Ody tilted his head. “Like… just me?”
Their eyes held.
“You’re funny,” Ody added with a small smile. “I like hanging out with you. And I told you, I already consider you my friend.” His voice softened. “Do you consider me a friend?”
Mano looked away, his shoulders tensing. “I don’t have friends.”
Sadness crossed Ody’s face. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”
Mano gave a small scoff and reached for his drink. “And what do you want me to do about it?”
“No, I mean it’s just… sad.”
“It’s the truth.”
Ody studied him. “Not even one from school?”
“No.”
“High school? College?” Ody frowned. “It’s been four years.”
“No.”
Ody leaned back in his chair, clearly struggling to understand. “I don’t get it.”
Mano pushed his food around his plate, the silence settling between them.
“So… you have no one?” Ody asked with quiet concern.
“For thirteen years I’ve had no one. Even my b—” Mano shut his eyes and turned away.
Ody blinked, thrown off by the way Mano’s voice broke on that single letter. Whatever that b was, it mattered. It hurt. And Mano clearly could not bring himself to say it. For a second, Ody wondered what kind of wound could stop someone mid-word.
“Who?”
“No one.”
Ody hesitated, still thinking about that unfinished syllable and the pain behind it, before speaking again. “Youhadno one,” he corrected gently. “I told you yesterday. My friends are your friends. You can be theirs too. They already like you. Especially after what you did for me.”
“Why do you care so much?” Mano asked.
“Because being alone is hard. It’s sad to have no one. Loneliness—”
“I’m not lonely. I go out. I have a life. I’m out with girls all the time,” Mano cut in.
“And does any of it actually make you feel better?” Ody asked.
The question hit something raw. Mano’s expression shifted. “If I wanted a therapist, I’d hire one. What are you playing at?” he snapped.
“No, I—”
“You think you know everything, huh? You read a few books and now you can psychoanalyze me?”
“Mano, please. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry.”
Mano put cash on the table and stood. “Dinner’s on me.”
Ody watched him storm out, shocked. “Mano…” He grabbed his phone and hurried after him.
