Saving the Villain

"I never said it was not your fault. It is your fault. If something terrible happened to them, I would've killed you on the spot."

Amie held her breath at Maxen's unfaltering threats. Her heart thudded and her heart shook violently, staring back at Maxen blankly.

"I can't even look at you." Maxen peeled his eyes from her, obviously angry at Amie, for she was the cause of it all.

He knew Cosette. She was the type who would jump in the middle of fire for those important to her, and it was starting to get on his nerves. He didn't want Cosette to continuously put herself in danger just to save her friend. It worried him.

"Just this once, Max," requested Cosette in a hushed voice. "Please don't do this."

"Yes, Max. Just let them off once. We're fine — I mean, let's just report them to the police!"

"Yes, yes! Just send me to prison!" the leader agreed while nodding profusely, almost making things hilarious.

Maxen ignored the leader and darted his eyes between Luke and Cosette. After a minute, a sigh slipped past his lips. His eyes then slid to the corner, setting it back to Remo.

"Drag him and that one with the guys and teach him a lesson before sending him to Lieutenant," ordered Maxen, which Remo accepted with a nod.

"Come on, you!" Remo grabbed the leader's back collar and pulled him up. His other hand also grabbed Henry's back collar, dragging the two outside of the KTV room.

Meanwhile, Cosette and Luke could only watch Remo drag the leader and Henry out of the room. They heard the boss and Henry yell and struggle, but then their struggle stopped. They could imagine how Remo and the guards outside dealt with them.

Both of them couldn't say anything, though. Cosette and Luke could only hang their head low when Maxen's eyes fell on them. Seeing their despondent reaction, Maxen let out a deep exhale.

Really… these two would be the death of him.

*

*

*

"I'm sorry."

Cosette paused in her stride, turning her head to the side. There, Amie sported a weak smile. They were already on their way out of the establishment, with Maxen and Luke walking ahead of them, and then Cosette and Amie a step behind.

Three were a few securities that came with Maxen. Hence, they were just walking behind the girls, escorting their group out.

"I'm really sorry for putting you in trouble," said Amie in a weak tone, squeezing her bicep to stop her body from shivering. Even though it had been an hour since Maxen came, her body wouldn't stop shaking.

Tonight, Amie nearly got defiled by a few men. And the most ridiculous of all was that she agreed to it for money. Now that Amie thought about it, she felt disgusted about herself. Not only she was willing to get paid for sex, but she also didn't see that she was being manipulated.

It was stupid.

How could she not see Henry's real colors? Just because he was nice to her, and she desperately needed friends to show her 'former' friends that she could still have friends. Many questions and regrets surged in Amie's head until Cosette suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Thank you, not sorry." Amie raised her shaking eyes at Cosette when the latter corrected. "It is true we got in trouble because of you, but that isn't your fault. I had a choice to step in or feign ignorance. I chose to step in and help my friend, so that isn't your fault. That is my decision and even if Maxen was angry, I don't regret it. I take responsibility for it."

Cosette let out a deep exhale as she assessed Amie's countenance. "The only fault you did is you let them use you, and I can't understand the reason, Amie. Even if you hate us, ruining yourself will benefit no one."

"You don't want to be friends with us, sure. But don't let others take advantage of you. Your misfortune will not make anyone happy, it'll just drag you to endless misery," she added with a weak breath, getting everything out of her chest to tell Amie what was in her heart. "Amie, friends don't enable their friends to cheat or do something terrible to cover for them. Friendship isn't all about the shared laughter and gossip, but about supporting each other and lifting each other up. Not because Sarah and I didn't intervene with your issue with Fay, we were taking her side."

"Both of you were our friends and we understand her and also you. I'm sure if you think about it thoroughly, you'd understand that her intentions and ours aren't to shun you." Cosette paused, holding Amie's eyes before she smiled subtly. "I hope this will be a wake-up call because I don't think I'd be able to protect you if something happened like this again."

There was a moment of silence that descended on the two of them, staring at each other motionlessly. A shallow smile line appeared on the side of Cosette's lips as she pressed her lips, nodding at her slightly.

"I'll go with them now." Cosette stayed for several seconds before turning on her heel, following Maxen and Luke. "Don't worry. I'm sure Max already arranged for someone to drive you home."

Luke was trying to earn brownie points from Maxen so he wouldn't get scolded more, but Maxen would just get more upset every time he would look at him. Hence, Maxen pretended Luke didn't exist. Seeing this, Cosette grabbed Luke by his back collar and dragged him to a safe distance from Maxen.

"Can you stop parading your bruises in front of Max?" she whisper and yelled, glaring at Luke, who was unable to react to her actions. "Can't you see he is getting even more upset whenever he sees your swollen face?"

"Cosette, I can hear you," commented Max, making Luke and Cosette freeze. But he didn't stop in his tracks.

Meanwhile, Amie stayed in her vantage point, eyes on the three. Tears blurred her vision, fixing her eyes on Cosette's figure.

'Am I…' Amie's thoughts trailed off as a tear rolled down her cheek. '... always this pathetic?'