Page 239 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

He rang the intercom. Again and again. No answer.

“No, no…” he muttered. He ran back to the car and sped toward the airport.

At the same moment, Mano stepped out of the taxi. He made his way through the crowd, checked in his luggage, and then headed for a bench.

He sat. Then he pulled out his earphones. Music filled his ears as he searched for Blue Island Records. The building looked impressive. Sleek and modern, all glass and steel, with blue and gold details running through it. The studios were spacious, fitted with top equipment.

Dominic’s name flashed on the screen.

“Yes.”

“Good morning, Mano. Are you at the airport?”

“Yeah.”

“Great. I’ll be waiting at arrivals when you land.”

“Alright.”

“Safe flight. See you soon.”

The line went dead.

Security had started boarding. Mano checked the time, then glanced toward the entrance. Just once. A quiet, stubborn hope tightened in his chest. Who am I kidding?

He took out his earphones and slipped them into his backpack, then stood and headed toward security. Still, without meaning to, he turned again. Toward the automatic doors. Go, Mano. He won’t come.

He faced forward, walking past a small convenience shop before taking a right and continuing straight.

The line stretched out in front of him, people placing their belongings into plastic bins.

“Mano!”

The shout cut through everything.

He froze. His heart slammed against his ribs. He came.

He’d recognize that voice anywhere.

He swallowed and turned. And there he was.

“Thank God…” Ody exhaled, trying to catch his breath.

“What are you doing here?” Mano asked, quieter than he meant to.

Ody motioned for them to step aside, away from the crowd. Mano followed. They stopped a few steps away, facing each other.

Behind Mano, a massive glass wall stretched wide, planes lined up outside.

“I needed to get to you before you left,” Ody said when their eyes met again.

You did, idiot. “What?” Mano said, his gaze fixed on him.

“I wanted…” Ody hesitated, his voice wavering. “I wanted to tell you…”

Say it. Say it, baby…

He had come to stop him. He had run all the way here with one thought burning in his chest. Don’t get on that plane. But standing in front of Mano now, everything crashed at once. Music was his dream. The moment he stepped on that plane, it would begin. And who was Ody to stand in the way of that?