2. Chapter 2
He got into his car, hung the necklace from the rearview mirror, and drove to a jewelry store.
“Good evening. How can I help you?” the saleswoman asked.
He showed her the broken clasp and asked if it could be replaced without damaging the chain.
She opened a few drawers and sat down. Using a small pair of pliers, she cut off the old clasp and attached a new one.
Ody watched the process with his fingers interlocked in front of him.
“Is this one okay?” she asked, showing him a clip-style clasp.
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
She secured it tightly and handed it back to him. “All done. That’ll be three euros.”
“Could I have a small zip bag, please?”
She handed him a clear plastic one. He paid, thanked her, and went back to his car, placing the necklace on the passenger seat.
Mano rode his motorcycle home.
The place was bigger than most students could afford. The living room was large, with black sofas and walls painted in dark shades of gray. There was almost nothing else, no clutter, no personal touches.
The kitchen was modern, with black cabinets and silver appliances. He rarely cooked, but the counters were always spotless. Nothing out of place.
The bathroom followed the same dark aesthetic, with black tiles in the shower and sleek lighting fixtures. A large mirror with built-in lights dominated the wall above the sink.
His bedroom felt different. The double bed was neatly made, dark sheets blending into the walls, heavy gray curtains blocking out the light. An amplifier and two speakers stood in the corner, with two acoustic guitars resting against the wall beside them and an electric piano nearby.
Near the window, a small recording setup waited, microphones and headphones ready. His desk was the only place that broke the order, cluttered with handwritten notes and unfinished lyrics.
He tossed his keys onto the table and kicked off his shoes. That fucking bitch actually sent the photo.
He walked into his bedroom and pulled off his shirt, glancing at himself in the mirror. The anger drained from his face when he noticed his necklace was missing.
He reached for his neck in panic. “No way…” He lifted his head, staring at his reflection, trying to remember where he could have lost it. If it had fallen off, wouldn’t he have noticed? When did it happen? Where?
He left the room and checked the table, then inside his helmet. Next, the bathroom. Then the kitchen.
When he still couldn’t find it, he grabbed his keys and went outside. He circled his motorcycle, scanning the ground around it. He ran his hands through his hair, breathing faster.
He went back upstairs, but he already knew it was pointless. He never took it off. It could have fallen while he was riding. It could be anywhere. Broken into pieces.
He dropped his keys onto the couch and pressed his hands to his face.
Ody returned to his apartment, smaller than Mano’s. He lived alone, though Anna often stayed over, her college just nearby.
His living room was bright, with large windows that let in plenty of light.
A soft brown sofa sat in front of a wooden coffee table.
The white walls were covered with photos of his friends from trips and basketball games.
The kitchen was small with white cabinets.
A table with two chairs stood in the middle, where he usually ate.
The bathroom was simple, with white tiles and a small shelf above the sink holding his essentials. His bed had white sheets. A large poster of a basketball team hung near the desk, which was piled with pharmacy textbooks, notes, and his laptop.
He took out the zip bag with the necklace, turning it in his hands as he tried to figure out how to find Mano. Katerina wasn’t an option, and they had no mutual friends. He knew almost nothing, just his department. But he couldn’t just stand outside the building and wait.
The next morning, he lay in bed and grabbed his phone, texting his girlfriend. What happened with Katerina?
Anna: Mano slept with someone else. She’s done with him
He frowned, staring at the screen. How am I supposed to return his necklace? Can you ask Katerina for his number?
Anna: No way. You should’ve seen her. She doesn’t even want to hear his name
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. Yeah but I have to find him somehow
Anna: Wait. I’ll check her followers
A few minutes passed before another message appeared.
I didn’t find him in Katerina’s followers, but I checked a mutual friend
Found a Mano with black hair
That’s him right?
A link followed.
3 posts. 3,543 followers. 34 following.
Mano Jones
Music Studies NKUA
After reading the bio, Ody scrolled through the three photos.
One showed him on his motorcycle, helmet on, face hidden.
Another, blurred and distant, caught him turning away.
A studio lit only by a single lamp was the only other image.
His profile picture was different, taken from behind, slightly turned, helmet in hand, just a hint of his profile visible.
Odysseus: Yeah that’s him
Anna: I’m a genius, a sunglasses emoji added at the end.
He opened the chat and texted. Hey Mano do you remember me? [12:26]
The notification sound went off while Mano was in the middle of a game on his PlayStation. He ignored it, like he ignored most of them. Only after finishing the level did he reach for his phone.
Odysseus Stavrinos: Hey Mano do you remember me?
“Who the hell is that?” he muttered and opened the chat, not bothering to check the profile. No who are you [12:41]
Ody stared at the screen. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” It’s Ody. We went out yesterday with Anna and Katerina [12:42]
Mano: What do you want [13:06]
I found this in the café bathroom. Isn’t it yours? [View Photo] [13:07]
Mano frowned. “What is this idiot talking about?” He opened the photo and shot up from the couch. The controller hit the floor with a hard crack.
He typed quickly. It’s mine [13:11]
Want to meet so I can give it back to you? [13:12]
Half an hour at the stadium [13:12]
He sent the message and rushed to get dressed, grabbing his keys as he headed for his motorcycle.
Ody walked toward the stadium, close enough to go on foot. His phone rang on the way and he answered. “Sup, man?”
“Where you at, Ody?”
“I’ve got something to take care of. What’s up?”
“We’re getting together for some basketball. You in?”
“When?”
“In about half an hour.”
“Yeah, I’m in.”
“Cool. We’re one short though. Elias can’t make it. That idiot got sick.”
“Oh yeah?” He glanced ahead, already thinking of the guy he was about to meet. “I’ll ask someone if he wants to join.”
