CHAPTER 54 #2
Noeul looked toward the door. Then back at Duri. “Not there.”
Duri understood. “Not through the front door.”
Noeul stared at him.
“There’s another apartment next door,” Duri explained slowly. “My mother’s.”
Noeul frowned, trying to follow.
“It’s very close. We only have to cross the garden.”
No response.
“You won’t have to see Chung-Hee.”
Noeul’s breathing changed. “Won’t see him?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
Duri hesitated. Not because he intended to break it. Because he had learned not to promise things he could not control. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t.”
Noeul stared at him.
Duri lifted the handcuff key. “I have the key. I can unlock your wrist.”
Noeul’s eyes locked onto it. “No.”
Duri lowered his hand immediately. “Okay.”
Noeul looked from the key to Duri, then toward his own wrist. The skin around the cuff was swollen and raw. His expression changed. He tugged once and winced.
Duri waited.
Noeul looked at him again. “You?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll…”
His thoughts seemed to disappear halfway through the sentence. Duri didn’t complete it for him. He waited.
Noeul swallowed. “Take it off.”
Duri’s breath caught. “Can I come closer?”
Noeul hesitated, long enough that Duri thought he might change his mind. Then he gave the smallest nod.
Duri stood slowly. “One step.”
Noeul watched him.
Duri took one. “Still okay?”
Another faint nod.
He moved closer, then stopped again. Noeul’s entire body was tense now. Duri could see the fight happening inside him.
“I’m going to kneel beside the bed,” Duri said.
Noeul stared at him.
Duri lowered himself slowly and held up the key. “I’m going to touch the cuff. Not you.”
Noeul’s breathing quickened. Duri waited. After several seconds, Noeul whispered, “Okay.”
Duri inserted the key. The lock clicked. Noeul jerked violently at the sound.
Duri pulled both hands back. “It’s open.”
Noeul stared at the cuff as though he didn’t understand. Then slowly, cautiously, he pulled his wrist free. The metal fell against the mattress. Noeul looked at his own hand. He flexed his fingers once. Again. Then his gaze lifted toward Duri.
“Duri?”
The name was barely audible.
Duri stopped breathing. “Yes.”
Noeul stared at him as though trying to place the face in front of him inside a memory that refused to settle. “Duri…”
“Yes, hyung.”
His eyes filled with tears. Duri didn’t move. Noeul’s hand lifted uncertainly. Stopped halfway. Duri waited. Then Noeul reached toward him. Not confidently. Almost blindly.
Duri extended his hand but stopped before touching him. Noeul closed the remaining distance himself. His cold fingers wrapped weakly around Duri’s.
Duri had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from crying. “Okay,” he whispered. “I’m here.”
Noeul looked toward the door again. “Go.”
“You want to leave?”
A faint nod.
“Okay.”
Duri squeezed his hand only after Noeul tightened his fingers first. “We’ll go next door.”
Noeul’s brow furrowed. “Home?”
Duri thought about it. “No.”
Noeul looked at him.
“Not home yet.” He kept his voice gentle. “Just somewhere away from this room.”
Noeul stared at him. “Away?”
“Yes.”
That word made sense. Noeul nodded. “Away.”
Duri looked down at their joined hands. “Okay.”
Dr. Kim’s voice came quietly through the phone. “One step at a time, Duri.”
Duri nodded. “One step at a time.”
Duri looked down at him. Getting the cuff off had been one thing. Getting him out of the bed was another. Noeul was naked except for the blanket gathered loosely around his body. Duri glanced toward Chung-Hee’s closet.
“I’m going to get you something to wear.”
No response.
Duri stood slowly. “I’ll be right there.”
He pointed toward the closet so Noeul could follow the movement. Noeul’s eyes drifted after him. Duri found a loose pair of sweatpants and returned. “Hyung.”
Noeul looked at the clothes, then at him.
“Can I help you put these on?”
Duri waited. No answer.
