6. Chapter 6
Mano dragged a hand over his jaw, steadying himself. “I’ll play boyfriend only when we’re out. Don’t expect more.”
“If you want people to believe it, you’ll have to hold my hand. Maybe kiss me once or twice.”
“Forget it.”
“And you’re introducing me as your girlfriend. Not your hookup. Especially around those girls hovering around you.”
“Why don’t I just move you in while I’m at it?” His patience snapped. “Cut the crap before I lose it.”
She smirked. “You’re sexy when you’re mad.” She ran her hand along his arm.
He shoved it away instantly. “I said stop.”
“You might want to start being nice to me. Do you even know how?”
“That, sweetheart, is nothing. You want to see me be an asshole?” He stepped toward her and she instinctively took a step back.
“What, are you gonna hit me?”
Mano stopped. The edge in his expression vanished, his brows pulling together. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Are you gonna rape me?”
He just stared at her, caught completely off guard. “Are you insane?”
“Then I’m not scared of you. What are you gonna do? Pin me to shut me up?” she said, biting her lip. “I’m into that.”
Mano’s expression hardened. He took a slow breath. “You’re sick.”
“Relax,” she said. “I’m nineteen, not twelve.” Her gaze dropped briefly to his mouth. Then she reached up, grabbing him by the back of his neck and pulling him in.
He pushed her away instantly.
“Not long ago you didn’t mind,” she said. “What changed?”
“Maybe the part where you blackmailed me. Or sent that picture. Or used me to deal with your ex. Which one?” His voice turned cold.
“I say we forget all that,” she murmured. “Let’s go to your place.”
He didn’t reply.
They rode back to his place without a word. Everything happened quickly. No talking, no kissing, just clothes pushed aside.
Mano hovered over her, his fists pressed into the mattress on either side of her.
“You’re very rough when you’re angry,” she whispered.
“Shut up.”
“Make me.” She smirked up at him.
He shifted, and the large wing tattoo along his shoulder and upper arm tensed beneath his skin. His hand pressed over her mouth. He moved with hard, controlled force. Her moans were swallowed beneath his palm as her eyes locked onto his.
It wasn’t tenderness or affection. It was only release.
When it was over, he went to the bathroom and came back dressed. She was still naked on the mattress.
“You got what you wanted. Get dressed.” Mano stood near the door, his hand resting on the doorknob.
“Don’t be so cold.” Stella stretched lazily across the bed, watching him with amusement. “I liked you better five minutes ago.”
“Get dressed, Stella.”
She studied him for a moment, a faint smile playing on her lips. “You’re unbelievably cynical.”
Mano’s expression didn’t change. “I gave you what you wanted,” he said. “That’s it.”
Stella tilted her head, still watching him. “I don’t think you gave me what I wanted.”
He crossed the space between them in a second, hand closing around her throat. “Isn’t my dick what you wanted?” His voice dropped. “You got it.”
Her lips curved. “I’m not complaining. Your dick is perfect.”
He released her and tossed her underwear at her. “Get out.”
She stood and dressed slowly. “So when are we going out again? This time somewhere public.”
“I’ll text you.”
“No. I’ll text you.”
He grabbed her arms, not hard enough to hurt, but firm. “I said I’ll text you.”
She held his gaze. “Yes, sir.”
He let go and walked away.
“Bye!” she called, leaving.
Later that night, Ody and Anna lay side by side, laughing over a game on their phones. When she lost, she pouted and leaned into him. He kissed her cheek and set his phone aside.
“Cuddles,” she murmured. He smiled and opened his arms without hesitation. She curled against his chest, and he wrapped himself around her, holding her close.
The next morning on campus, Ody stopped at the canteen. “Freddo espresso, medium, please.”
He paid and turned, colliding with someone. Coffee spilled down his shirt.
“Oops. Didn’t see you,” Kash said, fake smiling. “Want another? How do you take it?”
Ody clenched his fist. Calm down. He’s not worth it.
“No? Alright. Cold cappuccino,” Kash said to the barista.
Ody stood still, staring at the stain.
“They’ll clean the floor,” Kash added when he got his coffee. “You might wanna head home for that shirt though. Want me to—”
Mano stepped forward and knocked the cup from his hand, splashing coffee all over Kash’s shirt.
“Oops,” Mano said. “Didn’t see you.”
The barista froze behind the counter.
Kash looked down at the dark stain spreading across his white shirt.
“Coffee stains are tough,” Mano added.
Kash lifted his eyes, fury burning in them.
Mano stared right at him. Then he turned and walked away. Ody followed him, while Kash stood there, fuming.
“Why did you do that?” Ody called after him.
“People like that need to be put in their place. But you’re probably too much of a pushover to do anything about it.”
“Just because I don’t wanna cause trouble doesn’t make me a pushover,” he said, looking into his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
“About what?” Ody blinked.
“I asked you if they bother you, and you said no.”
“They don’t.”
“Last time I checked, what he just did is called…” He stopped himself and sighed. “How long has he been doing this to you?”
“He didn’t really do anything. It’s not a big deal.”
“Look at you.” He grabbed the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up, drawing attention to the large stain.
“It’s just a shirt. It’ll wash out.”
“And you?” Mano shot back.
Ody frowned. “What?”
“Are you gonna be okay? Just forget about it? Pretend it doesn’t bother you?” Their eyes locked. “Are you going to let him belittle you and treat you like that because it’s ‘just a shirt’?”
Ody looked away and exhaled. “You probably would’ve punched him. But I’m not like that. I can’t hurt someone like that, no matter what they do to me.”
