Once in a Lifetime {BxB English}

🖤 Chapter 8

"Let them try, I'll send them to the fucking hospital!!" Mano shouted, and Ody stood there, staring at him in shock.

"Let's go somewhere else to talk" he started heading out of the building until they reached his car.

He unlocked it and looked Mano straight in the eyes, who was puzzled. "What's there to talk about?"

"Get in" Ody said, taking the driver's seat, while Mano reluctantly got into the passenger seat.

"I'm just trying to figure out why you got into so much trouble just to defend me"

"Trouble? Please. Even that professor earlier thought he could scold me" he gave a sarcastic smile.

"Not just anyone would do that. Not long ago, you were asking why I brought you to campus or why I got you meds for your hand. And now I see you out in the yard beating up the guys who messed with me"

"Fine, you want the truth?" Mano stared hard into Ody's eyes. "It's because I used to be in your shoes. That's why I told you you're weak, a victim. That if you don't do something, people will walk all over you. That's why when I saw him spill that coffee on you, I did the same to him. Because when I was in your place..." he paused, then looked forward and sighed.

His voice softened as he continued. "When I was in your place, I didn't have anyone to stand up for me. I was on my own. I took it all, just like you do. Until one day, I snapped, and that's when things flipped"

Ody listened carefully before turning to face him.

"It's like I'm seeing myself in you..." Mano's honey eyes locked with Ody's green ones. "...the me from a few years ago. And I want to help myself because no one helped me back then. I don't want you to go through what I did"

Those words took Ody by surprise in a good way. He was right. There was something inside him that others didn't see. Steve, Chris, Anna... but now Ody saw it, it was right in front of him.

Mano glanced down at his feet, noticing a crumpled piece of paper, which he picked up and unfolded.

[Hope you've learned your lesson and go back to being the good little boy you were. Or else, you know what's coming]

"They even threatened you?!" he spun around, furious, as Ody realized what he was holding.

He tried to snatch the paper, but Mano pulled away.

"They threatened to do worse??" his lips started trembling with anger, and Ody found himself more worried about Mano than himself.

With a sharp motion, Mano flung open the car door and stormed out, still holding the note.

"Mano!" Ody yelled as he quickly got out of the car and rushed in front of him.

His hand landed on Mano's chest, trying to stop him. "Calm down. What more can you do?"

"A lot more" he muttered, walking past him, agitated.

"Stop it, man!" Ody stepped in front of him again, pushing him back. "I found that note on the windshield after they jumped me in the bathroom. After what you did to them, I don't know what to expect now"

Half an Hour Earlier

"Man, I need a coffee. I can't take it anymore" Kash groaned.

"Same here, let's go" someone poked him on the shoulder, but as Kash turned around, Mano's fist connected with his mouth, sending him to the ground.

"You thought you could mess with him after I left? Come on, I'm right here. Take it out on me if you want" Mano declared, and the other two guys charged at him, but he blocked them as Kash got up.