Saving the Villain

All of them helped worked on the garden to set up the place and create a great mood. They worked efficiently, dividing the task to finish them on time. When the time hit four in the afternoon, everything was set and they all sat in their respective seat, surrounded by beautiful flowers with their fragrance wafting their nostrils.

"Wow... you prepared a lot of food." Fay was in awe, gazing at the dishes on the rectangular garden table. "I shouldn't have bought more food if I know it'll be a lot."

Cosette giggled, casting Luke a look. The latter shrugged indifferently.

"I'm in the mood," said Luke.

"Don't speak as if you did it all," Cosette called him out, while the rest laughed. "Anyway, hmm... thank you all for coming today."

Everyone looked in her direction with genuine smiles on their faces.

"Let's eat?" she suggested with raised brows.

"Aren't we going to wait for Maxen?" asked Amie, glossing her eyes over their faces. "Where is he, by the way? Don't tell me he will not come again?"

Cosette smiled as her lips parted, but before her words could slip past her lips, Fay spoke.

"Oh, there he is!" Cosette snapped her eyes ever so slowly, turning her head to the entrance of the garden. Her face instantly brightened up at the sight of the dashing man by the door.

Maxen was still in a formal black suit. His hair was neatly brushed back, displaying his sinful beauty that could shake the world.

"Max!" she jumped from her seat, excited. Cosette didn't think twice, jogging her way to welcome the love of her life. She leaped, throwing herself to Maxen.

Maxen smiled, welcoming her into his embrace.

"Max!" Cosette huffed, pouting. "I thought you wouldn't make it today!"

Maxen chuckled, drawing his head back. "I told you I will come, though I will be a little late. How can I miss it?"

"Gosh." Cosette punched his chest mildly.

"Haha." Mischief swirled in his eyes, pulling her into his embrace. "It's our wedding anniversary. How can I miss it?"

"You missed it last year," she complained while he rubbed her back.

"Haha... I'm sorry about that." Maxen slowly let her go, lowering his head while he cupped her beautiful face. The ring around his hand glinted, smiling back at her. "Are you crying?"

"No!" Cosette shook her head profusely. "I was just anxious because I want to be with you."

His countenance softened, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

"Hello?? We're still here!" Suddenly, Fay's voice shattered the mood between Cosette and Maxen. "Goodness. I know this is your anniversary, but please! Have mercy on this single lady."

"You're not the only one who's single here," Luke chimed in, only to receive a sarcastic remark from Fay.

"You don't have a girlfriend because of your personality," she dissed, casting him a judgemental look.

"Well, I'm not jealous because I'm very much happy with my marriage." Amie giggled, leaning to her side where Remo, her husband, was sitting. "Right, honey?"

Remo smiled at her, pinching her cheek. Seeing their interaction, Fay retched dramatically. Meanwhile, Sarah chuckled.

"If you are so jealous of couples, why not act decently and take dating seriously?" Amie argued with Fay. "I set you up for multiple blind dates, but you ruined all of them."

"Those guys are boring -- too boring. I don't even know where to start." Fay rolled her eyes.

"You guys always banter whenever we are together." After a while, Maxen's voice was heard. All of them turned their heads to him, seeing him stand on the side of the table. "But it's really nice to see you all here."

"It's nice seeing you doing well too, Max." Sarah nodded slightly while others just smiled.

"God... I am having mixed emotions in here." Luke expressed lazily, staring at Maxen. "I still can't get over how you screwed me months ago with that last project we worked on."

"He might've screwed you over, but it prevented you from losing your company." This time, Remo joined in the conversation.

"Hai hai! Enough with that, okay?" Fay knocked on the table. "I know you guys have some sort of issues, but can we please start? I'm really hungry."

Cosette laughed, casting Maxen a look. She sat on the host seat since she was the host while Maxen was on her right. Luke was sitting across from Maxen, and then Remo and Amie were beside Luke. Fay was beside Maxen and then Sarah.

Cosette kept a warm smile, looking at the faces looking back at her. Her gaze lingered on Maxen, sliding her hand to hold his hand. Every single one of them looked successful, and she knew they were successful.

Luke had his own business that was growing rapidly each year. Meanwhile, Remo just became a high-ranking individual in the police department. Amie was a well-known painter and Fay was a film director who had produced blockbuster films in recent years. Sarah attained her goal of becoming a flight attendant and was fulfilling her dreams by traveling across the globe.

Seeing them made Cosette very proud and happy.

"As I was saying, I want to thank all of you for coming today." Cosette's smile stretched. "I know all of you are very busy with your careers, so I deeply appreciate that you cleared your schedule today just to be with me."

"I have many things to tell you, but I'm afraid Fay will starve to death if I start listing them down." She chuckled at her own joke. "I know you guys are all in a place where you want to be, and I'm always proud of you all. As long as you are happy, I am also happy. I said this many times, but if times get rough, you can always come here since my home is also yours."

Her eyes softened, smiling back at them with appreciation and admiration. They were also smiling back at her, but unlike the peace and joy behind Cosette's eyes, there was one similar emotion in everyone's eyes.

Longing.

Because while Cosette was looking at them with a wide smile, all of them could only smile back at Cosette's portrait placed at the end of the rectangular table with the host's seat empty.