Saving the Villain

After what seemed to be infinite bickering, Cosette, Maxen, and Luke finally settled down. It took an hour for them to wash up and have just one bathroom. They took turns, so they feel refreshed before they review. Because of Maxen's strictness, Cosette and Luke miraculously watched their temper until their entire focus shifted to their homework and reviewing.

Cosette and Luke were the students who claimed to top the exams and rankings this school year back on their first day. Both were prideful people, so for them, doing terribly in school would be shameful. Hence, unknowingly, they took it as a challenge and competition as well — after neglecting their studies last school year.

Luke might be used to having average grades back in the academy, but that was because he only exerted the bare minimum. Now that he was motivated enough to have more than satisfactory grades, he truly wanted to achieve something even though the Quinn family wouldn't recognize this achievement because winter high school was just an average school.

The two were too focused that neither of them noticed the time, and they didn't even know they had already fallen asleep. Good thing Cosette took the spot on the bed while Luke was on the side of the bed and already spread the sofa bed. Hence, Maxen wasn't worried about those two who were now sleeping soundlessly like babies.

Maxen also reviewed, but more like he just did a quick recap. He had been listening to their lessons and understood each. The reason he didn't have to do an extensive review just like those two. He also had to help Remo everyone once in a while; feed him medicine, clean up his space after Remo had eaten, and even change his bandages.

Maxen shifted his eyes at Remo. The guy had fallen asleep after taking medicine, so it was just Maxen, who was awake. He was sitting on the bean bag, holding a book in his hand. He didn't have work today since Warren and Conrad still wanted him to focus on his study, and then Maxen would work on the weekend with a bunch of workloads.

'I prefer it if I have to work every night, though,' he thought, thinking that he doesn't have to do anything else, anyway. 'She always sleeps before me too, so…'

Maxen shrugged, shaking his head. Since Cosette consistently sleep in his room and he had proven that Cosette never slept after him, Maxen had more time since he had already grown used to sleeping a bit late.

As the night fell deeper and silence dominated the apartment, Maxen slowly raised his brows. He lifted his eyes over the book and caught Remo staring at him.

"You're awake?" Maxen asked, hearing Remo grunt as he forced himself to sit up. "You should be quiet. Those two were tired. It's not good to wake them up."

Remo frowned, setting his eyes at Maxen. "Why did you bring me here?" he asked without beating around the bush.

"You won't take me here if you don't want anything from me."

"That's right." This time, Maxen didn't hesitate to answer him, nodding. "I don't think I can watch over you in the hospital. I can't split my body, knowing while I'm guarding you in the hospital, Luke might be caught up in trouble."

Remo let out a brief dry laugh as that made more sense. Since these three picked up a fight with a group of delinquents from another school, it wouldn't be a surprise if they returned to get even. Luke was just living around the area. So, they would surely ambush Luke.

By bringing Remo to Luke's apartment, the three of them could stay together. If those delinquents returned, they had each other's back.

"Why didn't you fight back?" Maxen asked, snapping Remo back to the current lapse. "You won't be in such a state if you defended yourself."

"Hah…" Remo just let out a short scoff as a response.

"Or are you saying those fists are only for assault and not to defend?" Maxen cocked his head to the side. "I remember how you can easily throw your fists back then. I still remember how they feel too. They used to land on my gut until I spit blood."

"Hah… are you still angry about that?"

"No." Maxen shook his head. His voice was calm. "If not for my experience from the past year, probably. But now? No. I learned many lessons and cut off a lot of habits while you were in the juvie. And one of them was, I stopped wondering or trying to understand why people hurt me — I just learned to accept that people hurt me just because they can and still go on with their lives."

"It's not because of me. It has to do with them, not me," he added in the same calm and mature tone. "Although I had forgiven you, I haven't forgotten what you have done. I'm not saying this so you feel remorseful, but to remind myself there's no need for me to be kind."

Remo just looked at Maxen, assessing him quietly. After several seconds of silence, he was certain Maxen meant every single word in that statement.

"You've changed," he pointed out the obvious.

"Change is the only constant thing in this world. It's either for the good or for the bad." Maxen shrugged nonchalantly. "I can say the same to you. You've changed, Remo. I wonder… if this change has something to do with those people."

"Thos people? You mean your father?"

"I would really appreciate it if you do not say that word in front of me again. I have nothing to do with him."

"But he wants you. He wants his son."

"Did they ask you to bring me to them?" Maxen's next inquiry was quick and unfaltering. "How? By tugging my guilty conscience that you spent time in the juvie while was I free? Did they think being out here is better than being inside the prison?"