“I invited him to play with us today.” Ody took a sip of water. “He didn’t want to.”
“Didn’t you say you had something to do?” Steve asked.
“I found his necklace on the floor at the café. I went to give it back.”
“And?”
“He didn’t even say hi. Or thank you.” He let out a small smile.
Steve smirked. “And you still tried to be nice.”
“You know me.” Ody shrugged.
“Yeah. You don’t judge people.”
Ody simply took another sip of water.
A week later, on a Tuesday morning, Ody pulled into the university parking lot. It was just after ten. As he walked towardhis building, he heard shouting near the trees. By the time he got closer, the argument had turned physical.
“Say it again!” someone shouted.
“You think I won’t, you son of a bitch?”
Ody rushed forward and shoved them apart.
“Who the hell are you?” one of them snapped, breathless.
“Enough,” Ody said, then he looked at the other guy. His eyes widened.
“Stay out of it,” Mano said, trying to move past him.
Ody noticed he was gripping his right hand.
“Say it again,” Mano barked at the other guy, stepping forward.
Ody blocked him, but Mano shoved him hard. “Say it again!” he yelled, chest to chest with the other guy.
“Say what?” the guy sneered. “That you’re a dick? Or that you’re a fucking orphan?”
The punch came fast. Mano’s fist connected with his face and sent him to the ground. Before Ody could react, he hit him again.
“Mano, stop!” Ody grabbed him and pulled him back.
Mano’s gaze snapped to Ody’s face, catching for a split second on a small brown mark just above his lip. Then he shoved him hard out of the way. “I told you to stay out of it.”
“Stop. He’s bleeding.”
Mano shot Ody one last glare, jaw tight, then turned and walked off.
Ody helped the guy up. “You okay?”
“Fuck off,” he muttered, wiping blood from his nose.
Ody straightened and trailed after Mano into the parking lot.
Mano swung a leg over his motorcycle. “Why are you following me?” he snapped, grabbing his helmet with his right hand. The moment he lifted it, he winced. The helmet slipped from his grip and hit the ground.
Ody picked it up. “That’s why. I saw you holding your hand. Are you okay?”
