Saving the Villain

"Forty..."

Maxen panted for air as he collapsed on the floor after doing push-ups. Sweats covered his skin, gazing at the ceiling as he caught up to his breathing.

"If she keeps feeding me, I don't think I will achieve the weight I'm trying to attain," he mumbled, thinking Cosette fed her this morning a generous breakfast. Although he would constantly tell himself it was fine and he would sweat it off, he couldn't help but complain every time he was working out.

He remained silent and stayed in the same spot for minutes until a thought crossed his head.

"This is my first trip with my classmates," came out a whisper, recalling the energy from the second they arrived at the convenience store. The ambiance of the group was at an all-time high — something he never thought he would experience in life. Their energy was like a virus — a good kind of virus that was infectious.

His brain recalled how they would talk about nonsense things, take pictures here and there, tease each other, and share a good laugh. Although Maxen didn't participate in all those, he was observing. Before he knew it, he was already chuckling.

His smile lines faded when he noticed it.

"They're infecting me with their nonsense." He shook his head slightly and turned his head to the side. He reached for the small towel and wiped the sweats on his forehead and then neck. Maxen then pulled his body up, taking off his damped shirt since he did a full-body workout before the push-ups.

As soon as he took off his shirt, his body that was initially covered with extra fat slimmed down significantly. His face fat was deceiving everyone. Although he didn't have six-pack abs, his body cuts were already shaped — thanks to all the hard labor he experienced to survive through the years. He didn't need a strict diet anymore, but rather, to tone his muscles.

There were scars across his body, especially on his back, which he inflicted growing up.

Maxen ruffled his hair with the towel, stretching his neck from one side to the other. He paused when he recalled something, making his eyes sharpen.

"That guy..." he muttered, recalling the look in Asher's eyes. All this time, Maxen believed no one could ever annoy him just as much as Luke was. However, after meeting Luke's big brother, he knew he was wrong.

Compare to Luke, Asher gave off this distinct yet hard to point out aura. But what Maxen knew was that he felt hostile towards the man. He disliked him the second their eyes met, and Maxen understood Asher felt the same.

"Why am I bothered by him?" he wondered, stretching his shoulders in a circular motion with his eyes closed. Good thing his body was now used to disciplined workouts. He didn't feel any muscle ache.

When he reopened his eyes slowly, a glint flickered across them. "Right... it's because of Cozie," he answered his own question. Seeing Cosette look at someone with pure admiration bothered him. It was fine if those gazes were for Conrad because the man was undoubtedly amazing in every aspect.

Conrad was the epitome of perfection. He deserved all the admiration from the people he would meet. Well, Maxen was biased, since Conrad wasn't that of a threat.

"Why does she have to be so perfect?" he mumbled in irritation as he drag himself up to take a bath. "She attracts all the annoying ones."

After living in the Blac's mansion, Maxen wouldn't stop at any fascinating amenities of this castle-like family vacation anymore. It was just another luxurious place for the rich. So, he ignored everything and went straight to the shower, moaning when the warm water hit his body.

Maxen took his precious time to shower until his head was clear from unnecessary thoughts. When he finished, he simply dressed up in a loose white t-shirt and sweatpants. An attire he was used to and also the reason his weight loss wasn't as noticeable as when he was topless.

Staring at the mirror while he dried his hair with a small towel, he cocked his head to the side.

"It's been an hour," he whispered, and his expression turned sour. "It's vacation and I don't want to ruin it. So, I guess I'll let that guy pester her."

Knowing Luke, he was surely pestering Cosette by now. That guy would grab any opportunity he could to propose to Cosette, especially whenever Maxen wasn't around. But after putting up with Luke for months, Maxen, although he hadn't admitted it verbally, Luke was pretty harmless. He wouldn't do anything to Cosette or force her to do something she didn't feel comfortable with.

So Maxen paced around the room at least once before he stopped.

"Nah... I'll just ruin it." He mumbled and sauntered off with the small tower still over his head.

******

Cosette tied her hair into a high bun, letting the waves of her hair dangling down her back. The cover-up Sarah lent her gave her confidence to walk with her swimsuit underneath. But on their way to the pool, Cosette told them to go on without her to call her father.

Sarah, Fay, and Amie were reluctant. But since Cosette insisted, they agreed to meet in the pool and not swim unless Cosette arrive. With that being said, the three girls went to the pool while Cosette searched for a silent place to talk to Conrad in peace.

"Yes, Papa. We've arrived safe and sound." She smiled, stopping in the corner of the hallway. Her eyes landed on the door in front of her, wondering what sort of room would be this far from their room.

"Have you eaten lunch?" she asked and Conrad hummed. "Healthy meal?"

"Mhm."

"Papa, your hums sounds lazier and lazier. Are you tired?" she inquired with furrowed brows.

Conrad, from the other end of the line, glanced up at the person sitting across from him in his office. A deep exhale escaped his nostrils upon seeing the blinding grin that turned up on Maynard, the CEO of the Quinn Holdings.

"After talking to a vampire who sucks human energy, I am," he answered, killing the grin on Maynard's face.

"A vampire?" Cosette blinked and rocked her head, assuming he meant meeting investors and business partners all day. "Papa, you shouldn't hang out with Maxen so much. You two are starting to sound alike."

"Cozie, take care of yourself while you are there, and don't let that young Quinn beguile you," Conrad warned, and this time, Maynard couldn't keep his silence anymore.

"Haha! I sent two young Quinns there, my future in-law. My future daughter-in-law can choose which one she likes," Maynard bragged proudly, setting Conrad aflame as the latter looked him dead in the eye.

"Cozie, don't tell anyone I'm the last person with this person."

Cosette chuckled, knowing Maynard had just shot himself in the foot. After hearing her father's constant side comments about Luke's father, Cosette had grown used to their peculiar relationship. It reminded her of Maxen and Luke's relationship, but with a tamer version.

"Anyway, Papa, I'll hang up now. My friends are waiting for me." She cleared her throat, knowing Conrad wouldn't be too sad since Maynard wouldn't leave him alone. "I'll see you in a few days."

"Mhm."

She was about to hang up, but mustered her courage and huffed. "Love you!"

Conrad's expression softened. "Take care. I love you."

Clack.

Cosette smiled from ear to ear, staring at her phone as if she had just talked to her lover. Ever since that night she frantically followed Conrad, she would practice showing her affection to her father verbally. Although actions spoke louder than words, words held power that could hurt or build anyone permanently. And she just wanted to tell Conrad how important he was in her life.

"I hope that puts him in a great mood." She giggled, turning on her heel to join the girls in the pool. However, just as she did, she jumped when the door in front of her flew open.

Cosette slowly turned her head towards the door, eyes from down to the north.

There, standing by the door, was Maxen with damp hair and a short towel over the top of his head. They looked at each other for a moment, and she was the first one to recover as she patted her chest upon recognizing him.

Meanwhile, Maxen was frozen on the spot.

His eyes fell to her eyes and then carefully, slowly down her body. He had lived with her under the same roof for months, but never once he had seen her wear clothes that revealed too much skin. That see-through cover-up covered nothing, as he could see her body even if he was from a mile away!

"Maxen! Do you want to give me a heart attack?" she huffed, snapping him back from his trance. "I thought there's a ghost --"

Cosette's sentence abruptly stopped when he seized a step forward with his hand outstretched. Before she could even grasp what was coming, his hand wrapped around her wrist, and without a moment's notice, Maxen pulled her inside the room.

SLAM!