The barista froze behind the counter.
Kash looked down at the dark stain spreading across his white shirt.
“Coffee stains are tough,” Mano added.
Kash lifted his eyes, fury burning in them.
Mano stared right at him. Then he turned and walked away. Ody followed him, while Kash stood there, fuming.
“Why did you do that?” Ody called after him.
“People like that need to be put in their place. But you’re probably too much of a pushover to do anything about it.”
“Just because I don’t wanna cause trouble doesn’t make me a pushover,” he said, looking into his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
“About what?” Ody blinked.
“I asked you if they bother you, and you said no.”
“They don’t.”
“Last time I checked, what he just did is called…” He stopped himself and sighed. “How long has he been doing this to you?”
“He didn’t really do anything. It’s not a big deal.”
“Look at you.” He grabbed the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up, drawing attention to the large stain.
“It’s just a shirt. It’ll wash out.”
“And you?” Mano shot back.
Ody frowned. “What?”
“Are you gonna be okay? Just forget about it? Pretend it doesn’t bother you?” Their eyes locked. “Are you going to let him belittle you and treat you like that because it’s ‘just a shirt’?”
Ody looked away and exhaled. “You probably would’ve punched him. But I’m not like that. I can’t hurt someone like that, no matter what they do to me.”
“No matter what they do to you?” Mano repeated. “That’s why you’ll always be the victim.”
Ody stiffened at those words.
“The one they make fun of. The one they push around because you’re too weak to stand up for yourself.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I’ve been there!” Mano raised his voice.
They stood staring at each other, before Mano let out a bitter laugh. “And it wasn’t over spilled coffee. It was over things that cut deeper than clothes. That’s how I know. Don’t let him do that to you.”
Ody swallowed. He wanted to ask more. He wanted to know everything. But he was afraid that Mano would shut down.
“No one’s going to defend you. You need to learn to stand up for yourself.”
“You defended me. You helped me,” Ody said.
Silence stretched between them.