He looked at the phone still connected to Dr. Kim. “He’s not answering.”
“Then don’t assume,” she said. “If there’s no immediate need to dress him fully, use the blanket and move slowly. Tell him what you’re doing.”
Duri nodded. “Okay.”
He wrapped the blanket more securely around Noeul’s shoulders instead. Noeul didn’t respond.
Duri held out his hand again. “I’m going to help you stand. Is that okay?”
Nothing.
He waited. Noeul looked toward the open cuff on the mattress, then toward the door. “Away,” he whispered.
Duri swallowed. “Yes.”
Noeul moved his legs toward the edge of the bed. The effort seemed enormous. Duri stayed close without touching him. Noeul pushed himself upright. Immediately, his balance failed.
Duri caught him instinctively around the waist. Noeul recoiled. His whole body went rigid.
Duri released him at once. “Sorry.”
Noeul stared at him, breathing hard.
“I’m sorry. You were falling.”
Noeul looked down at his own legs as though they belonged to someone else.
Duri crouched slightly so he wasn’t towering over him. “Can I hold your arm?”
Noeul’s mouth moved. No sound came. Duri waited. Finally, a tiny nod.
He touched him carefully. Noeul flinched anyway.
Duri felt the tension beneath his fingers. “I know.”
Noeul looked at him.
“I’ll let go whenever you want.”
Together, they stood. Slowly. Carefully. Noeul swayed almost immediately. Duri steadied him with one hand, keeping his touch light.
“One step.”
Noeul stared at the floor. Then moved. Another.
By the time they reached the bedroom door, his breathing had become labored.
Duri stopped. “We can wait.”
Noeul looked past him. The doorway. The hallway beyond. Something frightened him there. He shook his head.
“No?”
Noeul’s fingers suddenly tightened around Duri’s sleeve. “Away.”
Duri understood. “All right.”
He opened the bedroom door.
Ji-Woo was waiting in the hallway. Jun had taken Chung-Hee into another room so there would be no chance of Noeul seeing him on the way out.
The moment Ji-Woo saw his brother, everything inside him stopped. Noeul stood wrapped in a blanket, barely supported by his own legs. Bruises marked the skin Ji-Woo could see. Both wrists were raw and bloodied. A bandage covered part of his head.
Then rage hit. His fists clenched.
“I’ll—”
Duri looked at him. Just looked.
Ji-Woo stopped. He swallowed the rest.
Not here. Not in front of Noeul.
Ji-Woo forced his hands open. “Hyung.”
Noeul startled. His body pulled backward.
Ji-Woo immediately stayed where he was. “It’s me.”
Noeul stared at him.
“Ji-Woo.”
No recognition. Not at first.
Ji-Woo’s chest tightened. “It’s okay if you don’t remember.”
Duri glanced at him, surprised.
Ji-Woo gave the smallest shake of his head. He understood.
No pressure. No demands.
Noeul looked between them. “Ji…”
His brow furrowed. “Ji-Woo?”
Ji-Woo’s eyes filled instantly. “Yes.”
Noeul stared at his face. Slowly, uncertainly, he lifted one hand. Ji-Woo didn’t move. Noeul reached toward his hair. His fingers brushed through it once.
“Noona…” Noeul murmured, then frowned.
“Ji-Woo,” Duri said softly.
Noeul looked at him, then back at his brother. “Ji-Woo.”
“Yes, hyung.”
Noeul’s hand fell. “Away.”
Ji-Woo wiped his face quickly. “Yes.”
He forced a smile. “Let’s get you away from here.”
Noeul looked toward the end of the hallway. “Is he…”
Ji-Woo knew immediately who he meant. “You won’t see him.”
Noeul searched his face.
Ji-Woo stepped aside, leaving the path completely open. “Come on.”
He didn’t reach for him.
Duri remained beside Noeul as they moved through the penthouse. Ji-Woo walked slightly ahead, making sure the way was clear.
Noeul never saw Chung-Hee.