Saving the Villain

Maxen's family background was one hell of a complicated maze. It was crazy. He might've gotten out of working multiple jobs and gained wealth he never thought he would ever have. However, he was never happy with how his life turned out. If anything, it only got worse.

He soiled his hand with blood, put his life in danger every single day, and sacrificed his morals and beliefs, and regard for human life. What for? Money? Power?

Maxen had always known he would NEVER regret that decision, because... for him, he got nothing to lose. The world messed with him unprovoked, so he would mess with it until someone would put a hole in his head.

Of course, he regretted it in the end. When Mia came into his life, there was a point his guilt was killing him from the inside. For letting the world turn him into what it wanted him to become and for doing despicable deeds to the female lead. He had many regrets — thousands of them.

And yet, when he met his karma, he was smiling. Not happily, but peacefully.

He died with a smile as if he was finally free. And that only meant... Maxen joined the underground organization for solely one reason: TO DIE.

Cosette's eyes stung as she wiped the tears that were tempting to fall from her eyes. After writing a summary of what happened for the day, she ended up writing part of the novel in her own words. It had been a while since she recounted the details of the novel, so she was a little more emotional the more she thought about it.

"It's really unfair," came out a muffled voice, letting go of her pen to wipe her eyes. Unlike the sadness she felt before, her tears this time were more. She couldn't stop them.

Before, she felt bad and sad for Maxen because he was her favorite character. She understood him; she doesn't condemn what he did in the novel since she had always believed his end was something he deserved. But after meeting him and getting to know him in person, recounting the details of the novel hit her differently.

He didn't deserve a fate like that for sure.

"I hate the author." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself down. "No, no. It's not her fault. She's just writing their story and barely has power over the course of their action." — or what the author explained to them, to the readers.

Even so, her determination shot through the roof.

When Cosette opened her eyes, a blazing fire was beneath them. Although she had been trying, she had to step up to her game.

"That's right." She slammed her palms on the desk, nodding. "If I don't work on it, Maxen might join that organization... and I will not see him for many years. I can't let that happen."

She nodded and repeated what she just said in her head. "You can do it, self!" she cheered with her fist up before she went silent, thinking of a meticulous plan to stop the inevitable.

******

Meanwhile...

Maxen was lying down on his thin and old bed on the floor. He was using his arm as his head cushion, tossing and catching a small ball as he waited for sleep to strike him. He shut one of his eyes when he zoned out for a moment, failing to catch the small ball which landed on his left eye.

"Tss..." he clicked his tongue but didn't pick up the ball. Instead, he kept his gaze on the mold on the ceiling. The place was already old, and the mold was from the leak every time the weather was bad.

Whenever it was raining, Maxen usually had to keep everything in this small room in one place because it was leaking everywhere. He would also have to sleep sitting up, or don't sleep at all. He had never pitied himself before because he had already accepted his tough life.

That was what he had to endure living independently.

But now, he couldn't help but think about it after Conrad's offer.

"A charity, huh?" he mumbled, thinking that was all it was about. Cosette's father 'pitied' him, just like how she pitied him. Hence, he wanted to help.

"Pity..." he whispered. "Ugh... I hate her."

Maxen covered his eyes with his arm, grumbling in irritation. Of course, he didn't hate Cosette, but he hated she was this kind. If only she wasn't, then he wouldn't be in a dilemma.

'But then again, she didn't ask me to like her.' He peeked into one of his eyes and sighed quietly. "It's me who fell for her."

It was not like Cosette was treating him differently. She was kind to him, but also to everyone else. No matter how annoying Luke was, she would smile at him and understand him. She was like that to their classmate as well. The reason everyone just wanted to be friends with her.

She was like a magnet, and everyone was attracted to her — boys and girls alike.

"It's annoying," he grumbled with an ugly frown, turning to his side, facing the wall. His eyes were filled with bitterness as he clicked his tongue once again.

