53. Chapter 53
Ody stayed there for a moment longer, his arms still around him, his face buried against Mano’s neck.
Mano could feel the slow rhythm of his breathing against his skin. He gently eased him back and looked into his eyes. “I’m gonna get dressed,” he muttered before heading toward the bedroom.
Once they were both dressed, they sat on the couch and turned on the TV.
“Come here,” Ody said, pulling him closer and guiding Mano’s head onto his shoulder. He shifted higher on the couch so he could wrap an arm around him. His fingers began running slowly through Mano’s hair as they both stared at the screen in silence.
After a while, Mano lifted himself off Ody’s chest. “I’ll go get some sheets.”
“Why?”
“To make up the couch.”
“No need. I’m sleeping in bed with you,” Ody said casually.
Mano stared at him.
Ody shrugged. “What? We already cuddled.”
“I’ll go get the sheets anyway,” Mano muttered, heading to the bedroom while Ody chuckled and pulled out his phone. He opened a battle game and queued into a match while he waited. Sharp bursts of gunfire erupted from the phone speakers as the game began.
Mano took a sheet and a pillow from the closet and walked back into the living room. As he approached, a distant sound reached his ears.
He froze mid-step.
The sheet and pillow hung loosely in his hands, his gaze unfocusing.
There it was again. Gunfire.
His right ear felt clogged, a faint ringing buzzing through it.
Ody, focused on his screen, didn’t seem to notice him.
Mano pressed a hand over his ear and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Move! What the hell are you staring at?”
His stomach twisted.
“Shut the fuck up.”
A gunshot cracked through the air.
His legs gave out, and the sheet and pillow slipped from his arms as he collapsed to his knees.
That’s when Ody heard the noise and turned to look. “Mano?” His eyes widened when he saw him hunched over, clutching his ear.
“Anybody else wanna try tricks on me?”
“We gotta hurry up.”
“Mano!” Ody jumped to his feet and rushed toward him. “Can you hear me?” Panic crept into his voice.
Then it hit him. Mano’s reaction at the cinema. The gunshots.
What was he doing? Playing a shooting game with the volume up? You fucking idiot!
“Mano…” He grabbed him by the shoulders, but Mano was already breathing in fast, shallow breaths.
“Shut up and help them with the money.”
“Hurry the fuck up! The cops are coming!”
Another gunshot.
Mano’s breaths turned quicker and more frantic, but no air seemed to reach his lungs.
Fear crashed over Ody. He had never seen him like this.
Mano was still on his knees, head lowered, gasping like he was drowning.
Ody pulled him into his arms. Mano’s whole body trembled violently against him.
“Hey... hey, I’m here,” he murmured and leaned closer, his lips near his ear, his voice softer now.
“You’re okay... I’m here with you... breathe, Mano.
” His hand moved slowly up and down Mano’s back.
Gradually, the sharp panic in his breathing eased. It sounded like someone catching their breath after nearly drowning, but at least air was finally reaching his lungs.
Ody pressed a gentle kiss to his ear, continuing to rub his back. “It’s okay... everything’s okay…”
They stayed there on their knees, Ody holding him tightly.
After a moment, Mano’s body relaxed in his arms. Then Ody noticed it. Tears spilling from his eyes. Ody’s chest tightened. He pulled him closer as the quiet sobs finally broke free.
A second later, Mano lifted his arms and clung to him, holding on like he was afraid to let go.
“Shh... it’s okay…” Ody whispered against his ear.
When the crying finally stopped, Ody helped him to his feet and guided him to the bed. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.
Guilt twisted in his chest. How could he have forgotten what triggered Mano like that? He grabbed his phone and deleted the game without hesitation.
As he moved to climb into the bed from the inner side, Mano shifted toward that spot. Their eyes met, neither saying a word. Ody reached for the second pillow on the bed, only to have Mano snatch it away. “Not that one.”
Ody stilled. “But... you don’t have another pillow. Where am I supposed to sleep?”
Mano clutched the pillow to his chest. “Go get the one from the living room.”
Ody walked to the living room and picked up the sheet and pillow from the floor. When he returned, Mano was still curled around the pillow.
“Aren’t you putting it under your head?”
“I don’t want it for my head.”
“Then?” Ody asked, and Mano looked away. “Mano…” he said, his voice gently scolding.
“I can’t sleep unless I’m hugging a pillow,” Mano admitted quietly, avoiding his gaze.
A protective warmth spread through Ody’s chest. “From now on, you’ll have me. You don’t need the pillow.”
Mano tightened his grip around it. “No. It’s not the same.”
“You don’t want to hold me instead?”
Mano hesitated for a moment. “No.” He turned his back to him, staring at the wall while still clutching the pillow.
Ody lay down beside him on the double bed. He turned toward Mano and slowly wrapped an arm around him. Mano’s eyes widened at the feeling, but he didn’t move away.
A soft kiss brushed against his hair. “Goodnight,” Ody whispered.
For a moment, Mano lay still, aware of Ody’s arm around him. Something unfamiliar twisted in his chest before he finally closed his eyes.
A few hours later, they were both asleep on their backs. Ody stirred, his eyes fluttering open as he shifted in bed. He glanced down and saw Mano’s hand resting on top of his.
He looked over at him. Mano seemed to be sleeping peacefully, still hugging the pillow. Ody stayed still, careful not to wake him. Instead, he let Mano keep holding his hand as he drifted back to sleep.
By the time morning came, Ody’s eyes fluttered open. “Mmm…” he hummed as he turned onto his side, facing Mano.
He blinked in surprise when he saw Mano awake, his hand tucked under his cheek as he watched him. “You’re up?” he asked, his voice thick with sleep.
Mano didn’t respond. He just kept looking at him.
