Ody swallowed, his gaze flicking instinctively to Mano’s lips before he could stop himself.
“So, Ody,” Mano said. “I want the truth.”
Ody’s heartbeat thundered against his ribs, his eyelids fluttering. “I-I’m not… looking at you,” he managed, unable to meet his eyes.
“Exactly.” Mano leaned in just a fraction. “You won’t even look at me.”
Ody kept his gaze off to the side, face hot, back pressed to the door like he needed it to stay upright.
“Huh, Ody?” Mano reached up and took his chin between his fingers, turning his face forward, forcing green eyes to meet honey-colored ones.
Ody felt everything inside him pull tight, breath catching in his throat. He held the stare for a second too long before finally tearing his gaze away. “Y-you and Ranya need to be ready tomorrow morning,” he blurted. “We’ll come pick you up.”
He shoved Mano’s hand away, wrenched the door open, and bolted. The slam echoed behind him as he ran down the stairs, gripping the railing, chest heaving. He stopped at the bottom and leaned against the wall, his breathing unsteady.
Why was Mano doing this? Why was he pushing him, testing him? Did he know? Could he see it on him?
But even so… every time Ody had crossed the line before, Mano had pulled away. Pushed him off, put distance between them.
So what the hell had changed?
Chapter 33
Ody barely remembered leaving the building. One moment he was running down the stairs, the next he was on a bus home, Mano’s voice still looping in his head. The heat of his breath. The grip on his chin.
By the time he reached his stop, his stomach was still tight. He walked toward his building and froze when he saw Kash waiting near the entrance.
“Hey.”
Ody stopped a few steps away, his keys tight in his hand. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you before you left.”
“No.” He didn’t raise his voice. “We don’t have anything else to say.” He moved toward the door, jaw clenched.
Kash stepped in his path, not touching him but close enough to block him. “Please. I won’t keep you long.”
Just the sight of him brought everything back. Stella. The lies. The deal. Kash holding him down. Mano bleeding. The whole thing twisted in his head like smoke.
“Move,” Ody said, cold and controlled.
“Ody… just hear me out. Please.”
“Why should I? You think I forgot what you and your sister did? What you admitted that night?” He shook his head slowly. “You shouldn’t even be near me.”
Kash swallowed, eyes glistening with something like panic. “I know. I know what it looks like. I just… I need to explain.”
“You explained,” Ody snapped. “I believed you once. I won’t do it again.”
Kash took half a step closer, lowering his voice. “You don’t have to forgive me. I’m not asking that. I just want to say goodbye before everything at school gets worse next semester. That’s all.”
Ody stared at him. He didn’t want him inside. Didn’t even want him that close. The anger from yesterday still beat under his skin like a pulse.
But Kash’s voice carried something raw. Not manipulation this time. Just regret. And Ody still needed answers, even if he didn’t trust himself to want them.
Silence settled between them.
Then Ody pushed the key into the lock. “Five minutes. That’s it.”
