The message was seen, but Mano didn’t reply. Ody stared at the screen, his chest tightening. Then, he typed again.From the moment I saw you getting off that bike, something about you pulled me in. I didn’t understand it then. Now I do
Mano sat with his legs pulled up to his chest, staring at the last message on his screen. Why did he feel so strange? What was this feeling? He had never felt anything like it before. Slowly, he typed.If someone sees us...
Ody’s breath caught. His eyes locked on the screen. Us. His fingers moved before he could think twice.We’ll be careful. We’ll meet in secret
Mano stared at the text.And Anna?
Ody closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. He felt Anna shift in her sleep, her body pressing against his back. Guilt twisted in his stomach. He swallowed and typed.I know... I just need time
The message was seen. Ody waited, but nothing else appeared. He locked his phone and stayed there, watching Mano’s curled-up figure under the blanket a few meters away.
Sleep didn’t come. He stayed there for a long time, listening to the waves and watching the slow rise and fall of Mano’s breathing. Eventually the night grew colder. Beside him, Anna shifted in her sleep. “Mmm…” she murmured as she opened her eyes.
Night still covered the beach. The only sound was the steady crash of waves against the shore.
“Baby?” she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to Ody’s forehead.
One by one, the others stirred awake. Someone checked the time. “It’s 3 a.m.”
“Alright, guys, let’s head back to the hotel.”
“Best sleep ever.”
“Good thing we brought blankets,” Steve chuckled. “Otherwise we’d be frozen.”
“Babe... wake up,” Ranya said, gently nudging Mano. He barely reacted.
The group gathered their things and headed toward the cars. Ody glanced at Mano, who was still half-asleep. For a moment, he wished he could scoop him into his arms and carry him to the car, letting him sleep all the way back to the hotel.
“Come on, man. Move it,” Steve said, noticing Ody standing there.
“Yeah…” Ody muttered, walking toward the car. He tossed their bags inside and glanced back at the beach.
Mano was approaching with Ranya, looking exhausted and barely awake. “Do you want to lie down in the back with me?” she asked him.
Mano shrugged, too tired to argue.
“Anna, do you mind sitting in the front?”
“Not at all.” She slipped into the passenger seat while Ody walked around the car and got into the driver’s seat.
He glanced in the rearview mirror just as Ranya climbed into the back. Mano followed and rested his head on her lap. The sight tightened something painfully in Ody’s chest.
“Ready to go?” Anna asked.
“Yeah…” he said, starting the engine.
The whole drive back, one thought wouldn’t leave him. He wanted Mano beside him instead, his head heavy in his lap while he ran his fingers through that black hair until he fell asleep.
The road was nearly empty at that hour, the soft hum of the engine and the distant sound of the sea the only things breaking the quiet.
When they finally reached the hotel, everyone climbed out slowly, still half-asleep. They muttered quick goodnights before heading toward their rooms.
Ranya changed into her short pajamas and slipped under the sheets. Mano shifted closer and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head against her chest. “M-Mano?” she stammered, startled. “Are you okay?”
She couldn’t believe it. Mano Jones was hugging her. The same Mano who barely let her kiss him, who wouldn’t even hold her hand when they went for a walk.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, but he didn’t answer. She gently ran her fingers through his hair until his breathing slowed. Soon he was asleep.