A smile spread across Ody’s face. Then, with a playful smirk, he shifted into the same position, resting his own hand beneath his cheek to mirror him.
Their faces were very close now, barely any space between them. The way Ody kept staring at him made a faint blush creep across Mano’s cheeks. “W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re very handsome,” Ody said.
Mano looked away, trying to focus on anything but him. “You…” He swallowed, then finally lifted his gaze back to Ody’s eyes. “You too…”
Ody blinked in surprise. Then his face lit up with a bright smile before he leaned forward and stole a quick kiss from him. He pushed the sheets aside and climbed over him, straddling Mano. His fingertips brushed gently along Mano’s cheek as he looked down at him.
For a moment, he just stared. The soft blush on Mano’s face. The way those honey-colored eyes looked back at him, uncertain but warm.
His chest tightened. “Mano…” he murmured, his thumb brushing over his cheek again.
“I want to…” The words caught in his throat.
The thought of being with anyone else felt wrong.
Deep down, he had known for a while now, but saying it out loud made it real.
“I want to break up with Anna,” he admitted, their eyes locked. “I want to be with you.”
Mano blinked fast, his pulse quickening. “What... what do you mean?”
“I want us to do things like a couple,” Ody said.
Mano’s eyes widened. “I’ve never been in a relationship. I don’t know what couples do.”
Ody smiled. “They go out for lunch. Watch movies, go shopping, take walks, travel. Sleep together. Wake up together.”
Mano looked away. “That sounds really hard,” he muttered.
“You just have to be yourself,” Ody said softly. “I want the real Mano.”
Mano stared at him, thrown by the words. His mind raced, a thousand thoughts crashing into each other at once.
The real Mano. He wasn’t even sure what that meant.
Ody studied him, then suddenly brightened. “I want us to do more things together. Let’s go to an amusement park!”
Mano frowned. “Where did that come from?”
“It’s awesome!”
“I’ve never been to one,” Mano admitted.
Ody blinked at him in surprise. “Then we’re going. It’s settled.”
“I don’t want to.” Mano looked away with a small pout.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights…” Ody teased.
Mano glared at him. “Me?”
“Or maybe you’re scared of the haunted roller coaster,” Ody added with a playful smirk.
“Scared?” Mano scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You might scream like a little girl. Who knows?” Ody shrugged dramatically, looking away as if the outcome were obvious.
“Wanna bet?” Mano pushed himself up. “The one screaming like a little girl will be you.”
Ody grinned. “Wanna go see?”
“Hell yeah, let’s go!” Mano snapped, clearly irritated.
Ody had to bite back a grin. While Mano was still worked up, Ody cupped his face and kissed him.
The sudden kiss stole the irritation right out of him.
When Ody pulled back, he lingered there for a moment. His thumb brushed over Mano’s lip, his expression slowly turning serious. “I really want to talk to Anna.”
Mano blinked. “And tell her what?”
“I don’t know.” Ody shook his head. “Maybe... that I can’t do this anymore. That I want to break up.”
“She’ll want to know why,” Mano said, watching him.
“I’ll tell her…” Ody hesitated. “That I’m not in love with her anymore. I’ll tell her the truth.”
“You’ll hurt her.”
“And what I’m doing now is any better? I want to be with you.”
A knot formed in Mano’s stomach.
Too fast. Everything was moving too fast.
Ody was ready to end his relationship because of him. And if he did that… there would be no going back. They wouldn’t just be sneaking around anymore. They would be real. A couple. And that thought sent a cold knot of fear through him.
What if Ody got bored? What if he changed his mind? What if he left?
Mano had spent his whole life convincing himself he didn’t need anyone. If Ody broke up with Anna for him and then walked away later… he wasn’t sure he would survive that.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Mano said.
Ody stared at him. “What do you mean?”
Mano hesitated. “Maybe we should... take things slow. You never know what life has in store.”
Ody went still. Take things slow. So that was it. Mano didn’t want this to become something real. “What life has in store…” he repeated. “So what? Do you see yourself with a woman in the future?”
Mano met his eyes. “Why not?”
The answer hit Ody like a knife to the chest. Not because Mano might end up with a woman, but because he had said it so easily. As if a future without Ody didn’t bother him at all.
He looked away. “I’ll make us something to eat,” he said, climbing out of bed. “Then I’ll head home.”
In the kitchen, Ody cracked eggs into the pan and whisked them without really thinking about it. He tried to push the conversation out of his mind. Pretend it hadn’t happened. Focus on something simple. Cooking. Breathing. Anything but that conversation.
When the omelet was ready, they sat down at the table to eat. “How did you sleep?” Ody asked, keeping his tone casual.
“Fine.”
“You looked peaceful. I think holding my hand helped.”
Mano frowned. “What hand?”
“You held my hand all night,” Ody said with a faint smile. “Didn’t you notice?”
Mano’s face turned red. “W-what are you talking about?” he said quickly. “I was facing the wall with my pillow.”
“You turned around and grabbed my hand. I woke up twice and saw you.”
“Yeah, right,” Mano muttered, looking down at his plate.
Neither of them mentioned the conversation from earlier. They finished breakfast mostly in silence. When they were done, Ody slung his backpack over his shoulder, and Mano walked him to the door.
“I’m really glad I was here with you,” Ody said, forcing a small smile.
Then he leaned in and pressed his lips to Mano’s.
Mano responded immediately, and within seconds the slow affection turned desperate.
When their tongues met, Ody held him a little tighter, as if trying to hold on to something slipping through his fingers.
“You’re an amazing kisser, you know that?” he murmured.
Mano lowered his gaze.
After one last kiss and a quiet goodbye, Ody stepped into the elevator.
The doors slid shut between them.