Saving the Villain

"You are my precious friend and I don't want to be close to the people my people are uncomfortable with. Moreover, I think — no, your brother is a jerk and so full of himself. I don't like him that much. No, no. I don't like him at all!"

Luke blinked twice, staring at Cosette in disbelief. "Really? You think so too?"

"Mhm!" Cosette nodded profusely. "I don't like that he looks at everyone as if they were inferior to him. It's not like he is perfect!"

"I know, right?!" Luke clapped and pointed at her, regaining the energy he had lost. "I mean, he is my brother and I respect him, but sometimes he is just too much! He is self-righteous and acts as if nothing bothers him, only to create something out of nowhere! Before you know it, he already created a trap for you and you will only realize it once you're falling helplessly."

Cosette chuckled, allowing Luke to go on and on like an unstoppable train. It was not like she purposely manipulated him to give her more details; that was just the bonus. But she wanted him to vent his frustrations, knowing he couldn't share it with anyone else.

"Ugh… he's annoying." Luke ruffled his hair in irritation. "It's not like I asked him to do anything for me, but — whatever. He can live on his own and I'll live mine."

"But Luke, although I don't like your brother, I sort of understand why he did what he did," Cosette remarked, watching Luke look back at her in dismay. "I'm not taking his side in case you misunderstand. All I'm saying is, if I have a sibling, I'd also do everything in my power to protect him or her."

"What I mean by that is, you said it yourself that some of your friends in the academy weren't your real friends. You think that they weren't fooling you since you already know about their intentions, but it'd be different from me," she continued. "If we already knew each other back then, I will also do something that will make them leave your side. You don't need people like them; you don't deserve to be surrounded with such trash."

"You said you're not siding with him, but you sound just like him…" he frowned, making Cosette chuckle weakly.

"I'm siding with you, Luke. After all, I do not mind becoming the villain in other people's stories if the people I cherish is a victim in theirs." Her smile grew gentle. "I'm simply trying to stay unbiased, and this is my personal opinion. Although I don't think your brother meant to hurt you on the way and I don't agree with his methods, I know he did it with a good intention."

"I know that…" Luke let out a deep exhale, peeling his eyes away from her. "That is why I left. I don't want him to do anything for me anymore, just to protect me. I don't want him to become a rotten piece of shit just because he thinks his brother isn't capable enough to protect himself."

Cosette chuckled, snapping her eyes away. "I know, right?" her eyes softened as a bitter glint flickered across them.

"Although we know they did it with a pure intention and they might not regret it, but the conscience will be ours to carry. Not just to their victims but as well as how our weakness unintentionally created a monster." She hummed as she was able to relate with Luke because Maxen had become such a terrifying monster, terrorizing many people for her. "Just like how they wished us happiness, we also wanted for them to get theirs… and not become miserable by trying to make us happy. It's just tragic."

Luke raised his brows as he looked back at her curiously. "Did your dad do something?"

"Huh?"

"You sound like you've been through the same situation. That's why I'm asking. Did your dad do something extreme just to make you happy?"

"Ahh…" she chuckled awkwardly and shook her head. "No, it's nothing like that. But well, I guess you can say that. My dad wants to give me everything with the best he could and the best he has. So, sometimes, he would unintentionally trample on someone because of me." — which wasn't entirely a lie since Conrad was even more aware of his surroundings and other people's lives. Her father wasn't that heartless.

"Help! I don't know." Luke stretched his arms, arching his back. "My mind still hasn't changed. I'll probably get used to that apartment and become friends with the rats."

"Gosh… you. Should we hang out later in your place?"

"With Maxen?"

"Of course."

"No, thanks!" Cosette frowned at his quick response. "I'd rather be alone than stay in the same room as him."

"Now that's suspicious." Cosette narrowed her eyes. "Just what happened last night between you two? You don't have any bruises, so I guess Max didn't beat you up."

"Nothing!" Luke yelled in defense, making her curiosity soar.

"Nothing? But your actions and demeanor tell me there's definitely something," Cosette murmured, eyeing him suspiciously. "You disliked Max, and that is not a secret. However, now that I think about it, you didn't mind when he hugged me — wait a minute."

Her brows furrowed as she recalled how their morning played out. "Luke, why did you ask me to defile you…" she trailed off as her eyes widened, looking back at him in horror.

"Don't tell me —"

"No! That's definitely not it! We didn't kiss — no, no, ew!" Luke yelled his lungs out, horrified as her expression literally told him she figured it out completely! "It was an accident and my lips definitely landed somewhere else and not on his lips!"

"You…" Cosette's eyes went wide as she watched him deny his sin. Invisible fire engulfed her, cracking her knuckles. The side of her lips stretched evilly, eyes burning. "Luke… my dearest Maxen accompanied you last night because he was worried. And then, you'd repay his kindness by defiling his lips… ha ha… funny."

Luke froze as he moved away from her as he seemed to see the invisible fire engulfing her. "Oy… I didn't defile him — I was the victim!" but alas, she didn't hear him anymore due to anger.

"Those lips… are exclusive to me. How dare you…" Cosette raised his fist and seeing her action, Luke was about to crawl away only for her to grab his ankle.

When he looked back, all Luke saw was the devil incarnate about to send her to hell.