36. Chapter 36 #2
Ten minutes later, Mano finally emerged from the deeper water, making his slow way toward them.
“Are you going to join us?” Ranya called out.
Mano’s eyes flicked to Ody, who quickly looked away. He joined without a word.
After a long round, Antony splashed Steve. “Race to the buoy?”
“Let’s do it. I’m gonna crush you.”
The girls stayed behind, chatting in the shallow water. Ody got out first and reached for his towel. Mano followed a moment later, both of them drying off in silence. They stood side by side, staring out at the sea, neither daring to look at the other.
Then Mano spoke. “Do we have any plans for tonight?”
Ody hesitated for a moment. His heart kicked hard against his ribs. Mano was talking to him. After what happened, after what he said. He wasn’t avoiding him. “Uh... yeah,” he murmured, keeping his eyes on the towel in his hands. “We said we’d go for drinks.”
Mano nodded, studying the side of Ody’s face. “Where?”
Ody swallowed, still not meeting his gaze. “That beach bar by the port.”
Mano stayed quiet. His eyes lingered on Ody, searching. Then he nodded again.
The others were making their way back to shore now, laughing loudly, oblivious to the storm sitting between the two boys.
Anna opened a pack of cookies and passed them around. Ranya lay face down in the sun while everyone complained about being hungry. By 2:30 p.m., they were back at the hotel.
Ody and Anna stepped into the room, the door clicking shut behind them. He dropped his towel onto the chair, trying to act normal, but everything still felt too loud in his chest.
Anna watched him for a moment. “Okay… what’s going on with Mano?” she asked.
Ody stalled, fingers hesitating on the waistband of his swim trunks. “What do you mean?”
“Come on.” She crossed her arms, studying him. “Since we got out of the water, you two haven’t said a single word to each other. You didn’t even look at him. Are you still fighting?”
Ody forced a shrug, his voice too casual for how tight his shoulders were. “No. We’re fine. We just… didn’t have anything to talk about.”
Anna watched him for another second, clearly not convinced, then grabbed her cosmetics bag and disappeared into the bathroom.
The moment the door closed, Ody’s mask slipped.
He let out a shaky breath and pressed both hands to his face.
His pulse hadn’t slowed since the sea. He could still feel Mano’s breath on his lips, the warmth of his skin under his fingers, the shock in his eyes when he’d confessed the truth he never meant to say aloud.
“Shit…” he whispered, dropping onto the edge of the bed.
His mind spiraled. He hadn’t meant to say it. But he had meant it. And that was the problem. He had a girlfriend. He had Anna. He shouldn’t be thinking about Mano like that. He shouldn’t be wanting him, or even feel this pull that made his whole body react before he could think.
He rubbed the back of his neck, fingers trembling a little. But every time he blinked, he saw Mano blinking back at him in shock, cheeks flushed, eyes wide and soft in a way that Ody wasn’t ready for.
His knees felt weak, so he leaned forward, elbows on his thighs as he tried to breathe through the mess tightening inside him.
He didn’t know what scared him more. That Mano had heard the truth, or that it felt like a relief to finally say it.
He stayed like that for a long moment, staring at the floor, trying to pull himself together. Eventually he forced himself to get up, grabbed a clean pair of shorts, and headed to the shower. The cold water helped, but his mind never quieted.
By the time he finished getting dressed, the noise in his chest had settled only enough for him to look functional.
They all met later at the hotel restaurant. Ody kept his head down, barely touching his food, while everyone else chatted about plans for the night. Mano said nothing, but Ody could feel his presence across the table like a pressure on his skin.
After eating, they split off. Some showered, others scrolled or napped, and Ody tried to act normal while his brain refused to let him rest. Mano had fallen asleep already, exhausted from swimming.
By late afternoon, the girls’ room had turned into chaos. Music blasted while they got ready, brushes and palettes covering every surface.
Ody’s phone rang, and Steve’s name flashed across the screen. “Yo, we’re thinking of hitting the pool while the girls get ready.”
“Alright.”
“Bring Mano too.”
The call ended before Ody could respond. He stared at the screen, a knot tightening in his stomach. He didn’t know what he wanted more, for Mano to come or for him to stay far away. Both options terrified him.
Ody typed the message and hit send. The guys are heading to the pool while we wait for the girls. You in?
Mano read it, but he didn’t reply.
Before Ody could spiral over what that meant, a knock hit the door. He opened it, his eyes locking on Mano standing there.
“Um… you came to go to the pool?” Ody asked, his hand going to the back of his neck.
Mano didn’t answer. He stepped inside, kicked off his shoes, and walked straight to Ody’s bed. He dropped onto it, stretching out in his sweats like he owned the room.
“What are you doing?” Ody asked, blinking at him.
“Lying down.”
“You’ve got your own room. Why did you come here to lie down?”
“I wanted company. Is that a problem?” Mano said, resting his hands behind his head, his eyes flicking to Ody’s.
Ody’s chest tightened. “N-no… but the guys are waiting—”
“Go ahead. I’ll stay here.”
“But you said—”
“If you want to leave, then leave.” Mano finally turned his gaze on him, steady and unreadable.
Ody hesitated, then sat on the edge of the bed with his back half-turned to Mano.
Mano didn’t look away. “What is it you like about me?”
The words hit Ody like a punch, his breath catching. “W-what?...”
“You said you like me. So what exactly do you like?” Mano pressed, tilting his head like he could see straight through him.
Heat crawled up Ody’s neck. “I… D-don’t ask me that,” he whispered, staring at the floor.
“What’s wrong? Did you go back to the old Ody?” Mano pushed himself upright, leaning in. “Where did your confidence go?”
Ody’s shoulders tightened, his back still turned to him.
“I’m asking you,” Mano said, reaching out. His hand closed around Ody’s shoulder, gently turning him toward him. “What do you like about me?”
“S-stop…” Ody muttered, still refusing to look at him.
Mano studied his face carefully. “Is it because I’m good-looking, like you said before?”
He lingered on the tiny beauty mark above Ody’s lip, the pink flush spreading across his cheeks, the way his lashes lowered like he couldn’t handle being seen.
“Look at me,” Mano said, sliding a hand up to tilt his face.
Ody’s chest rose and fell too fast, his breath catching, his body reacting before he could think. Don’t touch me like that. Not when I want you this much.
“Answer me.”
Don’t look at me like that…
“Answer me, Ody,” Mano insisted, firmer now, watching him closely.
Ody finally lifted his gaze. Their faces were so close he could feel the warmth coming off Mano’s skin. His eyes dropped to Mano’s lips without meaning to. The pull was sharp, almost painful.
Slowly, Ody leaned in. He couldn’t help it. The fear, the guilt, every line he had crossed today dissolved until the only thing left was the shape of Mano’s mouth.
Mano didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. He just watched him, letting him bridge the distance, letting him choose.
Their breaths mingled. Ody leaned closer. And closer. His heart pounded like it was trying to tear out of his chest.
One more second and—The door burst open.
Ody jolted back like he’d been electrocuted, stumbling to his feet.
“Ugh, I forgot my eyeliner!” Anna walked in, then stopped short when she saw Mano sitting on the bed. “Mano?”
Ody felt his stomach drop. His face drained of color. Shame punched the air out of him so hard he couldn’t think.
Mano’s gaze went straight to Anna. His expression was dangerously unreadable.
Anna’s eyes darted between them. “What are you doing here?”
The silence that followed made Ody feel like the room was collapsing around him.