Odysseus: I have movie tickets at 9. You down? [15:23]
He accidentally tapped the notification and opened the chat. “Fuck!” he shouted.Ask your friends [15:27]
I did. They can’t make it
Neither can I
You sure? They’re paid for. I was going with my girlfriend but she had something come up
What movie? I don’t watch action
Really? Why? I think it’s sci-fi. Not completely sure. Didn’t check much
Find it and send me the trailer
The trailer spoils everything. It will ruin the experience
I said find it and send it. If you want company
Ody stared at the message. A few minutes later, he sent the link.
Mano watched the trailer, searched the movie online, then finally replied.Come pick me up in your car. Since you’re a scaredy cat
I’m not a scaredy cat
Whatever you say
Seen
He tossed his phone aside and went back to studying. A little after eight, he got ready and headed downstairs.
Ody waited outside the car. Mano walked past him without a word and slid into the passenger seat. Ody got in beside him, shutting the door a little too hard. Mano flinched, unnoticed.
Ody hesitated. “Did what I said this morning bother you?”
Mano turned his head. His gaze cut straight into him.
“I know you were trying to help,” Ody said. “I didn’t blame you.”
“That’s exactly what you did, but whatever. Just drive.”
“We still have time. I want to clear things up.”
Mano exhaled through his nose. “Look. I know that if I hadn’t spilled coffee on him, they wouldn’t have cornered you in the bathroom. I get that. But if you never stand up to people who treat you like trash, they’ll keep doing it. They look for weakness. They prey on it.”
Ody listened silently, his gaze dropping.
“Those cowards go after the weak,” Mano continued. “Because they’re too scared to touch the strong. So decide. Do you want to be their plaything until graduation, or do you want to show them they picked the wrong person?”
Ody absorbed every word. Mano was right. If he kept letting the teasing slide, it would never stop. “You’re right about that,” he murmured.
“So?” Mano pressed.
“I’ll show them they picked the wrong person.” Ody met his eyes.
Mano nodded in approval.
Then Ody hesitated. “If I can.”
