Saving the Villain

Cosette thought Luke was absent because his father scolded him badly because of her. A part of her brain also considered that he could have skipped classes again. However, looking at Luke from head to toe right now, her brows furrowed with uncertainty.

"What are you…" she trailed off, narrowing her eyes. Just moments ago, while Maxen and Cosette were eating ice cream in silence, Luke knocked on the transparent glass wall to get their attention. After that, Luke went inside the convenience store, sitting on the other stool beside Cosette.

"Did you skip classes?" she asked cautiously.

"No. I was absent." Luke blinked innocently, bobbing his face to examine her. "Did you?"

"Uh… what do you think?" Cosette laughed awkwardly, casting Maxen a look. Unlike Luke, who was in civilian clothes, the two of them were still in their uniforms.

"Tsk tsk tsk." Luke shook his head, tilting his head over the table to look past Cosette to Maxen. "Oy, Maxen Cloven. What the hell? Why are you tolerating her skipping classes? Tell me. You're a bad influence on her, are you?"

"I was the one who proposed it —"

"I never said I wasn't," Maxen replied bluntly, looking back at Luke. "What are you doing here if you didn't go to school?"

Cosette let out a deep exhale, letting Maxen's remarks slip. She then looked back at Luke, tilting her head as they patiently waited for Luke's reply.

"I moved," was Luke's reply in a nonchalant tone.

"What?" Maxen and Cosette frowned. "You did what?"

"I ran away from home." Luke pointed at the cashier. "Came here to ask if they need a part-timer."

"..."

Maxen and Cosette took three minutes to process Luke's remarks, looking at the latter wide-eyed. Did they hear him correctly? Luke ran away from home? And was thinking of applying for a part-time job as a cashier in this rundown convenient store?

"Look at you two…" Luke laughed mockingly, leaning his arms against the table. "What? You think I'm joking?"

"Did your dad disown you because I rat you out?" she blurted out in horror, only to turn pale when Luke nodded.

"Yes. He hate me so much he chased me out." Luke let out a deep exhale and frowned. "He didn't even give me an allowance and just threw all my things out. I'm all on my own now."

"What…" Cosette's mouth fell as guilt crawled under her skin.

"Pfft —!" Luke grinned after a minute of staring at the guilt swirling in her beautiful eyes. "I'm joking!"

"Luke!" she slapped his shoulder, grinding her teeth in anger. "Are you out of your mind?! Do you hate me that much because I told you about your dad? How can you —"

Cosette stopped herself from slapping his shoulder again, balling her eyes into a tight fist. She snapped her tongue in irritation, resting her arms over the table.

"I hate you," she huffed, looking ahead at the transparent glass wall in front of them. "Seriously. Don't lie about the small things."

Luke smacked his lips and huffed. "I didn't lie."

"Then don't joke like that!"

"I'm not joking." Cosette looked back at Luke at the latter's remarks. "Although I wasn't disowned or chased out, I ran away from home."

"You did?" Cosette furrowed her brows, observing the sincerity in his eyes. This time, she was certain he wasn't lying.

"Why?" she inquired under her breath, twisting her body to face him squarely. "Did something happen? Did anyone hurt you?"

Luke leaned back slightly, seeing the genuine worry in her eyes. "Don't look at me as if I just ruined my entire life."

"But why?"

"Because why not?" he cocked his head to the side, blinking almost innocently. "I'm old enough to take care of my own."

"Running away is easier said than done," Maxen chimed in solemnly, watching Luke gaze back at him. "I don't know how bad the scolding you received was that you ran away from home, but it's not that easy."

"Oy, Maxen. What do you see me as, huh? Did you think I don't know that?"

Maxen simply shrugged, as his answer would surely offend Luke. This second young master of the Quinn loved showing off the wealth he didn't work hard for. He was born well to boot and was raised privileged and spoiled.

Luke was a diva, and he just learned how to eat meals that this young master deemed 'humbling.'

In other words, Luke, no matter how determined he was, would struggle at the sudden downgrade in his lifestyle. No one could blame Maxen since that was the character Luke had shown from the beginning; arrogant, spoiled, and selfish.

No one would ever imagine Luke living a simple and humble life.

"Luke, did something happen?" Cosette intervened when the tension between Maxen and Luke's gaze felt distinct. "You can tell me. I will help if there's anything I can do."

"No," Luke's voice was distant, peeling his stony gaze from Maxen to Cosette. But when his eyes landed on her, the coldness in them faded. "I'm all good. I've decided, and I will prove to everyone, especially to this guy, that I can survive all on my own."

"Luke…" Cosette bit her tongue to stop herself from lecturing Luke. This guy seemed determined and she wouldn't be able to talk him out of it. She had to let time pass.

Unlike everyone else, Cosette's opinion about Luke was different. She couldn't blame Maxen and everyone who would hear about this to think Luke would eventually go home. Although she wasn't close to Luke in her previous life, she heard a lot about him.

Luke was a prideful person. If he ran away and was determined, he wouldn't go back home all on his own, no matter how tough it was. It would hurt his pride and inflated ego. He would rather starve than let that happen.

Thinking about his personality, Cosette mentally shook her head.

"Luke, you see, we skipped class." She cleared her throat, changing the subject. "We're still in our uniform. Can we crash at your place for the time being? Someone might see us and we'll be in trouble."

Luke blinked twice, staring at her puppy eyes. He bit his inner lower lips, looking away before he could pinch her cheeks.

"Don't look at me like that," he mumbled with a pout. "But sure. What can I do? You two looked like lost sheep and needs a shepherd. So pathetic."