Page 149 of Scarbound

“He feels guilty about his feelings for you,” Jun said eventually.

Noeul exhaled slowly. “I know.” His voice sounded exhausted now rather than angry. “But honestly, Mr. Han, that doesn’t make it any easier to bear.”

Jun lowered his gaze. “No,” he admitted. “It doesn’t.” He unlocked the car. “Do you want me to come to you?”

Noeul didn’t answer immediately.

“I just got into the car,” Jun continued. “Say the word and I’m there.”

Loud music played somewhere in the background, so loud Jun could barely hear Noeul’s reply.

“No, thank you. I’d rather be alone.”

Jun tightened his grip around the phone. Every instinct told him not to leave Noeul alone, but forcing himself into Noeul’s space after everything Chung-Hee had done felt wrong too.

So he compromised.

“One last question.”

Noeul sighed. “What?”

“Where will you be? Just so I don’t worry.”

Another pause.

“The Neon Peacock. It’s a bar I usually go to. Duri Kaiser, a very good friend of mine, works there. He’ll take care of me.”

Jun memorized the name. “All right.”

He opened the driver’s door but didn’t get inside yet.

“Noeul?”

“Yes?”

“If I call again, please answer.”

Noeul was quiet.

“I’m not asking because Chung-Hee told me to. I’m asking because I care.”

Silence stretched between them. Then Noeul’s voice softened.

“Of course.”

A pause.

“Thank you for your concern.”

The call ended.

Jun remained beside his car for several seconds, staring at the dark screen of his phone. Then he looked at the names he had typed into his notes.

Duri Kaiser. The Neon Peacock.

He didn’t intend to go there. Noeul had asked to be left alone, and for now, Jun would respect that.

But he kept the name and address anyway.