Page 94 of Scarbound

“I don’t understand myself! That’s the problem!”

Silence filled the room.

Noeul rubbed both hands over his face. “I’m exhausted. I can’t take any more today. I feel like I’ll go mad.” His voice dropped. “Please, hyung. Just let me leave.”

Chung-Hee knew what he should do. Let him go. He had seen the fear in Noeul’s eyes. He had heard him say it. But watching Noeul turn away awakened something darker than reason: the fear of losing him. Of watching him walk toward Duri. Toward a life that did not include Chung-Hee.

He recognized the pattern even as it formed: fear became anger, and anger offered him the illusion of control. He could let Noeul walk away. Instead, he stepped forward and caught him around the waist.

Noeul gasped.

Chung-Hee pulled him back against his chest.

Noeul struggled. “Let go.”

“In this life and the next,” Chung-Hee whispered against his hair, “you belong only to me.”

Noeul went still. Not because the words moved him, but because he finally heard them for what they were. Possession. He pushed against Chung-Hee’s arms.

“I belong to myself.”

Chung-Hee tightened his hold.

“Let me go.”

“No.”

Noeul stopped struggling.

“Do you hear yourself?”

Chung-Hee said nothing.

“You say you care about me.”

“I do.”

“You say you want me.”

“More than anything.”

“Then why does what you want always matter more than what I ask for?”

Chung-Hee froze.

Noeul’s breathing trembled. “I asked you to let me go.”

Silence.

“I asked you nicely.”

Chung-Hee’s arms slowly loosened.

Noeul immediately stepped away. He shook his head. “Maybe your mother is right. Maybe being together will destroy both of us.”

“She isn’t right.”

“I don’t know anymore.” Noeul backed toward the elevator. “I need to breathe.”