Page 71 of Scarbound

Slowly, he bowed twice toward Haneul’s grave before shuffling barefoot toward the cemetery entrance. He had no phone. No money. Dizzy and weak, all he could do was find somewhere safe and wait for Ji-Woo.

***

An hour later, Ji-Woo received a location ping from Chung-Hee’s phone.

They found Noeul half-asleep on a bench near the cemetery’s edge.

Ji-Woo stopped. Duri quietly exhaled.

Noeul’s black hair was matted with blood from the wound on his forehead. Curled into himself against the cold, he rested his head on one shoulder, knees drawn tightly to his chest. Tear tracks marked his cheeks. The warmth that usually surrounded him was still there but buried beneath quiet despair.

They hurried over. Ji-Woo rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. The small touch made Noeul flinch before slowly relaxing.

Duri opened the first-aid kit they had brought and carefully bandaged the wound while Ji-Woo stayed beside his brother.

“Don’t worry, hyung,” Ji-Woo whispered. “We’re taking you home.”

He wanted to hug him, to promise everything would be all right. Instead, he felt painfully helpless, just as he had when Gong hurt Noeul and no one had stood beside him.

Noeul said nothing, keeping his eyes lowered.

Together, they helped him into Duri’s car. The drive back passed in silence.

Ji-Woo stayed the night with his brother, while Duri prepared to return home.

***

Before leaving, Duri stopped beside the entrance.

“I’ll come tomorrow,” he said, looking only at Noeul. “If you need anything… call me.”

Noeul lowered his eyes and gave a faint nod, though they both knew he wouldn’t.

Duri hesitated, wanting to say more. To promise that nothing like this would ever happen again. But promises felt meaningless against what had already been done.

“Bis bald,” he murmured instead.

Noeul’s lips parted slightly at the familiar words, but no answer came. Duri lingered for another second before turning away.

Only after the apartment door closed behind him did he allow himself to lean against the corridor wall. His hands shook.

He reached for his phone, typed a message, erased it, then started again.

I’m here. Day or night. You don’t have to reply.

He stared at the screen for several seconds before pressing send.

***

Inside the apartment, Noeul’s phone vibrated. He saw Duri’s name appear, his thumb hovering over the screen before he placed the phone face down without opening the message.

Finally, the weight of the day settled over him. Every word. Every touch. Every moment at the cemetery.

He could still feel Chung-Hee’s hands.

Ji-Woo offered to help him shower or sit with him for a while, but Noeul shook his head before collapsing onto the couch.

Ji-Woo headed into the kitchen area. The sound of cupboards opening and closing drifted through the studio. A few minutes later, he returned with a bowl of warm soup and placed it carefully on the coffee table. He lifted a spoonful and stopped halfway to Noeul’s mouth.