’m coming right now. What if he tries to manipulate you again?”

“He can try. It’s been almost a year,” Noeul continued. “I’m not the same person I was when I left. And we’ll be at Celestial, one of the busiest restaurants in Seoul. We won’t be alone for a second.” He paused. “Let’s meet in an hour at River Moon, the hotel bar. Does that work?”

“I just left class. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Despite himself, Noeul smiled. “Duri.”

“Don’t Duri me. I’m coming there to sit next to you…”

“Duri, this is something I want to do alone.”

“Damn it, hyung! Fine! If anything happens, anything, you call me. If you’re not at River Moon in an hour, I’m coming to you.”

“That’s more than enough time. I just need to finish this.”

Another silence.

Noeul looked through the taxi window at the city passing around him. “Duri…”

“Hmm?”

“I missed you today.”

The tension in Duri’s breathing softened slightly.