Saving the Villain

"Say cheese!"

"Cheese!"

The camera flashed on Cosette and her friends as they took photos together. Maxen graduated with the highest honor and thus, the medals dangling around his neck. Meanwhile, Cosette graduated as the second, Luke as third, and Fay as fifth.

"Congratulations!" Cosette faced the girls, hugging them (Sarah, Amie, and Fay) after taking a photo together. The three hugged her back, and when they let each other go, they held hands as they formed a circle.

"So, what are your plans?" asked Cosette, glossing her eyes over theirs.

"My mom invited all our relatives for lunch." Fay grinned, taking the medal around her neck. "I'm so really to gloat about this."

"I'm going to have a lunch date with my parents as well," said Amie. "It's just the three of us, but it'll be nice to go out with them since it's been a hell of a year for all of us."

Cosette rocked her head before the three of them shifted their eyes to Sarah. The latter let out a short chuckle, noticing the curiosity in the girls' eyes.

"I… the same." Sarah pressed her lips into a thin line, forcing a smile. "My mom prepared some food at home."

"I see…" The three rocked their heads in understanding.

Since it was their graduation, they didn't have any other plans together. After all, each of them had to celebrate it with their families. Therefore, after chatting for a bit, Fay and Amie's parents called them to go where they planned to go. Meanwhile, Sarah also excused herself with the excuse her mother was waiting for her home.

Cosette stood in the gymnasium, watching Sarah's back. A faint sigh slipped past her lips. She wasn't stupid to know that Sarah was lying. Sarah's parents had divorced last year, and Sarah's life had been three times more difficult than when her parents were together.

"She always keeps things to herself." Another sigh slipped past her lips. "She didn't have to lie. If no one was there to celebrate this day with her, she could've just told me —"

"And what will you do about it?"

Cosette jumped when Luke suddenly turned up on her side. She immediately glared at him, slapping his shoulder as a natural response.

"Can you stop giving me a scare?" she complained, clicking her tongue in irritation.

"Damn it!" Luke rubbed his shoulder where she slapped him, scrunching his nose up. "The older you are, the more violent you have become. Do you know that?"

"You are absurd." Cosette rolled her eyes, trying to ignore him.

"Tch…" Luke clicked his tongue once again, clearing his throat. "Anyway, what are you going to do about it?"

"About what?"

"About Sarah." He puckered his lips, pointing in the direction where Sarah disappeared to. "Don't tell me you'll poke your nose in her business?"

Cosette looked him dead in the eye but didn't say anything. After a moment, another sigh escaped her nostrils, peeling her eyes away from him.

"I'm worried about her, of course. But Sarah is already old and much more mature than anyone else. I'm sure when she needed a friend, she will reach out herself." Her eyes softened. "I spent most of my high school trying to help others to the point I forget there were also others who wants me to look after myself."

She blinked ever so slowly, facing Luke. "I had enough of your nagging, okay?"

The side of Luke's lips stretched until his teeth were showing. Before he could say anything else or she could say more that would touch his heart, he sprawled his arm over her and put her in a headlock.

"Oy, Cosette Blac, since when did you mature, eh?!" Luke teased, ignoring her squeal as she tried to escape his grip.

"Hey! Are you out of your mind?! Let me go!" Cosette slapped his arms but to no avail.

"I thought you would never realize how many troubles you have put me through! Gosh! This girl… don't grow up so fast!" Luke kept on and on as if he was Cosette's father.

"Ugh! Stop it!" after minutes of struggle Cosette managed to get away since he loosened his grip. As soon as she faced him, she was so ready to berate him for being so annoying. However, Luke spoke before she could start.

"Congrats, Cosette." Her words rolled back to her throat at the sight of the genuine smile on his face. "I will still hang out with you, but I know we will be busy. I don't plan to pursue college for now — maybe a gap year? Who knows? But if you need a friend, I'm just a text away."

Surprise turned up on Cosette's face for a moment before her expression softened. A thin layer of tears coated her eyes, punching his chest weakly.

"Gosh… are you trying to make me cry?" she clicked her tongue, holding back the tears that were tempting to come out. "Why is everyone so emotional? Gosh. It's supposed to be a happy day."

Luke chuckled. "There, there." He ruffled her hair to annoy her, grinning from ear to ear.

"Tch." Cosette rubbed her eyes before tears rolled down her cheek.

"Haha. What a crybaby." Luke kept ruffling her hair, retrieving it when he caught two figures from the corner of his eyes. He turned his head, smiling as soon as his gaze landed on Maxen and Conrad.

"What did you do to her again?" asked Conrad to Luke the second he came closer to his daughter and Maynard's son. At this point, Conrad was already used to Cosette and Luke's love-and-hate relationship.

"Uncle, I didn't do anything. Please do not misunderstand." Luke raised his hands as a gesture of surrender, setting his eyes on Maxen for some backup. "Please help."

Maxen laughed, glancing at Cosette. But before he could say anything, they heard a voice from behind them.

"Picture!!!"

Maxen, Luke, and Conrad looked back, only to see Warren (Conrad's assistant) wave with a camera in his hand.

"Young Miss, look at here!" Warren excitedly stood several steps before them, calling Cosette at the top of his lungs.

Cosette slowly peeked and then saw Warren with a camera. The latter had this big grin on his face, ready to take a click.

"What are you doing?" Conrad asked, tilting his head to the side. "I think we had taken enough pictures —"

"Wait!" Cosette's face brightened up, jumping in between Maxen and Conrad. The two of them nearly lost balance when she suddenly hooked her arms around their arms, pulling them closer.

They looked at her with surprise in her eyes, but all they saw was her bright countenance.

"Luke! Come, quick!" she bent over, turning her head in Luke's direction.

The latter pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Of course! Quick!"

Luke glanced at Maxen and Conrad, and seeing they weren't displeased at the suggestion, he shrugged. He marched towards them, standing beside Maxen. As soon as he did, Maxen and Luke looked at each other before Maxen raised an arm, sprawling it over Luke's shoulder.

"What —" Luke had to lower his head on instinct, looking at Maxen with wide eyes. Maxen just grinned at him.

"Alright!" Warren raised a finger, holding the camera with the other. "Say cheese in three, two…"

As Warren did a countdown, Maxen and Conrad cast each other a quick and seemingly meaningful look.

"Hey!" Suddenly, Maynard's voice caressed their ears. They instinctively turned their heads in Maynard's direction. All they saw was Maynard stomping his feet toward them, fuming for a reason they didn't know. "Why am I not included in the group photo —"

"...one!"

CLICK!

The flash caught Maxen, Conrad, Luke, and Cosette's attention. Then another flash followed, catching the surprise on their faces, and then smiles, and then when Maynard came into the picture, squeezing himself to fit the frame.

Out of fifteen photos, there was only one that turned out properly. Yet Cosette kept all of them, putting the rest in the photo album and framing the one she liked the most to keep in her room.

*

*

*

Seven years later...

"Hmm..." a moan slipped past Cosette's lips, stretching her arms as she sat up on the bed. She turned her head to the clock on the bedside table, smiling as her gaze fell on the small photograph taken seven years ago.

A photograph she treasured for the past seven years.