Page 61 of Scarbound

His eyes moved between the two brothers. “Besides, I think you could use a little time alone.”

The apartment fell silent after the door closed.

Ji-Woo picked up the controller and pressed Start, but he wasn’t looking at the screen.

“Please don’t ignore me,” Noeul said quietly. “All night we’ve barely talked. If Duri hadn’t come… would you even know what to say to me?”

Ji-Woo paused the game, then stood and walked toward the window. Rain streamed down the glass.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, folding his arms tightly. “I don’t think I would’ve come.” He laughed bitterly. “I’m angry at you. Really angry.”

His voice cracked. “You disappeared. You left me to deal with everything on my own.” He turned. “Do you have any idea what that was like?”

Still sitting on the edge of the couch, Noeul leaned forward and buried his face in his hands.

“Ji-Woo…” His voice barely came out. “I never wanted to leave you. I just…” He closed his eyes. “I couldn’t survive anymore.”

Ji-Woo turned sharply. “You couldn’t survive? That’s it? And I could?” He pointed at himself. “Was I the only one who was supposed to be okay? You were my brother. You were supposed to stay, no matter how bad things got.”

Noeul slowly looked up. “I know. I know I failed you.” He swallowed. “I lost Haneul. My friends. Then Gong. And somewhere along the way… I lost myself too.” He looked directly at Ji-Woo. “I didn’t know how to be your brother anymore.”

Ji-Woo took a shaky breath. “And you think I knew how to live without mine?”

Silence.

“I waited for you. Every birthday. Every holiday. Every time my phone rang.” His voice trembled. “I kept thinking, Maybe today. Maybe today he’ll come home.”

“I thought…” Noeul’s voice cracked. “I thought leaving would protect you. I didn’t want you carrying my shame. My guilt. My life.” His shoulders sagged. “I thought you’d be happier without me.”

Ji-Woo shook his head. The tears finally escaped.

“You never got to decide that.” His voice was almost a whisper. “You were never a burden. You were my brother. All I wanted…” He looked away. “…was for you to stay.”

Noeul crossed the room slowly. “I’m sorry. I can’t change what I did. But…” He hesitated. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to become your brother again.”

Ji-Woo didn’t answer immediately. He studied him—the bandages, the tired eyes, the man standing in front of him.

After what felt like forever, he nodded.

“If you’d asked me a week ago, I would’ve said no.” A tiny smile appeared. “But tonight…” He looked around the apartment. “It reminded me of us.”

His eyes filled again.

“I want my brother back.”

Noeul stepped forward and wrapped him in an awkward embrace. Ji-Woo hesitated for only a heartbeat before hugging him back.

“I’m sorry,” Noeul whispered. “I’ll keep trying.”

The doorbell rang while they were planning their first hike together, a ritual they had shared since childhood.

“Let’s wait a few more weeks, until my hands heal properly. Then we’ll go wherever you want,” Noeul said as Ji-Woo opened the door and Duri entered.

“Can Duri come with us?” Ji-Woo asked, already unpacking the beers. He put most of them in the fridge, keeping two. He handed one to Duri and opened the other for himself.

Noeul’s gaze moved between them. “You don’t need my permission. Duri is family. He can come whenever he wants.”

“Hiking?” Duri’s face lit up. “Perfect. I’ve missed our trips. Especially now that it’s the three of us.”