Saving the Villain

Hours after the school bell rang, Maxen only got up from his spot on the rooftop when the sky turned orange. Cosette was still there, silently staring at him while cupping her cheeks. His lips parted to tell her to scram now, but instead, he gave her cold shoulders.

Talking to her would open up opportunities for her to talk, and he didn't want that. So, in silence, Maxen left the rooftop while Cosette followed behind.

'He's really not the chatty person,' she thought, staring at Maxen's back as he never spoke a word for hours. He even ignored her, but she was fine with it since she could watch him sleep to her heart's content.

It sounded creepy, but... well, she carry pure intention. Really.

'For some reason, this feels… peaceful.' She mentally nodded, stepping on his shadow that was stretching towards her. 'He didn't tell me to scram or anything, but that's alright. Even if he ignores me, there's no greater joy for me than spending the day with him. Sister Cozie will still be an heiress, and that's an unchanging fact.'

A subtle smile appeared on her lips. Somehow, the warm orange tone of the world as the sun sets touched her heart. Although she was walking from a distance, holding the strap of her bag, she was content just following Maxen.

'He hadn't become a villain yet,' she told herself, eyes softening while staring at his back. 'I should work hard to keep him from walking down that crazy path.'

Meanwhile, Maxen glanced over his shoulders discreetly and caught her figure still following him. She wasn't saying anything, which was strange. But somehow, he didn't dislike her presence.

'Cosette, was it?' he looked ahead without a change of expression. 'She'll get tired, eventually.'

Maxen realized he was wrong because the next day and all the following days after that, Cosette followed him like a shadow. He would usually leave after lunch and stay on the rooftop to get some sleep.

Just like the first time she followed him, Cosette remained silent. Then, after school, she would follow him to the bus stop.

That had become their routine for the entire week. They didn't talk — although she always attempted to strike a conversation with him. Cosette knew when to push her luck and when not to.

"Sister Cozie, is there something wrong in your home?" Sarah knocked on Cosette's desk, making the latter raise her head. "You've been missing class for a week now. Are you alright?"

Cosette smiled as Amie and Fay, who stood beside Sarah, looked just as worried. "Yes. It's fine. I just had to do something."

"Will you also go today?" asked Amie with a concerned tone. Cosette discreetly glanced at Maxen and it seemed he didn't plan to leave today.

"I don't know?" she raised her head again and smiled. "Depends."

"So you won't have lunch with us?" Sarah frowned, as it had been a while since they all had lunch together. Cosette just smiled apologetically, afraid that once she took her eyes off of Maxen, he would disappear.

As Cosette conversed with the three, Maxen secretly glanced at her. 'I didn't want to skip class since she had been skipping classes by following me.' He thought, feeling a little guilty that Cosette was neglecting her studies just to follow someone like him.

Normally, Maxen would've cared less. He didn't ask her to follow him or skip class with him or anything of the sort. But day by day, this incomprehensible concern was slowly growing in his heart.

'She's really strange. What will she gain by following me whilst neglecting her studies?' he wondered, letting out a shallow breath.

That day, their pattern for a week was broken.

Maxen miraculously stayed until the last subject. The only thing that didn't change was that Cosette still followed him to the bus stop, riding the same bus as him, and when he hitched out was the ending of their day together.

******

"Papa, I've been skipping classes," Cosette confessed in the middle of her dinner with Conrad. The latter furrowed his brows as he gazed at his daughter.

"You were skipping classes?" he repeated, and she nodded. "Are you researching to be rebellious?"

Her right face twitched at Conrad's ridiculous assumption. Surely, he would always think there was a reason for Cosette's action. How could she tell him it was because she was following her crush?!

"No." She cleared her throat and shook her head lightly. "I am taking care of a wounded cat."

"A wounded cat?"

"Yes. He is usually on the rooftop. So I accompany him until the end."

"Why don't you take that wounded cat home, then?" he tilted his head to the side, actually pleased that Cosette was slowly breaking her pattern. It was not like he didn't find anything wrong with his daughter skipping classes, but he trusted his smart daughter.

Cosette was a top student in the academy, after all. And she was someone who was strict to herself, so to think she was capable of skipping classes… sounded more like an achievement in a way.

"I can't. He doesn't even let me get near him." She frowned, thinking that the wounded cat named Maxen was still giving her cold shoulders. "All I can do was keep him company so he wouldn't feel alone."

"I see." Conrad nodded in understanding as he studied the frown on her face. "Wounded animals are usually hostile to their surrounding. Just be patient, Cozie. I'm sure the cat will slowly trust you."

Cosette smiled, closed-lipped, as she raised her eyes at Conrad. After calling him 'papa' and striking conversation with him from time to time, she realized Conrad wasn't that of a cold person. He just didn't know how to talk to her and was often anxious about what to say because it might upset her.

But now, Conrad slightly relaxed around her and would impart his wisdom from time to time.

"Thank you, Papa. You're really the best in this world!" Her eyes lit up, listening to her father's advice. "Patience is a virtue. I should trust the process!"

Conrad chuckled while watching his determined daughter. He wanted to offer to buy her one, but it seemed Cosette was invested in this cat.

"Good luck, Cozie."

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A/N: Don't skip classes!