“I said sit!”
Mano stilled, then walked to the couch and sat down, leaving some space between them.
Ody pressed a cotton pad gently to his lip. Mano jerked back, and their eyes locked. He watched Ody’s green eyes glisten as he dabbed at the blood.
It’s all my fault. He met Kash because of me. He keeps getting hurt because of me…
A tear slipped down Ody’s cheek. He wiped it off before it could fall further.
“Why are you crying?” Mano asked, his voice low, steady.
Ody sniffed, trying to keep himself together as he kept tending to the wound. Another tear escaped.
Mano caught his wrist this time, stopping him. “Why are you crying?”
Ody’s gaze fell. He pulled his hand from Mano’s and stood. “You don’t want me around you, I know. Just let me take care of this and then you can go.” He walked to his room and closed the door, wiping his eyes again.
Mano stared at the door for a long moment. He noticed an ice pack on the couch, pressed it to his jaw, then kicked off his shoes and lay down. The cold stung, then numbed.
Twenty minutes later, curled on his side and lost in thought, he heard the door open. He shut his eyes quickly.
Soft footsteps approached. Then a thin blanket draped over him. He almost opened his eyes in shock.
Ody adjusted it, tucking it gently around him, his hand lingering on Mano’s shoulder before retreating.
When he walked away, Mano opened his eyes. Thirteen years. It had been that long since anyone had taken care of him like that. His eyes burned. He turned toward the wall, his vision blurring. He breathed slowly until sleep pulled him under.
When he woke, he heard the faint hum of the range hood. Ody stood in the kitchen.
“What are you doing?” Mano asked hoarsely.
Ody looked back. “Making soup for you.”
Mano sat up, wincing.
Ody brought over a tray with a bowl and spoon, stirring the soup to cool it. “Does it hurt a lot? Can you eat?” he asked.
“I don’t know…”
Ody sat beside him, lifting the spoon toward him. “Try.”
Mano’s eyes stayed fixed on him.
Ody lowered the spoon, looking down at the soup. “What did you tell him?” he asked. “In the hallway. When you pulled him aside.”
Mano said nothing, but the memory came back to him.
He leaned in close, his eyes fixed on Kash. “Where are your buddies? Left you all alone? Shame.” He kept dragging him toward the exit, the grip on his shirt unrelenting. He shoved him hard against the wall and Kash hit it with a grunt.
Ody followed at a distance, as Mano drove a punch into Kash’s stomach. The air left Kash in a harsh gasp as he folded forward, and Mano leaned in again, his voice quiet but cutting. “Leave him alone. You know I could handle you with one hand tied behind my back. If you want to walk out of here on your feet, leave. Now.”
Mano looked away, silent.
Ody waited, but got no reply. He sighed. “Try.” He lifted the spoon once more.
Instead of eating, Mano whispered, “Why are you doing this?”
Ody blinked. “Doing what?”
