Saving the Villain

[ PRESENT TIME ]

The next morning…

Maxen and Cosette were kneeling on the bed with their heads down, hands on their lap, while Luke was walking back and forth beside the bed. Luke was fuming, almost hysterical, early in the morning.

"Geez… it's not like it's a sin to hug each other! It was cold last night!" Cosette yelled, erupting in frustration after listening to Luke's preaching early in the morning.

"Hah!" Luke scoffed, placing his hands on his hips. "It's not a sin, yes! But this is my place, so it's my house, my rules policy! Also, since when have you been defiling Maxen, hah!?"

"Vio — wow… I'm speechless."

"Maxen barely has space to sleep —"

"That's your fault! Who told you to hog that sofa bed all for your own, hah?!" Cosette huffed, ready to pounce on Luke to settle this argument once and for all. However, even before she could reach her boiling point upon hearing Luke's nonsense rebuttal, Maxen planted his hand on the back of her head.

"Luke has a point. This place is his, and we should've adhered to his rules." He carefully guided her head to bow. "It won't happen again. I apologize."

Luke huffed. "It's not you who should apologize, but that witch."

Cosette glared at him, only for Maxen to lower her head ahead. She clicked her tongue in irritation, pouting when Maxen told her to apologize.

"Sorry!" came out an insincere apology."

"Hah! Max, did you hear that?" Luke gasped with his hand across his chest. "Did she apologize or does it translate to I will kill you?"

"Gosh… why is he so annoying?" Cosette grumbled in irritation. "I already said I'm sorry, alright? But you should apologize too! How can you say I was defiling Max, huh? This is slander!"

"Weren't you? He was sweating all over, but you keep squeezing yourself into him! He couldn't even move anymore because he'll fall over the bed! If that is not manipulation, I'm sure that's not love either!"

"What did you say?"

Maxen let out a shallow breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose, listening to their bickering and how it slowly drifted to calling each other ugly. Meanwhile, Remo, who moved to the corner after getting woken up by Luke's loud voice, watched how their morning unfold.

'It's a good thing I fell asleep last night,' Remo thought, placing his hand over his shoulder to see if he could move them. He only adjusted it slightly before he winced because of how stiff they were. 'Those guys really didn't hold back.'

A deep exhale slipped past his lips before lifting his eyes to the three of them. He bore a poker face from the beginning until the end. They only stopped when Maxen got angry and the two were scolded like children. At first, they kept pointing their fingers at each other, only to stop upon sensing Maxen's growing anger.

In the end, Luke and Cosette ended up kneeling on the bed while Maxen was standing beside the bed to lecture the two about their temper. All Remo could do was shake his head and watched how the two obediently made the bed and then prepared their breakfast.

The breakfast was Cosette's duty, and she completed it efficiently. Luke's task was to do some cleaning from last night's mess while Maxen helped with whatever he could. After they had breakfast, they took turns in using the bathroom since they didn't have time to idle.

Cosette came first and then Luke. Maxen was the last. Remo also had breakfast since Maxen served him, telling him not to move around and to focus on recovering. Remo didn't argue with him and swallowed his pride, watching the three walk back and forth as they prepared their things for school.

Remo didn't have such a busy morning. He would just wake up and shower before going to school. Hence, watching the three slightly tired him out; the effects of the medicine he had taken after the meal were also making him sleepy.

"Will we just leave him here?" Cosette asked once she finished preparing, standing near the dining table where her bag was placed.

Maxen was also standing near the table, putting some notes inside.

"Yes," he replied, and then set his eyes on Luke, who was sitting on the beanbag while wearing his socks. "That's fine with you, right? Luke?"

"Ahh…" Luke raised his head at Maxen, and then at Remo in the corner. "Yeah. I don't think he has the energy to trash my place. Even if he does, I'll beat the hell out of him."

"Ohh…" Cosette rocked her head and then picked up her bag. "If you're hungry, I already made lunch. Just reheat them."

"There are also snacks over that drawer," Luke added as he slowly stood up, pointing a finger at the drawer in the kitchen. "If you're bored, you can use the television. Just don't smoke in here or lie down on the bed."

Remo darted his eyes between Cosette and Luke as the two reminded him of many things he didn't expect. After a couple of minutes, the three — Maxen, Cosette, and Luke — took their things and walked away to go to school.

But before they left, the three looked back at him. They didn't say anything and just looked at him strangely. He didn't know if the source of their reluctance was because Remo was someone who wasn't close to them, and they couldn't trust him in this place, or something else.

Either way, Remo didn't find out as they left.

Silence slowly dominated the unit, and Remo kept his eyes on the shut door. The place was small, but it was properly renovated to become a comfortable place to live in. Even though Remo was the only person in this place, he still didn't want to move around or touch things.

'What a bunch of weirdos,' he thought, looking around the silent place. 'How can they just leave me alone in this place?'

Remo shook his head, realizing why Maxen was worried about Cosette and Luke. Those two were just too trustful. Although they were annoying and very loud with their nonstop bickering, there was nothing to hate about them.

"A bodyguard, huh?" he mumbled as he carefully laid flat on his back, eyes on the ceiling. He raised his hand and flexed his fingers, examining the visible scars on it. "Can I… really use these hands for something good?"