“Will you… give me a chance?”
The quiet tone made Ody blink fast.
“I’m only asking because I thought I felt something in our kiss,” Kash continued. “But if I’m wrong… just say it. I’ll back off.”
Something flickered inside Ody, something he didn’t want to name. He hated that Kash could see anything in him at all. “What did you see in our kiss?” he asked.
Kash’s gaze held steady. “I’ve kissed straight guys before. None of them reacted the way you did.”
Ody’s breath hitched. His thoughts tangled. What did he mean, reacted? He had pushed him away, right? But notimmediately. Not fast enough. Not like someone completely unaffected by the kiss.
“W-what do you mean?” Ody asked, though part of him already knew he wouldn’t like the answer.
“They punched me in the face.”
Ody’s breath caught as Mano flashed into his mind. When he kissed him, Mano didn’t hit him. He pushed him away, yes, but that was it.
“So… if someone doesn’t hit you… does that mean…?”
“It’s a good sign, I guess,” Kash said with a small smile.
Does that mean Mano might… like me?
“Do you wanna grab coffee sometime?” Kash asked.
Ody swallowed, the question pulling him back. “My friends already think you’re acting weird. Everyone will think it’s strange if they see us hanging out. Did your friends not ask anything?”
Kash exhaled. “Forget about them. What matters is your answer.”
“Kash… I’m with Anna.”
“You kissed me yesterday,” he said, looking straight into his eyes. “No one will find out. I promise. I just want you to stop seeing me as the bad guy.” He reached for Ody’s cheek, but he pulled away.
“Then stop hurting people.”
“I already have.”
“And Mano. You’re gonna leave him alone.”
Kash’s jaw tightened. “If he keeps pushing, I can’t just let it go.”
Ody didn’t flinch. His voice stayed calm, steady, almost cold. “If you touch him again, this ends here.” There was no hesitation or softness in it.
Kash looked down, trying to steady the jealousy and that tight pull in his chest when Ody made it clear Mano came first. “I’ll do whatever you want if it means you’re giving me a chance.”
Ody hesitated. If he gave Kash a chance… would that protect Mano? “Alright.”
Kash let out a slow breath, relief slipping through him. His eyes stayed glued to Ody, too focused and intense, like he was trying to memorize every tiny reaction. “Can I… kiss you again?” he asked. “The right way this time.”
“N-not here.” Ody stood fast, pulse spiking. He wasn’t agreeing. He just needed space, air, needed this conversation to stop before he said something even he wouldn’t understand.
Kash rose as well, eyes still locked on him. “When can we meet?”
“Uh…” Ody looked anywhere but at him. His mind was a mess, his chest tight, the whole conversation unraveling faster than he could process. “Tomorrow, I guess…”
Kash nodded once, almost too quickly. “Tomorrow. I’ll pick you up.” His fingers grazed Ody’s arm, so light it barely registered, yet Ody felt it all the way up his spine. He took a few steps back, still watching him, his voice softening. “Don’t… cancel on me, okay?”
Ody watched him disappear down the path, then got into his car and drove home in a daze. He had barely pulled into his driveway when his phone buzzed.
