Saving the Villain

Cosette spent the last few days of the summer break with Maxen. They had a talk regarding the setup of their relationship. After all, Maxen regarded Conan with the highest respect he could give to a man, and he didn't want to hide their relationship status. He was prepared to get kicked out and work hard, be better in school, and succeed in life to be able to stand on the same ground as her.

However, Cosette crushed his plans with a simple no.

He might be ready to get kicked out, but not Cosette. She would rather hide it for the time being, for the sole reason she knew Conrad. Her father was aware of Cosette's feelings toward Maxen and she had been very open about it. Moreover, she worked under her father for straight two months.

Therefore, Cosette had somehow guessed how the gears in her father's head turned. Conrad would not kick Maxen out if they told him about their relationship. Her father would insist for Maxen to stay... so everyone could keep an eye on them. There wouldn't be privacy anymore and that also meant less kisses. She liked his kisses very much and would eat them as an alternative to food.

At first, Cosette assumed Maxen wouldn't listen and just spill all the tea. But alas, Maxen agreed... for the sole reason, just like her. And with that, they spent the last several days either reading or watching or going out to buy small things (a short date) together.

They had been very 'subtle' about it... especially when Conrad was around. It wasn't like the change was huge, aside from the habitual touch in the hand and... short, sneak pecks.

"Bye-bye~" Cosette waved with her upper body tilting to the side to see Conrad inside the back passenger seat of the black sedan. The latter glanced at her, and then at Maxen standing behind her under the waiting shade of the bus.

"Take care, Papa." Her lips stretched from ear to ear until her eyes were squinting.

"Take care," Conrad replied cooly, darting his eyes between the two. "You two."

"Yes~"

Conrad stared at her bright smile for some time, and let out a sigh. His daughter looked so excited and happy since today was the first day of class.

"See you later," he remarked, only to hear her repeating it in a more cheerful tone. With that being said, the car sped away like, leaving Cosette waving under the bus stop.

"Hah..." she huffed, keeping her eyes on the rear of the black sedan. "I hope he has a good day."

Cosette grinned as she looked back at Maxen, only to see him arching a brow at her. Looking at him, she was still in disbelief at how tall he grew all summer. Before, she didn't need to look up so much, but now, her head could only reach his shoulder. It was amazing at the same time, disheartening.

"What?" The lines between his forehead deepened at her prolonged silence. He then touched his face lest he had some crumbs left.

"I still can't believe you grew tall this much and in a short span of time." She narrowed her eyes, facing him squarely. Cosette sized him up while rubbing her chin. "Max, what have you been doing all summer, hmm? I don't think this is some sort of perk."

"I didn't grow tall that much." He cocked his head to the side. "I lost weight."

She shook her head, taking a step closer. "Before, my head is over your upper lip, but now, look!" she measured her height, basing it on his shoulder blades, scoffing in dismay when she realized she was short a centimeter from it.

"Is this a bad thing now?" he asked, looking down at her miffed countenance. "Do you prefer short guys? You have a weird taste."

"But my neck hurts!" she complained with a pout.

"Ahh..." Maxen bent over, making her take several steps back in surprise.

"What — a kiss in broad daylight?" she gasped, making him chuckle as he rested his hand on his thigh.

"Do you want to?" he teased, smirking as he watched her face dyed in red. "I'm kidding. Does your neck still hurt this way?"

Her brows rose, blinking twice, realizing he bent over so she wasn't looking up. Cosette bit her lower lip before rocking her head mildly. Maxen didn't change much, even when they were now dating, but he would still make her heart flutter during the most unexpected times, just like this one.

"You don't have to do this." She poked his shoulder, pursing her lips to stop herself from smiling from ear to ear. "Gosh... why do you have to make me blush all the time? My heart will explode at this rate."

He chuckled, snapping his eyes as he looked back. "The bus is here," he announced, straightening his back with his eyes on the approaching bus. As he waited, Cosette kept her eyes on him.

'I feel bad for keeping this a secret from dad but help... I had to work hard to tie him with me.' Cosette mentally giggled. When the bus stopped in front of them, she hurriedly reached for his hand, which made him look back at her.

"Let's hold hand," she proposed while the bus opened its door for them.

"Mhm." He hummed, wrapping his fingers around her, and guided her to the bus. Her smile stretched even wider as she followed him. Since it was too early, there weren't many passengers yet. Maxen and Cosette perched on the spot near the back and sat beside each other. He held her hand even when they sat down.

This wasn't the first time they held each other hands, but compared to last school year, they could distinguish the difference. Just months ago, Cosette would squeeze herself into him. But now, Maxen was guarding her and holding her hand all on his own.

Taking this opportunity, Cosette giddily rested the side of her head on his shoulder blades, smiling from ear to ear, eyes closed.

"I'll take a nap," she explained lest he complained. "Wake me up later."

Maxen let out a shallow breath and shook his head. He didn't reply, but he stayed still, letting her use his shoulder to lean on. They both traveled with a smile on their faces, playing with each other's hands like lovers would.

****

Meanwhile...

Conrad remained silent like usual, staring at the window as they head to the BLK Corporation office. His mind drifted to Cosette's behavior the past several days after she finished her internship in the company. As his mind drifted further away, his phone inside his pocket suit vibrated.

Conrad snapped his eyes and took out the phone to his ear. He didn't even look who it was, assuming it was Warren, since only a few people knew his personal contact number. However, Conrad soon realized he made a mistake as there was this shameless old folk who was akin to a stalker worthy to rot behind bars.

"Good morning, my dearest best friend! Haha! I didn't know you'd answer a call from an unregistered number!"

Conrad closed his eyes as soon as he recognized Maynard's voice from the other end of the line. His jaw instantly clenched while his grip on his phone tightened. It was too early to get stressed, was what he told himself, but hearing Maynard's voice early in the morning was already a 'good' sign; a sign his day wouldn't get any worse.

"Haha! I can imagine you are, err... telling yourself to choose peace before violence?" Maynard happily grinned, imagining the look on Conrad's unchanging, stony countenance. Just the thought of it made him happy as if he had nothing else to do during this time.

"Make sure this call is important, Mister Quinn."

"Oh, ho! Of course, it is!"

"Speak. Let's not waste our time"

"Hah... ha ha..." Maynard's awkward laughter slowly faded, but then he snapped his eyes, knowing Conrad was about to hang up on him. "Wait!"

"You are wasting precious my time," Conrad stressed coldly, as the life in his eyes already diminished. "If you have nothing else to do, take your sons to an amusement park and become a father."

"Oh ho, Mister Blac. Why do you have to make it sound like I'm a bad father?" Maynard snorted.

"I didn't say that. It's you who said it. I'm hanging up."

"Tch. Oy, don't forget you allowed your daughter to take home a man, eh? I mean, they might be minors, but they're at the age of being wild and curious! I'm not the only one who is a terrible dad here!" Maynard prattled like usual without thinking of what he would say just because he was talking to a good friend. But when he realized the sudden silence that followed, he couldn't help but swallow the building tension in his throat.

"I mean, you're right. I'm the bad father and the annoying friend," he confessed, smelling Conrad's wrath from a mile away.