Saving the Villain

"Ah! Coz — Cosette! You're hurting me! Ah! My hair!"

Maxen furrowed his brows as Luke's voice was the first thing he heard the second he stepped onto the rooftop. He fell asleep in the class, and when he woke up and didn't see Cosette until the end of the course, he went to find her. Fortunately, the rooftop was the first thing that came into his head and his guess was correct.

Maxen followed Luke's shouts as if he was being butchered, only to tilt his head upon seeing Cosette beating up Luke.

"What are you doing?" his voice put a stop at the two, watching them slowly turn their heads in his direction. Maxen's under-eye twitched, seeing Luke's messy hair and Cosette's red face due to anger.

"Max!" Luke's eyes shone with hope, hopping away from the crazy girl named Cosette to hide behind Maxen. The latter flinched when Luke held his arm while hiding behind him, but after glancing at him, Maxen didn't have the heart to shove him away.

"Lucas Quinn." Maxen snapped his eyes ahead upon hearing Cosette's shaking voice. Cosette was already standing in front of them, crooking a finger at Luke. "Come here at once."

"No, you crazy girl!" Luke harrumphed. "Didn't you say we're friends?! How can you beat me up?! I'm the victim here! I was traumatized!"

"Traumatized…" Cosette laughed condescendingly while the fire in her eyes blazed. "You call it being traumatized when you're clinging to him like that?!"

"Because you're scaring me!"

The deep line on Maxen's forehead deepened, only to freeze at Cosette's following remarks.

"You should've thought about that before you decided to defile Maxen all night." Cosette cracked her knuckles and stomped her feet forward. "I'm teaching you a lesson today."

Cosette stretched her arm to grab Luke, stopping when Maxen held her wrist in time. A deep sigh of relief escaped Maxen's nostrils as he snapped back to reality in time.

"That's enough, Cozie," he said cooly, squashing down the unpleasant feeling from last night's memories. "Last night… was an accident."

Cosette slowly looked up at him and gasped. "Max…"

"It will not happen again. So, let him go."

"Max, why do you sound like you're having an affair now?" she scrunched her nose up while Maxen's face slightly contorted. "Are you and Luke…?"

"Ew! Just what kind of image do you have in your head?!" Luke gasped in horror, jumping to Maxen's other side. "Oy, Max! Why are you making it sound like we're having an affair, huh?!"

Maxen's expression died, darting his eyes between Cosette and Luke. Another deep exhale escaped his nostrils, running his tongue across his inner cheek.

"I am simply telling the truth." Maxen cast Cosette a dull look and then shifted it to Luke. "Or was it intentional?"

"Of course not!" Luke immediately denied it with all his might. "It was the cockroach, okay!? Don't you know how scary it was to see a flying cockroach around you?"

He then glared at Cosette while grinding his teeth angrily. "All the hair on my body raised when it flew in my direction! I didn't even know what I'll do later!"

"Cosette." Maxen nodded and set his eyes back to Cosette. "Stop now."

Cosette frowned, almost pouting. After hearing Luke's explanation, she couldn't blame him anymore. For her, anyone would panic if the presence of the flying cockroach. Still, the disappointment and bitterness lingered in her heart.

'While I was wishing to cuddle with Maxen last night…' she shot Luke glaring daggers. 'He was living my wish! How aggravating! I can't believe I sent Maxen away and suffered all night for nothing!'

Another deep exhale came out of Maxen's nose, seeing that didn't appease her. He raised a hand and planted it on her head, offering her a subtle smile.

"I'm fine. Don't worry," he reassured, assuming she was angry because she thought what happened traumatized him. Little did Maxen know, Cosette's reason was pettier and actually selfish at that.

"Gosh… don't smile like that." Cosette took his hand away and folded her arms under her chest. Meanwhile, Maxen arched a brow at Luke.

"What?" Luke also arched a brow, raising his chin up.

"The class had started. We should all go back," Maxen proposed, casting both of them a look.

"Eh!? Why would I go?" Luke scrunched his nose up in dismay.

"Because Cosette will skip class if you do."

"Eh?"

Maxen snapped his eyes at Cosette. "Should we leave him?"

"I already skipped class because of him. I'm not returning without this guy!" Her anger was apparent, but her intention didn't change. Cosette clicked her tongue at Luke, still annoyed at him.

'I can't believe I have to babysit his brother last night, only for him to repay me this way. Hmp!' she looked away.

"See?" Maxen returned his attention to Luke. "Let's go."

"Why do I have to care?" Luke snorted. "It's not like I'm asking her to skip class with me. I can do whatever I want and she can do whatever she wants. Why do I need to listen to you?"

Maxen smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I don't recall sounding like I'm inviting you. I was telling you, let's go."

Luke gulped and cleared his throat, taking a step back. For some reason, he somehow felt pressured, despite Maxen smiling like an angel. Who knows? That behind that angelic smile lies evil thoughts?

"Fine!" Luke huffed as it seemed he had no choice, anyway. These two… or rather, Maxen would drag him back to their classroom by means or foul. "Gosh… these two. Isn't it unfair? You two skip classes whenever you like and no one drags you back, but it's different for me?! Ugh! How upsetting!"

Luke grumbled on and on as he stomped his feet away. Watching him leave the rooftop, Maxen shook his head and gazed at Cosette.

"Cosette, let's go," he invited calmly, watching her nod once. Taking that as a yes, Maxen turned on his heel to follow Luke. However, he stopped when Cosette suddenly grabbed the hem of his uniform.

He looked back, only to see Cosette frowning at him. "You kissed him?"

Maxen blinked twice, only to see that Cosette was still pouting as if the entire world wronged her. Initially, he thought Cosette was upset with Luke because she tends to be overprotective of him. But now that she was looking back at him with this adorable expression, he finally realized it was a different case.

"You're jealous?"