Saving the Villain

The whole day went in a blur. It was just like a repeat of the day before; classes, Luke asking her to share the textbook, Luke and Maxen glaring daggers during lunchtime, then classes until the school bell rang. Sarah went by like usual, smiling as if she didn't have a problem, and no one noticed it. Even Cosette had to pretend she didn't know because she knew pitying Sarah was the least her friend wanted.

"Ugh... I don't even know why we're walking like this." Cosette was snapped back from her trance when she heard Luke grumbling beside her. She turned her head and gazed at Luke, only to see him grinding his teeth while glaring daggers at Maxen's back.

"We're not even walking side by side with him — not that I care! Hey! Can you slow down!?!"

A light chuckle escaped her mouth as Luke's expression changed with every passing second. His brows rose as he gazed back at her, tilting his head.

"What?"

"Nothing." She shook her head and gazed ahead, furrowing her brows as she noticed the small distance between her and Maxen. Cosette and Luke were walking closer than in the past.

"I think I'm having an existential crisis," she mumbled, glancing back at Luke. "Should we buy ice cream on our way?"

Luke scrunched his nose up and frown. "As if I have a choice."

"Well, you always have a choice." She shrugged. "You can go ahead. You don't have to walk me home..."

"No!" Cosette flinched at his aggressive reply, seeing Luke point at Maxen. "Even if my feet get obliterated by walking around the world, I don't care for as long as I'm sure he won't have a private moment with you!"

"Luke... calm down..." she blinked twice as she just noticed Luke was more riled up today. Now that she thought about it, Maxen was also in a terrible mood. Although Maxen was quiet and wasn't as aggressive as Luke, Cosette could feel the dark shroud hovering over Maxen.

She gulped as she studied Maxen's back. He was pissed, and it was very obvious to her.

'I couldn't pay attention the whole day, but... did I miss something?' she wondered, ignoring Luke's consistent prattling while he would yell at Maxen from time to time. 'But I don't think something happened since Luke stuck with me like glue and I stuck with Maxen like his assistant.'

Cosette pondered about it, but no matter how she racked her brain, she just couldn't remember taking her eyes off of these two. And then it hit her. The abduction!

"Luke, are you sure nothing happened yesterday?" she asked in a quiet voice because she called Luke yesterday, but he reassured her the two of them were cool. Obviously, that wasn't what seemed to have happened.

"Of course!" he exclaimed for everyone to hear. "I dropped him off because I have a big heart!"

She narrowed her eyes but nodded, even though she doubted that was just what happened. Instead, she stood on her toes and reached for his head, ruffling his hair slightly.

"You do have a big heart." She admitted with a smile so he could calm down even just for a bit before he could have a heart attack. Fortunately, it worked.

Luke blinked twice and touched his head when she retrieved her hand. His lips curled up subtly, gazing back at her before she looked ahead.

'That feels nice,' he thought, scratching the back of his head. He bit his lips when its corners stretched broader, pleased with the praise and the appreciation of his sacrifice yesterday. Even though his blood pressure would naturally skyrocket with just the sheer thought of Maxen, Cosette was there to soothe him.

'Hehe... that jerk.' His eyes glinted dangerously the second he set them on Maxen's back. 'Did he think he can get ahead of me? This young master here is bright.'

Meanwhile, Maxen, who was walking only a few steps ahead of them, had a dark expression. Although he never looked back once, he didn't need to check if the two were still following him. Luke had swallowed a megaphone and anyone could hear his voice across the area.

So, Maxen could also hear their conversation. His expression darkened even more when Cosette agreed Luke had a big heart. How come?! Were they talking about the same person here? Was Maxen the only one who noticed the horns in Luke's shadow?!

The more he thought about it, the more his blood boiled. Not only did he have to put up with Luke yesterday, but the latter also had the nerve to use Maxen just to get praised by Cosette? It was petty, but even so, it angered Maxen.

'That jerk...' Maxen ground his teeth as the invisible flames around him blazed wildly. 'I'll get back to him one day.'

With that being said, the three of them walked to the bus stop, stopping by the small convenience store to eat ice cream to enjoy, which they finished while waiting at the bus stop. It was the third time the three of them took the bus stop, Maxen riding with them until she got off.

"Tch!" Luke clicked his tongue in irritation as soon as they stood under the shade.

"Max, do you have work after this?" Cosette inquired, ignoring Luke's mumbling, facing Maxen who got out of the bus last.

"I do." His reply was short and simple, like usual.

"Won't you be a little late?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm."

Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line as she sized him up. Maxen's expression remained aloof and unchanging. Well, knowing him, he wouldn't walk her home if he would get late for work.

"Alright." She nodded and, like usual, she didn't ride the car waiting for her and walked with the two instead. This time, Cosette and Luke walked ahead while Maxen kept a few steps from behind them.

His eyes were fixed on her back, lips kept in a tight, thin slash. Actually, he was already on his way to work. Not just part-time work, but a full time that could sustain his living expenses, school, and more. Today, he would come to finalize his contract with his new employer.

'I wonder what would be her reaction?' he wondered, a little conflicted since he had already expected the worst. A shallow breath slipped past his lips, following them, and before he knew it, the three of them were standing in front of the large gates of the Blac residence.

As usual, Cosette huffed and pivoted on her heel, facing the two of them with a smile. The second her eyes landed on Maxen, her brows rose as he hadn't spoken or waved her goodbye. He stood still. Luke also grinned from ear to ear and she saw no speeding car in sight.

"Hey, you can now go." Luke elbowed Maxen lightly, raising his chin up. "She's already here. So she's safe. This young master here will stay with her and you will not disturb us."

Maxen cast Luke a nonchalant side-eye. "I'm going to work." He then pointed at the gates.

"What?" Luke frowned while Cosette tilted her head to the side.

"Huh?"

Maxen simply let out a quiet sigh and shook his head. He didn't explain himself as he marched forward, walking past Cosette, leaving Luke flabbergasted when Maxen entered the gates and the guards let him!

"Hey! That's trespassing!" Luke yelled the second Maxen was beyond the gates. Meanwhile, Cosette took a moment to get the gist of what was happening. All she could do was stare at Maxen's back, frozen in her spot, drowning in the ocean of question marks.

******

"That sly fox...!" Luke grumbled while stress eating in the Blac residence's garden as he and Cosette went straight there. "Cozie, did you know about this?"

"Huh?" she snapped out of her trance as she gazed at the person across from her.

"That fat — I mean, your friend! Did you know he will be working in your house?! What is his position? A gardener?"

"I don't know..."

"How come you don't know?!"

The deep lines on her forehead deepened as she lowered her eyes. The previous Cosette would surely know because she was literally the person managing the mansion. She had full authority over it, including the people working in the manor. But ever since she inhabit this body, Cosette stayed away from the original Cosette's routine.

"Papa didn't mention anything about it," she mumbled because Maxen went straight into Conrad's study because her father arrived when they were still walking in the driveway. She cupped her jaw and glanced back at the mansion.

"Will he really work in here?" she wondered silently before the side of her lips curled up. But before her lips could even form into a half-smile, Cosette jump when Luke suddenly snapped his fingers and pointed at her.

"Don't smile!" he urged, causing her brows to furrow. "Cozie, you're breaking my heart! It seems like you like this news! This is what I'm saying when I said he is only taking advantage of you! Look at him now!"

Cosette smacked her lips and shrugged, cupping her cheek, keeping the straw in the juice in between her lips. "I hope my dad adopts him," she confessed and smiled, causing Luke to gasp in dismay.