“Who?”
“You don’t know him. Anyway, see you there.”
“Yeah, man. See you.”
He reached the entrance and spotted him right away, standing off to the side, scanning the area. Ody walked up and tapped his shoulder, offering a small smile.
Mano turned. “Where is it?”
Ody froze.
“Where is it?” Mano repeated.
“Uh…” Ody slipped his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out the clear zip bag.
Mano snatched it and yanked the necklace free.
“The clasp was broken,” Ody said. “I had it fixed. It’s secure now.”
Mano examined it closely, then shoved the empty bag back at Ody and unclasped the chain.
“I was going to give it to Katerina to pass on,” Ody said. “But Anna told me you broke up, so…”
Mano didn’t respond. He looped the chain around his neck, fingers working at the clasp. “What kind of shitty clasp is this?” he muttered.
“Let me help.” Ody stepped closer, angling to his side, and reached for it, his fingers brushing his.
Mano pulled away instantly. “I can do it myself,” he said, but kept fumbling.
Ody watched, eyes dropping to his hands. Mano’s fingers kept missing the clasp. “Seriously, you can’t even see it. Let me do it.” He stepped closer, moving behind him.
“What are you doing?” Mano snapped, turning around.
“You’ll never get it like that. Just let me.” This time Ody didn’t hesitate. He gently took the chain from his hands. Standing just behind him, he fastened the clasp at the back of Mano’s neck with ease. He caught a faint, clean scent from his skin. “Done.”
Mano turned sharply. “The old clasp was better than this.”
“It was broken. It didn’t close right. That’s probably why it fell off. Didn’t you notice?”
“You got a problem with it?” Mano shot back.
“No. I just asked.”
They held each other’s gaze for a moment before Mano gave him a dismissive once-over and turned to leave.
“Mano?”
He didn’t stop.
“We’re playing basketball with some friends. If you want to—”
“I don’t.” The answer came instantly.
Ody blinked. “We’re one short. I thought maybe—”
“I said no.” He walked away without looking back.
Ody stood there for a moment, then exhaled and headed home to grab his car.
The court was already buzzing when he arrived.
“There he is,” Steve called out, his buzzcut highlighting a sharp jawline and a confident grin. “What happened to the guy you said you’d bring?”
“Never mind. He can’t make it.”
“Oh, come on, there are seven of us,” Steve said, letting out a breath.
“Let Chris rotate in the second half.”
“I’m good with that,” Chris said, pushing a hand through his blond hair as his blue eyes flicked toward Ody.
They started three against four.
“Pass!” Steve shouted.
Ody passed the ball and Steve dunked it. They slapped hands and kept playing. After the game, they dropped onto the marble bench, wiping sweat from their faces.
“So?” Chris said. “Tell us about yesterday’s date.”
“Katerina brought this guy she was seeing,” Ody said. “He was kind of aggressive, like he didn’t even want to be there. They broke up after that.”
“Damn.”
“I invited him to play with us today.” Ody took a sip of water. “He didn’t want to.”
“Didn’t you say you had something to do?” Steve asked.
“I found his necklace on the floor at the café. I went to give it back.”
“And?”
“He didn’t even say hi. Or thank you.” He let out a small smile.
Steve smirked. “And you still tried to be nice.”
“You know me.” Ody shrugged.
“Yeah. You don’t judge people.”
Ody simply took another sip of water.
A week later, on a Tuesday morning, Ody pulled into the university parking lot. It was just after ten. As he walked toward his building, he heard shouting near the trees. By the time he got closer, the argument had turned physical.
“Say it again!” someone shouted.
“You think I won’t, you son of a bitch?”
Ody rushed forward and shoved them apart.
“Who the hell are you?” one of them snapped, breathless.
“Enough,” Ody said, then he looked at the other guy. His eyes widened.
“Stay out of it,” Mano said, trying to move past him.
Ody noticed he was gripping his right hand.
“Say it again,” Mano barked at the other guy, stepping forward.
Ody blocked him, but Mano shoved him hard. “Say it again!” he yelled, chest to chest with the other guy.
“Say what?” the guy sneered. “That you’re a dick? Or that you’re a fucking orphan?”
The punch came fast. Mano’s fist connected with his face and sent him to the ground. Before Ody could react, he hit him again.
“Mano, stop!” Ody grabbed him and pulled him back.
Mano’s gaze snapped to Ody’s face, catching for a split second on a small brown mark just above his lip. Then he shoved him hard out of the way. “I told you to stay out of it.”
“Stop. He’s bleeding.”
Mano shot Ody one last glare, jaw tight, then turned and walked off.
Ody helped the guy up. “You okay?”
“Fuck off,” he muttered, wiping blood from his nose.
Ody straightened and trailed after Mano into the parking lot.
Mano swung a leg over his motorcycle. “Why are you following me?” he snapped, grabbing his helmet with his right hand. The moment he lifted it, he winced. The helmet slipped from his grip and hit the ground.
Ody picked it up. “That’s why. I saw you holding your hand. Are you okay?”
“What’s your problem? Give me my helmet.”
“No.”
Mano froze. His jaw tightened as he stared at him. “What did you just say?”
“How are you going to ride like that?”
“I’m fine.” He held out his hand impatiently. “Give it back.”
“Start the engine.”
Mano scoffed and twisted the throttle with his right hand. Pain flared, sharp enough to make him let go. His hand dropped to his side.
“Get off,” Ody said.
Mano stared at him.
“I’ll drive you home. Get off.”
Mano leaned forward on the bike, eyes burning. “You’re fucking nuts. Give me my helmet or you’ll be next.”
“Hit me if you want,” Ody said without flinching. “But you’re not riding like this. Get off.”