"How can you get annoyed at everyone who gets close to her?" he asked himself because this was the only time he could be honest and address his own issues. At first, it was alright with him since he had always wished for Cosette to leave him alone.

But the longer she stuck with him like a gum... like a shadow who would always be there following him in silence, he started to like and get used to her presence. Now he found everyone who would get chummy with her annoying. Luke was at the top of his list.

"They might look good together, but... he's a brat." He sighed and smacked his lips. "She's messing with my head. Her father isn't helping either. What a pair."

Maxen shut his eyes to force himself to sleep, but minutes had gone by and he couldn't fall asleep. He reopened his eyes and tossed to the other side. As soon as he did, his eyes landed on the phone right beside his pillow.

His eyes grew softer. During this time, Cosette would call or bombard his inbox with either messages or voice messages. But his phone hadn't rung even once.

"Did she have fun with him?" he wondered and his expression turned sour. "Shit! Max!"

He ruffled his hair in irritation as he ground his teeth at the feeling that was creeping up into his heart. It wasn't healthy anymore. This growing feeling towards her... was developing so dangerously fast. It came from being satisfied with just being her friend to getting all worked up at the thought of another person.

Well, it was because Cosette mostly had girl friends. So Luke's appearance was something that was new and broke Cosette's and Maxen's routine. Hence, he didn't know what to do with this sudden appearance of an annoying brat.

DING!

His thoughts were suspended as he hurriedly checked his phone. His sour expression relaxed just seeing her name on the broken screen.

"I'm like a creep," he whispered, checking his phone to see her message. His lips curled up into a subtle smile upon seeing her terse message. He could still hear her voice as he read:

[ You didn't say goodbye, Max. Tch. I will ignore you because I thought you will stay for dinner. But goodnight. Reply and you will get ignored! :angryemote: ]

"I never replied, though." He chuckled and shook his head, reading her message once more. Just when he was about to put his phone down, he halted and read her message once again.

The side of his lips curled up mischievously before he typed,

[ I was in a hurry. ]

Maxen pressed sent even before he could change his mind. He stared at his phone and chuckled when it was immediately read, imagining her expression. In their message log, Cosette would flood their message while his reply could be counted with his fingers.

Meaning, his replies were rare. He wasn't doing that on purpose, though. He simply didn't know how to respond.

"She's typing..." he laughed when she stopped typing and then typed once again. In the end, Cosette replied with a furious emoji with a message; "Did you reply because I told you I will ignore you?!"

He shook his head after a good laugh and instead sent her a reply, "Good night."

******

QUINN's RESIDENCE

Asher stopped by the entrance of the kitchen when he saw Luke rummaging through the kitchen drawers. He watched his brother turn the kitchen upside down while looking for something.

"How's your day?" he asked, walking up to the counter and leaning his arms against it. "Foods are not there. It's in the fridge."

Luke paused from rummaging through the drawers as he turned his head in his brother's direction. "I'm not dumb not to know where the food is. I'm not hungry — I had dinner with Cozie."

"Then what are you looking for?" Asher asked as this was so out of his brother's character. Luke was the type who would rely everything on their servants. His brows rose when a smug grin turned up on Luke's face.

"What's with that look?" Asher narrowed his eyes suspiciously while Luke jumped and leaned his arm from across the counter.

"Brother, I talked to Dad, and he gave me a thumbs up when I said I want to pursue Cozie." Luke grinned from ear to ear until his teeth were showing. He laughed evilly, patting Asher's shoulder lightly.

"I might get married before you, but it's fine. You will soon find someone you like. Wahaha!"

Asher's face contorted as his brother modulated his voice just now to sound like a wise old man. He shook his head lightly before he pushed himself away from the counter.

He sauntered towards the fridge. "By the way, the exams are approaching and --" Asher halted as he gazed back at Luke when the latter snickered.

"Brother, don't worry about that." Luke grinned evilly, hands on his hips. "This young master doesn't have to bother with that since I just transferred schools."

It took a moment for Asher to register his brother's words before his eyes dilated. "What?!"

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