Page 39 of Scarbound

Noeul barely heard him. His thoughts drifted somewhere far away, back to memories he had spent the last year trying to outrun. Chung-Hee’s presence only made everything worse, stirring emotions he had tried desperately to bury and leaving him feeling even guiltier, even dirtier than before.

“Answer when someone speaks to you,” Chung-Hee said more sharply.

Chung-Hee fell silent. His gaze moved over Noeul’s slumped shoulders, unfocused eyes, and drained face.

“Noeul?” Chung-Hee asked, taking hold of his arm and gently turning him toward him. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I feel a bit… worn out,” Noeul admitted. “My hands… they hurt so much. Can we go home? I need to lie down.”

“We’re taking you there. Just be patient a little longer,” Chung-Hee replied, concern replacing the irritation in his voice.

Then his expression hardened again.

“Now listen to me.” He waited until Noeul looked at him. “I won’t tolerate any more rudeness from you. I’m older than you, and you will speak to me with respect, no matter how tired or irritated you are. Do you understand?”

Noeul lowered his gaze. Despite everything, years of ingrained respect for someone older were difficult to ignore.

“I’m sorry, Chung-Hee hyung,” he murmured.

“Good.” The sternness faded almost instantly. “Since you’re being so obedient today, I’ll treat you to your favorite food.” A faint smile touched his lips. “What would you like to eat?”

Noeul hesitated.

“Why are you hesitating?” Chung-Hee asked. “Speak.”

“…Sushi.”

“San, take us home. Call the sushi bar and have a platter prepared. We’ll pick it up on the way.”

A quiet “Thank you” escaped Noeul before he could stop himself.

Chung-Hee smiled, clearly satisfied. “I’ve arranged your hand therapy appointments starting next week. Rei will accompany you until I find a caregiver, which has been more difficult than I expected. You’re not to miss a single appointment. Understood?”

Noeul nodded. He wasn’t really listening anymore. He had already learned that the quickest way to end one of Chung-Hee’s lectures was simply to agree.

Once the sushi was in their hands, hunger finally overpowered everything else. The large box rested on Noeul’s lap, and the smell alone made his stomach growl.

Chung-Hee chuckled. “Someone’s hungry.”

It was a relaxed, almost teasing tone, one Noeul wasn’t used to hearing from him.

“I’ve really missed sushi,” he admitted quietly, unable to take his eyes off the box.

By the time they returned, the apartment felt warm and quiet, a welcome contrast to the cold rain outside. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city shimmered beneath the gray sky. For a brief moment, Noeul forgot everything else and simply admired the view.

“Let me help you take a warm shower before we eat,” Chung-Hee suggested. “San brought special waterproof covers, so your wounds will stay dry.”

Noeul hesitated. The suggestion he had feared hearing was finally spoken. The man in front of him would see him naked. The man he had once fallen in love with would touch him. Would he notice the other scars? The thought immediately made his stomach tighten. Would he stare? Make some sarcastic remark? Or worse, would he look at Noeul with pity? And beneath all those fears lingered another question he was ashamed even to ask himself. Would Chung-Hee feel even a drop of desire for him?

“I can manage on my own,” he said firmly. “As long as you help me take off my shirt.”

Something resembling disappointment crossed Chung-Hee’s face.

“You should know I was the one who dressed you at the hospital in New York.” He said it with such casual indifference that Noeul almost believed him. “I’ve seen everything there is to see.”

Noeul’s cheeks burned. He instinctively raised one of his bandaged hands toward his face before remembering he could barely move it and quickly turned away instead.

Chung-Hee smiled. “Your reactions are truly the best.”