Page 54 of Scarbound

Noeul lowered his gaze. “You’ve misunderstood our relationship, Mr. Choi. We’re just acquaintances. There isn’t… and there never will be… anything more.”

The words sounded convincing. Even to him. At least, he wanted them to.

His phone vibrated again. Noeul’s hand twitched toward his pocket before stopping halfway. He wanted one quiet afternoon. One walk. One conversation that didn’t revolve around guilt, fear, or responsibility. Just one.

The phone vibrated again. He closed his eyes briefly. Ignoring it wasn’t an option. With a tired sigh, he replied and slipped the phone back into his pocket, forcing a small smile.

“Come on, Mr. Choi.” He pointed across the street. “There’s an art gallery over there. Since I can’t paint yet, we might as well lose ourselves in someone else’s work.”

A little more warmth returned to his voice. “They’ve just opened a modern pop art exhibition I’ve been wanting to see.”

He smiled. “Dinner’s on me as thanks for keeping me company.”

“How can I refuse such a tempting invitation? Let’s go,” Mr. Choi said, laughing at Noeul’s excitement.

Once they entered the sleek, vibrant space, a wave of color washed over them. Noeul rushed inside, completely absorbed by the unique work and techniques the exhibition had to offer. Each painting left him in awe; every new technique astounded him.

Mr. Choi stayed nearby while Noeul lost himself in the art. After a while, he returned with a cup of coffee and a snack offered by the organizers.

“God, this is exceptional,” Noeul muttered as they stopped before the centerpiece of the exhibition. “My brother loves this kind of art,” he explained to Mr. Choi.

Mr. Choi teased him. “But it’s so… colorful.”

“That’s the whole point of it, Mr. Choi,” Noeul said, defending it. “Expression through vibrant colors.”

Mr. Choi shook his head. “I don’t understand you young people.” His face twisted with a hint of disapproval, earning a genuine laugh from Noeul.

Noeul’s stomach growled in protest, telling them it was time for lunch.

“What would you like to eat, Mr. Choi?”

“There’s a canteen nearby with Greek food. Would you like that?”

“Greek food? I’ve never—”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.” Mr. Choi smirked and led Noeul toward the exit. “Trust me, you’ll love it.”

The small canteen smelled of grilled meat, warm bread, and spices Noeul couldn’t name. Mr. Choi ordered for both of them, refusing to tell Noeul what he had chosen.

When the food arrived, he tore off a small piece of warm pita, added some grilled meat and sauce, then held it out to Noeul.

Noeul hesitated before leaning forward and taking a bite. His eyes widened.

“Oh.” He swallowed. “Okay. You were right.”

Mr. Choi smiled with quiet satisfaction. “Of course I was.”

SESSION 11

Dr. Kim watched Noeul for a moment before speaking. “You’ve talked a lot about protecting Ji-Woo from Gong. I’d like to understand when that responsibility started to become yours.”

Noeul lowered his gaze to his hands. “I think it happened gradually. But there’s one conversation I remember very clearly.”

“What do you remember first?”

He took a slow breath. “The kitchen smelled faintly of coffee when I walked in. My parents were sitting at the table. Their faces were worn with exhaustion, their eyes darkened by too many sleepless nights. I could tell they’d been talking for a while. Their voices carried a familiar mixture of worry and resignation.

“I stopped in the doorway, unnoticed at first, listening.”