Page 81 of Scarbound

“It is dramatic.”

Noeul laughed softly. “I suppose Haneul inherited his love for chess from you.” The words escaped before he had time to reconsider them.

Chung-Hee lowered his gaze to his coffee, his fingers tightening slightly around the cup. “I suppose that’s true.”

Noeul immediately regretted bringing Haneul into the conversation.

“We used to play whenever I had time,” Chung-Hee continued after a moment. “When he was younger, he hated losing.”

Noeul’s lips curved faintly. “That sounds like him.”

“He’d accuse me of cheating.” A quiet laugh escaped Chung-Hee. “He knew perfectly well I wasn’t.”

Noeul smiled. For a few seconds, the memory of Haneul sat between them without hurting quite as much.

“He used to get annoyed with me when I took too long to make a decision,” Noeul said. “He’d say I overthought everything.”

Chung-Hee looked up. “He was right.”

Noeul frowned. “Excuse me?”

“You overthink everything.”

Noeul gave him an offended look. “You barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

A small laugh escaped Noeul before he could stop it. For the first time since getting into Chung-Hee’s car, the sound felt natural. Chung-Hee stared at him.

Noeul noticed. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re staring.”

“I am.”

That answer made Noeul look away. His cheeks warmed. There is no love between us. He took another sip of his latte. The thought felt less convincing this time. After a moment, he looked back at Chung-Hee.

“Would you play with me sometime?”

Chung-Hee blinked.

“Chess,” Noeul clarified quickly. “I mean chess.”

The corner of Chung-Hee’s mouth lifted. “I assumed so.”

Noeul rolled his eyes. “I’m probably not as good as you,” he continued, “but it could be fun.”

Chung-Hee’s expression softened. “Yes,” he said after a pause. “I think I’d enjoy that.”

Noeul glanced out at the snow-covered city again. When he turned back, Chung-Hee was still watching him. Not with the anger from the car. Not with the cruelty from the cemetery. Something quieter. Something Noeul wasn’t sure he wanted to name.

“Maybe… next time?” Chung-Hee asked.

There was an uncertainty in his voice that Noeul had never heard before. Noeul’s heart gave a small, hopeful beat.

“Yes,” he said, smiling as he lifted his latte. “Next time.”