Page 136 of Scarbound

“I made some snacks too.” Noeul turned toward the kitchen and opened two bottles of beer. He could feel Duri watching him. “It’s nothing.”

“I didn’t ask anything.” Duri put the bag on the counter. “Which means you already know what I’m looking at.”

Noeul didn’t speak.

Duri stepped closer and studied the left side of his face. “Nothing?” His voice hardened. “You call this nothing, hyung? Are you a man or a punching bag?”

He reached toward Noeul’s cheek. Noeul flinched.

Duri’s hand stopped immediately. The movement was small, but the change in Duri’s expression wasn’t.

“I fell,” Noeul said quietly.

“Fell where? On Lee Chung-Hee’s hand?”

“Duri.”

“Last time he hurt you because you fell asleep next to me. What was it this time?”

Noeul turned away. Duri stared at him for another moment before taking a step back. He didn’t touch him again.

“I met Kija,” Noeul finally said. “One of my favorite artists. We talked for a while, and somehow it upset him.”

Duri’s eyebrows drew together. “That’s it?”

“I asked Kija about private lessons. Mainly because I want Ji-Woo to join me. He needs to improve his portfolio for his university application, and Kija could help him.”

“And Chung-Hee hit you because of that?”

Noeul picked at the label on his beer bottle. “He thought Kija was interested in me.”

Duri went quiet. That answer bothered him for more than one reason.

“Was he?”

Noeul looked at him. “What?”

“Kija. Was he interested in you?”

There was something almost too casual in Duri’s voice.

Noeul narrowed his eyes. “Are you asking if I flirted with him?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You were thinking it.”

“Maybe.”

Noeul stared at him incredulously. “I didn’t flirt with him. I was polite. That’s all.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself to me, hyung.”

“But you just asked.”

“I was curious.”

Despite everything, Noeul almost smiled. Duri took a drink of his beer and looked away.