Saving the Villain

Cosette and Sarah smiled awkwardly before looking at each other. Even without any word exchange, they already agreed not to approach the two. Maxen and Luke seemed to be in a very sensitive state.

"Let's stay outside after dropping off our bags." Cosette leaned closer to Sarah, and the latter nodded in agreement.

"I think that's a good idea," Sarah whispered.

Both tiptoed their way in, treading on thin ice under Maxen's gaze. Luke had already looked away with his arms on the desk, his forehead resting on them. As Cosette and Sarah put down their bags, Cosette's brows rose.

"Pst."

Cosette slowly turned in Maxen's direction, tilting her head to the side.

"Come," he invited huskily and weakly, crooking a finger.

Cosette pursed her lips and glanced at Sarah for help, but the latter simply flashed her a nervous smile. Sarah wasn't scared of Remo and the other bullies. However, her fear of Maxen was something she couldn't hide. Sarah would take a bullet for Cosette, but not when the person holding the gun wouldn't hurt her.

'Maxen will hurt me, but not you,' said Sarah telepathically, raising a fist weakly to cheer on her. 'Fighting. You'll survive whatever this is.'

'Sarah… I can't believe you.' Cosette let out a deep exhale, glancing at Maxen with conflict in her eyes. Normally, she would throw herself at her dearest baby villain. However, not when he looked like he didn't get a wink of sleep and could murder anyone.

It reminded her of a saying: It was preferable to make a joke with a drunk ... but never with someone who has just woken up.

'He won't blame me for making him sleep in Luke's place, right?' she wondered as she hesitatingly took a step from her desk. 'Just what did they do all night to be in such a state? Gosh… why did I even think it's a good idea?'

"Hey, Max…" Cosette called as she was closer to his desk. "... did I do something?"

Maxen fluttered his eyelashes ever so tenderly. His eyes looked a little droopy, revealing a lack of sleep. He had his jaw propped against his knuckles, watching her approach him slower than a snail. Seeing the obvious confusion and regret in her eyes, as if she already assumed she was in trouble, looked cute.

A part of him wanted to get angry at her just so he could see what she would do to appease him. But Maxen wasn't that heartless and still denying that part of his perverted side.

"Hmm?" Her brows rose as the twinkle in her eyes showed misplaced innocence, watching him crook his finger again. Cosette pursed her lips and gulped, bending over his desk to meet him eye to eye.

"What is it?" she asked in a quiet voice, while Sarah was trying her best to not make a sound. The latter unknowingly held her breath for Cosette, ready to wake up Luke in case Maxen suddenly snap.

"Closer." Maxen bat his eyes ever so slowly, watching Cosette lean her face closer as she had assumed he wanted to whisper a secret. As she did so, Maxen glanced at Sarah.

The second his eyes met Sarah's, the latter's breath hitched. But that wasn't what surprised Sarah as her eyes popped out of their sockets the next second.

"Max —" Cosette's eyes went wide as her quiet voice was shoved back in her throat when Maxen moved his face to plant a soft peck on her lips. She blinked twice, mouth falling open, wondering if her brain registered what happened properly.

"Want to take some fresh air on the rooftop before the class starts?" Maxen inquired lazily, wiping the side of her lips with her thumb. "I think I need to recharge… and forget."

SLAM!

Cosette flinched when Luke slammed his hands on the surface of the desk, followed by a loud profanity. "Fuck!"

Cosette looked back, only to see Luke already standing up with his hands on his desk. She flinched once again when he looked back in her direction, eyes blazing as if she was the only person she saw right now.

"Cosette!" Luke called at the top of his lungs, causing her to take a step back, only to feel an arm snake around her waist. Cosette inevitably ended up propping her buttocks against Maxen's desk, gasping, seeing that Maxen was publicly showing her affection.

Maxen wasn't this touchy if there was another pair of eyes around! But right now, not only did he place a peck on her lips, he was hugging her in front of Luke!

Just what happened?!

"Oy, Maxen Cloven." Luke raised his chin as his eyes blazed even more, glaring at the arms around Cosette's waist. "Take that arm away or should I make you?"

Maxen's expression grew duller, pulling her waist closer. But instead of answering him, Maxen raised his eyes up at her dilated eyes.

