“I was on my bike outside your apartment. I followed you.”
For a moment, Mano’s gaze drifted past him as the memory resurfaced.
Earlier that night, he had been lurking a few meters behind on his motorcycle, trailing them carefully. When he saw them heading toward the school and forcing Ody out of the car, he grabbed his phone and called Steve. “They brought him to the middle school. Get here fast.”
“We’re on our way. Get up,” Steve told the ten friends gathered at his place, and they left.
Mano looked back at Ody.
“Steve…? You called Steve?” Ody asked, confused.
“What do you think? Look around.” Mano gestured at the boys scattered around the yard. “I know you didn’t want them involved, but I couldn’t help you alone. I knew you had friends.”
A shadow crossed Ody’s face.
“Yesterday, when I saw you drenched in the bathroom, I hated that I couldn’t do anything. They told me if I stepped in again, they’d hurt you worse than they hurt me.”
Ody’s shock deepened. Mano had held back to protect him. It made sense now.
“I confronted Kash and told him to leave you alone, but he didn’t listen. Then you showed up at my place and asked what we’d talked about.” Mano watched the memory flicker across Ody’s features.
“That’s when I decided enough was enough. I went through your followers and found Steve.”
The conversation surfaced clearly in his mind.
Mano Jones: We need to talk
Steve frowned at the name. Why did Mano want to talk to him all of a sudden?About what?
Your best friend
Ody?
When and where can we meet? I’ll come to you
They met at the agreed spot.
Steve eyed him, puzzled. “What’s there to say about Ody?”
“Kash and the other two guys from your class…”
“Brandon and Pablo?”
“They’re bullying him.”
“What?” Steve’s brows shot up, his whole posture stiffening.
“He didn’t want to drag you into it. Things have gotten out of hand. I had to talk to you.”
“What do you mean by bullying? What exactly are they doing to him?”
“Don’t you know what bullying is? You’re supposed to be his best friends and you haven’t noticed a thing.”
Steve blinked, his features hardening.
Mano held his stare for a second before explaining everything, from the spilled coffee to the bathroom beating.
“That’s why you beat them up on campus?” Steve asked.
