Page 48 of Scarbound

“Would you expect Ji-Woo to handle all of that perfectly?”

“No.”

“Then why do you expect it from yourself?”

Noeul’s jaw tightened. “Because I was his twin.”

“That made you his brother,” Dr. Kim said. “Not his doctor.”

Noeul stared at the floor. “But I was scared too.

“When he left, I waited until I heard his bedroom door close. Only then did I realize I was shaking.

“I hugged Ji-Woo. He wouldn’t let go of me.

“I kept telling him he was safe.”

A faint, broken smile appeared. “But I couldn’t promise I’d always protect him anymore.”

Dr. Kim watched him carefully. “Maybe that was the first time you understood there were things you couldn’t protect either of them from.”

Noeul’s smile disappeared. “Maybe.” He looked down at his hands again. “And I hated myself for it.”

CHAPTER 20

“So… are you two together?” The question slipped out before Noeul could stop it. Over the past three days, every member of the Jung family, along with Duri and Chung-Hee, had taken turns staying with him. Every few hours, one visitor replaced another, leaving him almost no time alone. Duri and Ji-Woo always arrived together. He had begun to wonder why.

“Huh? No!” Ji-Woo answered immediately. “Why would you think that?” He glanced at Duri with a grin. “No offense, Duri hyung. I like you… just not like that.”

Despite everything between them, Ji-Woo’s smile briefly softened the atmosphere. For the first time in days, he sounded almost like himself. Noeul felt an unexpected sense of relief. Ever since waking up, Ji-Woo had barely spoken to him. His answers had been short, his eyes distant. Noeul understood why Duri never left Ji-Woo alone with him. His brother wasn’t ready.

Duri played along. “That’s okay,” he said with a shrug. “You’re not my type either.” Amusement flickered across his face. “Besides… I already like someone.”

Noeul blinked. The words unsettled him more than they should have. He was happy for Duri. At least he thought he was. Then why did they leave such a strange ache behind?

He forced a teasing tone. “A girl?” He laughed softly. “I can’t believe the pale little kid with freckles I remember grew up and actually fell in love.”

Duri covered his face. Even the tips of his ears turned red. “We’re not together,” he admitted quietly. “It’s… unrequited.”

Ji-Woo blinked at Duri, apparently surprised that he had finally said it aloud. Noeul wasn’t sure what unsettled Ji-Woo more, that Duri had kept something from Noeul, or that he had chosen to reveal it now. He couldn’t dismiss the thought as quickly as he wanted. Had Ji-Woo really become closer to Duri than to him? He forced the feeling aside.

“So… who is she? Maybe I can help you.”

Duri stepped closer to the bed. “What makes you think I’d tell you?” His voice dropped into a teasing whisper. “You’re still on probation, hyung. You haven’t even apologized to Ji-Woo yet.” His teasing faded. “When you finally talk to your brother… when you really try to fix things… ask me again. Then I’ll tell you.”

Something in his voice caught Noeul off guard. Their eyes met. Neither looked away. Almost without realizing it, Noeul’s gaze drifted lower. To Duri’s mouth. Then to the tattoo winding beneath the sleeve of his shirt. To the silver ring through his lip.

The reaction wasn’t entirely new. It had flickered at the edges of his thoughts in New York, appearing in deleted messages and comparisons he had refused to examine. Until now, he had always pushed it away before it could take shape.

This time, he allowed himself to look. Not at the boy he remembered, but at the man standing before him. Tall. Confident. Broad-shouldered. Handsome.

Duri noticed and quietly enjoyed every second of it. Noeul had never allowed his interest to show so openly before. Now his eyes lingered. Studied. Wondered. A faint smile appeared on Duri’s face. Perhaps his moment had finally arrived.

Duri stepped back and picked up his car keys. “I’ll leave you two alone.” He glanced at Ji-Woo. “You brothers have a lot to talk about. Bis bald.”

The door closed softly behind him. Silence settled over the room. Ji-Woo remained standing by the window, his arms folded across his chest. Noeul didn’t know how to begin, and Ji-Woo offered no help.

Finally, Noeul spoke. “It’s been a while since we’ve really talked. How have you been?”