Saving the Villain

"Holy F…" Luke awed, staring at Amie, who just entered their classroom, wide-eyed.

Not just him, but everyone in class F stared at Amie with surprise. Amie was dragging her feet to her seat, combing her hair with her fingers as she dropped her things on the side of the desk. When she noticed the eyes on her, Amie cocked her head and arched a brow.

"What?" she asked. "Anyone has a problem with me?"

Her query made others clear their throat as they looked away, a bit intimidated by her. Meanwhile, Luke covered his gaping lips, watching Amie take a seat. Out of instinct, he turned his head in Fay's direction, only to see nonchalance dominating the latter's face.

"Hey!" he whispered yell, dragging his chair near Fay since they were seatmates. "What the heck happened?"

"Huh?" Fay blinked as if she was brought back to reality.

"What do you mean, huh? Are you daydreaming?" Luke scrunched his nose up, jerking his chin in Amie's direction. "There. Look."

Fay furrowed her brows and followed the direction he was pointing at. Her expression didn't change when her eyes landed on Amie.

"What about it?" she asked, looking back at Luke almost innocently.

"What do you mean, what about it?" Luke gasped, keeping his tone low. "Can't you see? Amie was absent for two weeks and she comes only after lunchtime. Not just that, but can't you see her appearance's drastic change?"

"So?"

His face contorted at the lack of concern on her face. "Did you just ask me, so? Aren't you concerned?"

"Why would I? Will that make my grades better? It won't even feed me." Fay blinked. "You know what, Luke? I am more envious of you. How come you are this nosy yet, you're still top four in our class?"

"I am top 4 because I am nosy," he corrected, before shaking his head before he gets sidetracked. "Don't distract me. Is she rebelling because you cut her off?"

Fay frowned. "Don't make it sound like I ruined someone's life or it is my responsibility she chose this path."

"I want her to learn and stand on her own for the good." Fay glanced at Amie nonchalantly. "But she took it the other way and changed for the worse. That is beyond my control and thus, not my problem."

"Can you please stop distracting me for something that will not add anything to my knowledge?" she added before narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Wait. Now that I think about it, I think you always come to me whenever we have exams or quizzes coming up. Is this a tactic to distract me and keep your place?"

"What? Slander!" Luke looked at her in dismay. "I don't need to do that to stay in fourth place. Heck. If only I study hard, I will take Maxen's place and become the top one!"

Upon hearing his last remarks, Fay couldn't help even conceal her dismay. "Are you daydreaming?"

"What?"

"Do you think Max is the top one in this section and in overall just because he had hundred mark average score?" Fay snickered. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just saying, Max, got that mark because that's the highest, not because he aimed for it."

"Damn girl… are you trying to score browny points now?"

Her lips stretched from ear to ear. "I like studying with him. He is a better teacher than our teachers."

"Tch." Luke snapped his tongue in irritation.

Because of the first grading where a lot from class F dominated the top list of students, Maxen's popularity skyrocketed even more. However, because of Cosette and Luke, who always lingered around Maxen, they were able to filter out some girls from bothering him. But because Maxen consistently kept his first place, he had grown some fanbase.

Yes, a fanbase that was continuously growing.

Maxen was not only smart and good-looking, but he was also kind. Anyone who approached him who needed help would try to help, especially if it was regarding a topic they didn't understand. Some used his kindness to simply approach him.

Cosette wasn't much of a help, though. Her only help to repel all these girls was to be beautiful and crush the girl's confidence. Remo wasn't doing anything as well unless he noticed that Maxen was exhausted or needed some rest. So, Luke had to work his ass off in chasing away the people — boys and girls alike — asking for Maxen's help because Maxen rarely refuse.

Luke gazed at Fay and shook his head. His duty as Maxen's bodyguard grew slightly lighter because of Fay. Apparently, Fay just somehow became Maxen's self-proclaimed disciple, and every time she sensed someone asking for Maxen's help as a way to chat with him, she would go wild.

"Whatever." Luke dragged his chair back, glancing at the door when he caught Cosette and Sarah enter. "Huh?"

His brows rose, seeing the grim expression on Cosette's face. He shifted his attention to Sarah, and the latter was almost the same. Both Sarah and Cosette took their respective seats, with Cosette in between Luke and Fay, and Sarah in front of Cosette.

"Hey, what's with that look?" Luke leaned closer, assessing her face. "Who pissed you off?"

"Nothing." Cosette just cast him a sidelong glance.

"Ehh…" Luke licked his lips as he moved his chair closer to her. "Spill the tea, will you?"

"Luke."

"I already figured." His lips stretched from ear to ear until his teeth were showing. "Want to do something interesting later?"

"Huh?"

"You and me." Luke pointed at her and then at himself. "Girl, I think I know you enough and I know how that brain of yours works. You can't hide from me."

Normally, Cosette would ask, 'what the hell are you talking about?' But this time, she only looked at him as if she understood his seemingly random remarks.

"Are you bored?" she asked, only to see him snicker.

"With my best buddy not around and I'm stuck with you, do think I'm having the time of my life?"

"Gosh… fine." She let out a sigh, glancing at Maxen's empty seat as he had missed today's attendance because of an important meeting. He was excused, though.

"Great!" Luke wiggled his brows as he grinned from ear to ear. "Time to uncover the mystery. How exciting!"