Chapter 40: Guilt

I shrank into my seat, wishing I were anywhere else. I was ashamed and terrified. I couldn’t look any of them in the eye, so I stared down at my lap. Yujin retracted their hand, but didn’t say anything. The silence that fell was deafening and seemed to last for days, though I knew it was likely only a few seconds.

Gia was the first to speak, asking in a curious tone. “Is it gnarly? Why didn’t I know about this? Can I see it? I bet it’s bada*s.”

Elliot followed up, speaking to his sister with authority. He used his muscular hands to motion to his own chest, pointing out the location. “It’s more like a sprawl of tiny scars, all along the-”

“What the f*ck would you know about it?” Yujin called across the table to their brother in a low hiss.

Elliot put his hands up in a defensive pose, “What, are you mad that I spilled about the work you’ve had done? She’s bound to find out sooner or later, if you ever get that far. Really it’s more common than you’d think.”