“This has gone too far. We should go to the police,” Ody said.
Mano looked away, his fingers curling into fists. Instead of answering, he texted Stella.I’m fine. Has he hit you before? What did he do to you?
A moment later, her reply appeared.Just let it go… I told you he wouldn’t leave me alone. How are you? He said he’d bring others
I’m fine don’t worry,Mano wrote back.
Stella quickly blamed herself, apologizing for dragging him into the mess and saying she never expected Kash would hurt him so badly just because they were seeing each other.
He didn’t hit me just because of that. Forget it,Mano replied.
She kept pressing, asking why else Kash would target him, until Mano finally admitted they knew each other from university.
Her next message came almost immediately.Oh my God why didn’t you tell me?
Mano explained he hadn’t known Kash was her ex. She admitted she had dumped him when she realized what he was really like, but the conversation faded after that.
If I can get up tomorrow I’ll come check on you,Mano wrote.
Better not,Stella replied.My parents are coming back
Alright. We’ll talk
Goodnight Mano
Goodnight,heset his phone aside and sighed.
“Everything okay?” Ody asked.
“As okay as it can be,” Mano said, staring blankly ahead.
“You gonna go to bed?”
“Where?”
“My bed. Better than sleeping on the couch. Go lie down.”
“And you?”
“I’ll take the couch.”
“I don’t want to kick you out of your room.”
“No arguments. You’re sleeping in there.” Ody stood and walked toward the kitchen.
Mano frowned. “What are you doing?”
“I’m making something quick. You need to take your medicine in a few hours.” He turned on the stove, pulled out a pan, and soon the sound of frying filled the apartment.
Mano’s eyelids grew heavy.
About twenty minutes later, Ody returned with two plates. “Rea...dy.” He stopped when he saw Mano asleep. He sat beside him, setting the plates down. “Mano,” he whispered. “You need to eat.”
He studied his face. At the corner of his full lips was the small cut he’d cleaned earlier. His eyelashes were long and black.
He lifted his hand and brushed Mano’s cheek with the back of his fingers. For a moment, he found himself watching the softness of that light skin, the dark lashes, the full lips. Then he pulled his hand away quickly. “Mano.”
Mano opened his eyes, turning his head. “I must’ve fallen asleep.”