“No matter what they do to you?” Mano repeated. “That’s why you’ll always be the victim.”
Ody stiffened at those words.
“The one they make fun of. The one they push around because you’re too weak to stand up for yourself.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because I’ve been there!” Mano raised his voice.
They stood staring at each other, before Mano let out a bitter laugh. “And it wasn’t over spilled coffee. It was over things that cut deeper than clothes. That’s how I know. Don’t let him do that to you.”
Ody swallowed. He wanted to ask more. He wanted to know everything. But he was afraid that Mano would shut down.
“No one’s going to defend you. You need to learn to stand up for yourself.”
“You defended me. You helped me,” Ody said.
Silence stretched between them.
“That was the first and last time. From now on, you’re on your own.” Mano turned and walked away.
Ody’s voice stopped him. “Why... did they bully you?”
Mano glanced back. Their eyes met one last time. Then he walked off without answering.
A message from Stella lit up his screen. Tonight at nine. Make sure you look handsome. You’re taking me out
Mano exhaled. I said I’ll text you
Her reply came instantly. We both know you won’t little Mano
His jaw tightened. Don’t call me that again unless you want to forget about your little plan. He locked his phone, shoved it into his pocket, and swung his leg over his bike. He sped off without looking back.
Behind him, Ody didn’t move.
“Left all alone now, huh?”
He turned.
“Your bodyguard’s gone? What a shame.” Kash stood there, his white shirt still stained with coffee, bitterness dripping from his voice.
“What do you want?”
“He shouldn’t have done that. Now, thanks to him, I’m really pissed.”
Ody held his gaze.
“And guess what? Since he bailed, who do you think I’m going to take it out on?” A twisted smile spread across his face.
“You started it.”
“And I’m finishing it.” He stepped forward and grabbed Ody, as he resisted. “Move,” he growled through gritted teeth as he dragged him into the building.
“What the hell do you want, Kash? Leave me alone!” Ody shouted.
Kash shoved him into the men’s restroom. Snickering echoed behind him.
Ody glanced back and saw Brandon and Pablo closing in. Panic flashed through him.
“You were smart to keep your head down. We never touched you. But now that your buddy got involved, you’re the one who’s paying for it.” Kash blocked the exit.
Ody swallowed. “You really wanna do this on campus? You’ll get in trouble.”
“Oh yeah? You planning on snitching?” Kash laughed. “This isn’t high school, Stavrinos. Go ahead. Talk. I dare you.”
Ody’s chest rose and fell fast.
Two hands grabbed him from behind. Instinctively, he threw a punch, connecting with one of them. The other lunged, but Ody dodged, only to stumble straight into Kash.
Pablo grabbed him from behind, pinning him as Kash drove a fist into his face. Pain exploded beneath Ody’s right eye. Another blow landed near his mouth. He groaned as Pablo tightened his grip. A third punch struck his cheek again, right over the same spot.
Kash shook out his hand and stepped closer. “If you keep being the good boy you’ve always been, we’ll only see each other in class. But if you, or any of your buddies, try to cross me, we’ll have more meetings in these bathrooms.”
They dropped him and walked out.
Ody pressed his hand to the bone beneath his eye, sharp pain pulsing under his fingers.
He forced himself up and looked in the mirror.
The skin was already darkening. When he heard voices outside, he quickly left, hiding his face as he headed to the parking lot.
At his car, he noticed a piece of paper tucked under the windshield wiper.
He pulled the note free and unfolded it. Hope that got through your head. Go back to being a good little student or you know what’s coming.
He got into the car, crumpling the note in his fist, then tossed it onto the passenger-side floor mat.
Back home, he opened the freezer and grabbed ice, wrapping it in a towel before pressing it to his cheek. “Ah…” The cold burned, but he kept it there.
The words replayed in his head.
“You were smart to keep your head down... Now you’re the one who’s paying for it.”
“People like that need to be put in their place. But you’re probably too much of a pushover to do anything about it.”
He slammed his fist into the couch. “That’s why I just stand there and take it!” he shouted, his breathing turning ragged.
Hours later, close to noon, Anna’s name appeared on his screen. She asked if they were still going out. He hesitated before replying that he was a bit tired today. The lie sat heavy in his chest the second he sent it.
Her response came a second later. Tired? Are you okay?
He looked away from the screen. What was he supposed to tell her? That he’d been pinned down in a bathroom and beaten? That he was scared? That he didn’t know how to defend himself? Instead, he asked if they could go out tomorrow. There was a brief pause before she agreed.
He let out a slow breath, though he wasn’t sure whether it was relief or shame. He checked the mirror again. The swelling had deepened into purple.
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang. He looked through the peephole and froze seeing Anna. He didn’t want her to see him like this.
“Ody, open up.”
He stood still on the other side of the door, staring at it, not moving. “Wh-what’s going on, baby?”
“You seemed off in your texts. Did something happen?”
He dragged a hand through his hair, exhaling. “No. Why did you come all the way here?”
“Open up so we can talk properly.”
He glanced toward the mirror, jaw tightening. “Uh… I just got out of the shower.”
“So what? Just open the door.”
He hesitated, then pulled the door open, keeping his head down.
“You’re dressed.” She frowned, stepping inside. “Ody, why won’t you look at me?”
He turned away and headed for the living room, brushing a hand over the back of his neck.
“Ody, look at me.” She hurried after him and caught his chin, lifting his face. Her eyes widened, her breath catching. “What happened to you?”