"Cosette, can we kiss?" he asked, rendering Cosette speechless while Sarah's jaw literally dropped.

'What did I just see?' Sarah wondered in horror. 'No, no. Not that. Just what is going on?'

"Cosette." Cosette flinched when Luke suddenly took gigantic steps and snatched her arm up. "Can we kiss?"

"What…?" Cosette blinked multiple times, darting her confused eyes between the two. After several seconds, she was certain these two were serious! "Why… are you asking me for a kiss as if I give them out for free?"

"I know, right?" Maxen shrugged nonchalantly. "He just doesn't know anything. Forgive him."

"At least I'm asking for consent." Luke ground his teeth as his grip around her wrist tightened, looking back at her with determination in his eyes. "Hey Cosette, we're friends, are we not?"

"What…?"

"Do me a favor, please." Luke stared into her eyes sincerely, almost at the brink of begging her desperately. "I'm ready to be defiled by you. Make me forget. Please."

"..."

Cosette could only look at Luke, and then at Maxen, lost for words at their ridiculous request. Actually, it was not that Maxen's wants were ridiculous. They would kiss all night until their lips were swollen, but it was strange for him to show more affection publicly. They agreed to keep their relationship a secret, after all.

"Wait, wait." Cosette pulled her wrist from Luke's loosened grip and then peeled Maxen's arms from her waist. She took two steps away from them, facing them squarely, crossing her arms to cover her front.

"What the hell is wrong with you two?" she asked in disbelief. "Are you… doing drugs now?"

"What?" Maxen frowned while Luke looked back at her with dismay.

"If that is not the case, why are you making these ridiculous requests?" She continued in the same tone, glancing at Sarah, only for her face to contort. It seemed Sarah's brain went on overdrive as her expression was just blank. Cosette somehow felt sorry for her friend.

"It's not ridiculous," Maxen replied while Luke said, "how is that ridiculous? There's nothing happened."

"Are you sure?"

Maxen and Luke instinctively looked at each other ever so slowly. They only held each other's gaze for three seconds before they looked away, gagging in disgust.

"Shit!" Luke retched, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He then fled the room in a hurry, as if he was about to throw up. Meanwhile, Maxen jumped from his seat, only to march towards the window and opened it.

"Shit…" Maxen cursed under his breath, covering his lips with the back of his fist, flustered.

Seeing their dramatic reaction, Cosette furrowed her brows. She glanced in Sarah's direction, and the latter also knitted her brows. Their curiosity slowly peaked, looking back at Maxen's vantage point and then at the door that was wide open where Luke left.

'What's… wrong with them?'

They wanted to know what happened, but for sure… they wouldn't get any answer. After all, Luke and Maxen would rather bury what happened to their graves than let a single soul know about it.

******

What happened last night…

Maxen gazed at Luke in distress. He hadn't gotten a wink of sleep because of Luke. The latter had been jumping and yelling whenever he would hear something weird. The faint squeaking of the rats wasn't helping.

"Do… you want to get a drink?" Maxen breathed out in distress, sitting upright in the middle of the studio apartment where he planned to sleep. They had to sleep on the floor since this place was rather empty.

"Are you always a bad influence?"

"For the nth time, I never said I was." Maxen pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you don't want, should I punch you and knock you out? I want to sleep."

Luke clicked his tongue in irritation. "Why are you even here?! If you do want to sleep, just go back to the comfort of the Blac Mansion."

Maxen pressed his lips into a thin line and looked up. When he looked back at Luke, he nodded.

"You're right." Maxen pushed himself up. "I should just go back there. At least, I don't need to listen to your screams…"

"Oy!" Luke hurriedly lurched and grabbed the hem of Maxen's shirt, stopping him from leaving. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"What? You're leaving me all alone here?! What are you going to do if the rats bit me and I died?"

"Bury you?"

Luke's grip tightened. "I was joking, alright? It's my first night and I'll go insane if I was — ahhh!!!" Luke jumped to his feet and unintentionally pulled Maxen's shirt down after seeing a cockroach fly in his direction.

Because of his clumsy and abrupt action fueled by adrenaline, Maxen slipped, falling and landing with a thud. Everything happened within a second, only for the two of them to get a grip when a soft yet dreadful 'smooch' sound rang in their ears, leaving traumatizing sensation lingering on their lips.