Saving the Villain

"Thanks." Cosette smiled at Maxen after cleaning her wounded palm and dressing it up.

After their minor accident, the two of them returned to the bus. Everyone was still out there, so it was just the two of them. Fortunately, there was a nearby pharmacy and Maxen simply ran to buy the things he needed for her grazes.

He let out a quiet sigh and glanced up at her. "I can't take my eyes off of you even for a second."

"You make it sound like it's my fault."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"I know." Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line before smacking them. "Anyway, I'm okay. I already feel better after dressing up my hand and cleaning my knees."

Maxen studied her face for a moment before leaning back against his seat. Another deep exhale escaped his mouth, closing his eyes to rest them for a bit.

"That shameless girl…"

"Don't mind her." She chuckled, gazing down at her bandaged palm. Her smile grew subtle, settling on her seat beside the window.

'Is she really the female lead?' She wondered, thinking if that young lady was the female lead or simply share the same name. After all, sharing a name was normal. Cosette's driver and the head butler in the Blac's manor shared the same name.

It was a bit rare in novels, but they were unnamed characters, anyway. Still, she had this strong gut feeling she didn't mistake it — just like how she felt when she first bumped into Asher.

They had this distinct aura around them.

'But… she's a bit annoying.' She thought, pressing her lips into a thin line. 'Mia's character is strong, and she had gained much sympathy and admiration for not falling for her assaulter.' — which was Maxen.

For most readers who were sensible, Mia's tenacity in surviving all the atrocities done to her was admirable. It made the female lead stronger, and Asher's unconditional love for her was heartwarming.

On the other hand, readers' opinions towards Maxen were split. He might be a vicious character, but he still garnered support because of the depth of his character.

And there was Cosette, the villainess. The majority of readers admired this villainess, even though she was a villainess. All for the sole reason Cosette was a strong woman, with or without anyone's help. A character that was just perfect. It was hard to ship her with anyone, as she was perfect just the way she was.

'I told myself not to think about the novel so much,' Cosette secretly sighed once more. 'But that brief encounter with the female lead left mixed emotions in my heart.'

Her encounter with the female lead left a deep impression on Cosette's heart.

'I know she has a strong character but… she's a jerk.' She mentally shook her head. 'But well, this is ten years prior to the main story. Many things would happen in everyone's life before the main story begins.'

So, in other words, Cosette couldn't truly judge Mia. The female lead had a carefree life, and she wanted to believe there was a reason Mia acted that way.

What was important was ten years later, she would become somebody worthy of admiration and respect despite her wild days as a teen.

That was what life was.

They were still children in this world, and they would make poor decisions. All that mattered was when they grow into an adult, they already learned their lessons as teens. Hopefully.

Cosette glanced at Maxen and smiled subtly. "Hey, Max," she called, watching him open his eyes and cast her a side-eye.

"Hm?"

"Thank you," she expressed. "For today, I mean."

His brow arched. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just doing my job." Maxen looked ahead and then continued. "Your father is paying me handsomely to take care of you. I get to live in comfort, unafraid of rainy days and the sort. Don't thank me for doing my job."

"I'm thanking you not because of that." She drew a breath and leaned back, eyes ahead, just like him. "I'm thanking you for today and for yesterday and the days before today and after today. I'm thankful for your existence."

Her eyes softened as her smile grew gentle. "I'm glad I met you that day. But there were times I wonder if I met you too early or too late... things like that cross me. If I met you too early, am I changing your future? Or was it too late for you to forgive the world?"

Maxen glanced at her and bit his inner lip. Seeing her expression moved his heart and listening to her words brought myriads of questions to his head. However, he didn't dwell on the riddles she was spewing because one thing was clear to him.

He should be the one thanking her.

In his seventeen years of existence, no one had ever told him or made him feel he mattered. Matter of fact, people just kept telling him to just die since his existence wasn't making this world a better place. It wasn't like he asked to be born in the same place.

So, hearing someone that was thankful for his existence brought mixed emotions to his heart. But the dominant emotion was a positive one.

"Be kind, Max." Cosette returned his gaze and smiled. She reached for his hand and kept them secured with both her hands. "Earlier, you were about to strike a lady. I know you were angry, but always remember violence is not always the solution. I know what she said was triggering and even I was annoyed. However, these hands are far too beautiful to use for violence."

Cosette guided his hand and planted a peck on his knuckles before resting it on her cheek. She raised her eyes to him, keeping her eye contact and smiling subtly.

"There were other solutions to deal with other people. A better and much more painful jab without throwing your fist. Promise me. No matter what happens, unless you needed to defend yourself, don't use these hands for violence." She raised her brows, waiting for his reply.

But alas, Maxen just stared at her in silence. She was still holding his hand on her cheek, looking at him while smiling.

He lowered his eyes, and before he knew it, he already bent over. He titled his head to the side on instinct, holding her hand that was holding his on her cheek. His action caused her eyes to dilate, breath hitching with his lips on hers.

Cosette's back stiffened, feeling his hand buried in her hair. His hand settled on the back of her head, while the other reached over her shoulder to close the curtains behind her. For a moment, her brain fuzzed, trying to understand what was going on.

This was unlike last night when she caught him off guard and claimed his lips. It wasn't just a simple peck. Cosette realized that when his lips moved against hers and stuck his tongue inside her.

She grabbed his hand that was stilling her head on instinct, moving her gaze at him. But the second she looked at him with dilated her, all she saw was his shut eyes and his naturally long eyelashes.

Maxen had gone feral!

Cosette held her breath for a moment, eyes shaking. However, instead of pushing him away, she moved her tongue and touched the uninvited guest. Strange, she thought. How could his lips and tongue feel so strange, but at the same time, delectable?

Her eyes slowly shut closed as she loosened her grip around his hand. She wanted to feel him without looking at him. Just their lips trying to get to know the unfamiliar sensation and euphoria crawling under their skin.

Cosette didn't even know if what they were doing was the correct way of kissing. She simply followed his lead, letting him bite her lips ever so tenderly, and allowing his tongue to take hers in a dance. He took her breath away, tilting her head to the other side so she could breathe.

They kissed for minutes, and for some reason, she didn't feel any negative emotion about it. If anything, she wanted it to last. However, things had always had their end. After minutes of kissing, Maxen hissed and parted his lips from her.

Still holding her face, Maxen exhaled sharply. As he drew away, he watched her open her eyes slowly. They looked at each other in silence, unable to say a word for the longest time. Both were still wondering what just happened — or rather, just Cosette since Maxen was already mentally punching himself for losing control.

He shouldn't have done what he had just done just because her words moved him. But alas, that wasn't what angered him. It was the fact he didn't regret kissing her properly this time.

"Why didn't you push me?" he asked under his breath, keeping his face a palm length away from her. "Why, Cozie? Tell me now that you're only toying with me, so I won't hold on to a silly fantasy that you... that I matter to you."

Her lips opened and closed, trying to find her voice to speak. When she finally found it, a muffled voice came out.

"What makes you think... you don't?"