Saving the Villain

Time quickly passed by just like any other day. Luke and Fay stayed motivated throughout, while Sarah, Cosette, and Amie tried their best to ignore the two. It was good they wanted good grades, and criticizing their enthusiasm wasn't an appropriate reaction from a dear friend.

However, that was proven to be a challenge throughout the day. Fortunately, the three managed until they separated from the school gates.

As Sarah, Fay, and Amie were walking home, Amie couldn't help but voice out their curiosity.

"It's good that Luke is back on track," said Amie, glancing at Sarah, who was walking beside her. "But since when did Luke and Maxen on good terms? Weren't they fighting over Cosette back then?"

Sarah's face stiffened. Right… no one knew yet, she thought.

A bright smile turned up on Sarah's face as she faced the curious Amie.

"They've always been together since they were always stuck with Cozie," Sarah answered, trying her best to conceal the fact that Maxen and Cosette had made it official. "You know how Luke was. He might be loud and a little insensitive at times, but he's a good person. Maxen was the quiet type, but I'm sure it's a mix of a good dynamic."

"A good dynamic?" Amie looked up as she imagined how Luke and Maxen were. "Well, make sense."

Sarah secretly heaved a sigh of relief when Amie nodded. No one had ever noticed the gradual change in Maxen and Luke's relationship. After all, those two had started off on the wrong foot. Luke transferred to school because of Cosette, but Maxen was always stuck with Cosette — or what it appears like — not knowing it was actually Cosette who stuck with Maxen like glue.

"But did Luke stop pursuing Cozie?" this time, the distracted Fay finally joined their world, since gossip was much more interesting than stressing over her score on their tests.

"That's right. I remember Luke used to woo Cosette like a madman." Amie nodded, recalling the time when Luke showered Cosette with daily gifts and flowery words every single day. But now, Luke was more tamed. "Now that I think about it, his relationship with Cozie somehow… looked more strange."

"Like a guy best friend?" Fay gazed at Amie, only to shake her head. "It's more like Luke got tired of chasing after Cozie, but ended up falling in love with Maxen."

"What?" Sarah gasped incredulously, looking at Fay and then at Amie.

"You think so too?" asked Amie, rendering Sarah speechless while making Fay nod.

"It's obvious! I mean, I've read a considerable amount of BLs and not all protagonists were into the same gender." Fay shrugged as if she was already convinced at the conclusion she had in her head. "Who knows? While pursuing Cosette, Luke and Maxen somehow developed feelings for each other! You know, Cozie. She's nice to everyone, but others mistake her kindness for something else. It's a good thing she knew how to refuse and say 'no.' So, I will not be surprised if she rejected Luke and Maxen while the two were having a drink to wash down their heartache."

"And then their eyes met and felt vulnerable?" Amie clasped her hand excitedly, imagining the scene of Maxen and Luke, both intoxicated, and how they felt this sudden attraction as they looked into each other's eyes.

Fay nodded, walking with her arms crossed. "You know what happens when that magical pull happens."

"Kyah!!"

Listening to their conversation, Sarah carefully pinched the bridge of her nose. She loved her friends, but sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder if they were still in their sound minds. How could they conclude that Maxen and Luke ended up together instead of one of them capturing Cosette's heart? It would even make more sense if Maxen and Luke gave up, or simply got rejected by their dearest Cosette, or got friend-zoned.

Sarah sighed, casting the invested Amie and Fay as they exchanged conclusions about how Maxen and Luke realized their feelings for each other, a look. They already even thought of a scene where those two guys were holding back from confessing their feelings and had this strange secret affair no one knew about.

'I feel sorry for them,' Sarah mumbled internally, letting out a deep exhale. 'But Cozie and Max wanted to keep things a secret for now. So…'

Sarah looked away and shook her head, listening to how far Amie and Fay's wild imagination could take this plot in their heads.

******

Meanwhile…

"Achoo!" Luke shivered and rubbed his shoulders on his way home.

"Are you okay?" asked Cosette as she glanced at him.

They were on their way to Luke's apartment to idle. She told her driver to pick them up before dinner, so they have plenty of time to play around in Luke's place. Still, their reason for that was because of what happened yesterday. It was also the same reason they were taking the long route, lest those delinquents planned to ambush them with their buddies.

"I feel like someone is talking about me." Luke shook his head and snapped his tongue. "I know I am handsome and they can't help talking about me, but damn… it feels ominous."

"Gosh." Cosette shook her head, scrunching her nose up at his confidence. However, her expression changed when she turned her head to Maxen. "Max, are you okay? You look a bit pale."

Maxen slowly looked back at her. "I feel a bit strange," he said, causing her steps to slow down.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" she asked worriedly, looking at him from head to toe. Luke had also set his eyes on Maxen with how worried Cosette sounded.

"No, I am not hurt anywhere." Maxen held her hand carefully. "But I feel strange."

"What do you mean, strange?" she returned.

"I can't describe it."

"Strange… like someone is badmouthing you or something?" Luke guessed, watching how the two look back at him.

"Something like that, but more like, instead of cursing me, they were saying something weird."

"Damn…" Luke gasped. "Same, bro. Same. Oh, my goodness. I suddenly feel scared of my life. Is someone trying to voodoo me or something?"

"Don't know." Maxen shrugged.

Cosette looked to her left and then to her right. "Is someone pairing you up again?" she wondered, causing their steps to halt, their expression horrified.

"What?" she asked, stopping after taking two steps ahead before looking back. "I mean, you two don't look so bad."

She raised a finger and pointed at Maxen and then at Luke. "A perfect top and bottom," she giggled, just playing around since she knew this topic was something the three of them didn't want. Although she used to like it before about Maxen and Luke, she didn't want to share Maxen anymore. Still, it was nice ammo to tease Luke.

"Oy, Cosette," called Luke under his breath, but before he could reveal what sort of emotions he felt, Cosette chuckled.

"You don't have to be shy, Luke. We'll become rivals~! And I'll make sure to crush you!" she giggled before skipping her steps away.

"That little devil —!" Luke ground his teeth, watching her back as she skipped happily after getting on his nerves. "Oy, Cosette! Don't let me catch you or I'll surely drag you to the temple to clean that dirty brain of yours!"

"Waha! Don't be so defensive, Luke. It's fine to be a bottom~!"

"You…!" Luke cracked his fingers as he took gigantic steps to follow her and correct the wires of her brain.

Meanwhile, Maxen just watched Cosette skip her steps while laughing evilly and Luke stomping his feet to follow her. He let out a deep exhale, but then subtly smile watching Cosette tease Luke, and Luke trying to catch her to butcher her alive.

In Maxen's eyes, no matter how Luke and Cosette bantered, they still have a strong friendship like no other. He might be aware that Luke still had lingering feelings for Cosette, but Maxen was certain Luke was growing even more mature now.

The three of them, although unplanned, had a good relationship with a strong foundation. Cosette might be his lover, but she was also his best friend. Luke might used to be his rival and also the reason Maxen was now in the Blac mansion — because of Maxen's insecurities back then — had become a great friend and ally.

"I'm sure she'll go to me later complaining about how annoying he was, when, in fact, she's the one who teased him first." Maxen sighed once again, but the side of his lips curled up into a smile. "Cozie! Watch your step!"

"La la la~!" Cosette seemed to not hear Maxen as she continued to hum whilst teasing Luke. When the latter got closer, she let out a shrieked and picked up her pace.

"Really…" Maxen shook his head, following the two as Cosette and Luke's voices filled the street.

Little did they know, a black sedan stopped at the end of the street they came from, which had been following them since they left school.