CHAPTER 55
Crossing the garden took less than a minute. To Noeul, it seemed much longer. Cold air touched his face. He stopped. For a second, Duri thought he might panic again. Instead, Noeul lifted his head.
Light rain fell over the garden, a few drops catching in his hair. He watched them gather on the leaves. Duri waited. Noeul seemed almost unaware of where he was, but something about the cold air held his attention.
“Hyung?”
Noeul blinked.
Duri pointed toward the open doors of the neighboring penthouse. “Just there.”
Noeul looked. Warm light spilled onto the garden. He took another step. Then another.
“Eomma, we’re back,” Duri called quietly.
His mother appeared almost immediately.
“Duri…”
She stopped.
“Oh my God.”
Noeul recoiled at the sudden voice.
Duri’s mother caught herself and lowered her voice immediately. “I’m sorry.”
Noeul stared at her.
She remained several steps away. “My name is Kang Yujin. This is my home.” Her voice stayed soft. “You can stay here.”
Noeul looked around the unfamiliar apartment. His fingers tightened around Duri’s sleeve.
“We’re next door,” he said. “Remember?”
Noeul frowned. “Next…”
“Yes.” Duri pointed toward the glass doors behind them. “We crossed the garden.”
Noeul looked back at the darkness outside, then slowly nodded, though Duri wasn’t certain he truly understood.
His mother looked at Duri. “He needs a doctor.”
“Yes.”
“Now.”
“Ji-Woo is arranging it.”
“I’ll call Dr. Daniels too.”
Duri nodded. “Tell him it’s urgent. Head injury. He’s confused and barely standing.”
Her expression tightened. “I’ll call him now.”
Noeul’s knees suddenly buckled. Duri caught him. This time, Noeul flinched but didn’t pull away.
“Hyung?”
His head fell briefly against Duri’s shoulder.
Duri felt panic rise again. “Noeul hyung.”
“I’m tired.”
The words were barely audible.
Duri looked toward his room. “Can we take you somewhere to lie down?”
Noeul didn’t answer.
Duri lowered his voice. “My room is right there.”
Still nothing.
“You don’t have to decide. We can stay here.”
Noeul’s eyelids fluttered. “Bed.”
Duri nodded. “Okay.”
The room was quiet, lit only by the warm glow of a small lamp. Duri guided Noeul toward the bed. When they reached it, Noeul simply stood there. He seemed to have forgotten what came next.
“Hyung.”
Noeul stared at the mattress.
“You can lie down.”
No response.
Duri waited. Then: “Can I help?”
Noeul’s eyes shifted toward him.
Duri raised his hand slightly but didn’t touch him. “Just your arm.”
A long pause. Then Noeul nodded.
Duri touched him. Noeul flinched. His entire body tightened automatically.
Duri stopped. “Do you want me to let go?”
Noeul stared at the bed, then slowly shook his head.
Duri helped him sit. He pulled the blanket around him but did not rub his back or continue touching him. Noeul curled slightly onto his side. Duri sat on the floor beside the bed, close enough to be visible, far enough not to crowd him.
Ji-Woo appeared quietly at the doorway. “He’s coming.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Daniels. Mrs. Kang reached him. He’s on his way now.”
Duri nodded. “And the ambulance?”
Ji-Woo lowered his voice. “They’re still on standby. I explained that a doctor is coming to assess him immediately. If Dr. Daniels says hospital, we go.”
Duri looked at Noeul. He had already closed his eyes. “Okay.”
Ji-Woo stepped into the room. For a while, neither spoke.
Then Duri heard a quiet sound from the doorway.
His mother. She was crying. Not loudly. She pressed one hand against her mouth, trying not to make any noise.
Noeul’s eyes opened. They wandered toward her.
She immediately wiped at her face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Go back to sleep.”
Noeul stared at her. “Eomma…”
Everyone went still.
Mrs. Kang’s eyes widened.
Noeul looked at her without recognition, half inside sleep already.
“Don’t cry.”
His voice was fragile.
“I’ll…”
He stopped. The thought seemed to disappear.
Mrs. Kang waited.
Noeul’s eyes closed again. “Don’t cry.”
She covered her mouth.
Duri looked away.
No one corrected him. No one asked why he had called her eomma.
It was enough that, for whatever reason, her face had made him reach for a word that meant something warm.