Saving the Villain

Ring... ring... ring...

Maxen arched a brow as his phone kept vibrating in the back pocket of his pants. Even without seeing who it was, he knew it was Cosette. He ignored it as he closed the convenience store he was working at. It was rather early for him, but it was the orders from his boss, which he found a little strange.

Once the padlock was secure, he reached for his phone and gazed at the broken screen. A subtle smile appeared on his face, only to shake his head upon realization.

"Have some shame, will you?" he ruffled his head, pacing back and forth in front of the shop in irritation. "Why would you smile like that?"

Deep down, he still believed Cosette was just kind and was concerned about him as a friend. He shouldn't like her... at least, not in a different way.

"She's kind and friendly and warm... and beautiful," He stopped and huffed, glaring at her name on the broken screen of his phone. "You're ugly and fat and poor, Maxen. She deserves someone... someone better."

His tone grew bitter as he smiled wearily at the ringing phone. Logically, that was correct. If Cosette didn't transfer school, he wouldn't even meet her in this lifetime. Her life... she was a real princess, a star that was beyond his reach. He shouldn't even think about any romantic fantasies about her.

Maxen knew where to stand. That was why... it was even harder to stay beside her.

DING!

His brows rose as the call ended without him picking up, showing the numbers of miscalls from her. And then another notification popped up, and it was her message.

[ Maxen Cloven, I have tons of stories to share... are you really busy? ]

"Tch." He clicked his tongue through his gritted teeth before another message from her popped up. This time, it was just a voice message... followed by more, spamming him with voice messages.

He watched them flood his inbox until she finally stopped. Maxen stared at the screen for a minute after the messages stopped coming and then scrolled up to her first voice message. When he took a step from his spot, he held his phone near his ear and listened to her voice.

"Maxen, have you eaten dinner, at least? You always work hard, that's why I'm always worried. I had this cookie at the party we attended and I met new friends..." his eyes softened the more he listened to her voice, telling him what she did throughout the day as if she didn't want him to miss a day in her life.

Cosette even nagged every once in a while like a worried mom, and he would chuckle every time. There was no doubt this was Cosette, he thought. She would nag him and then continue to what she was saying. She was silly, but her silliness was her charm.

"*sigh* Max, will you even listen to all the voice messages I sent you?" she wondered in a sleepy voice, yawning quite adorably. "Honestly, I don't know. You might not, though, because you're tired,"

No, he would listen to them. Actually, the ones she sent weren't even enough for him. He would surely replay them until he falls asleep.

"But anyway, always take care of yourself, alright? I mean, always remember that under the same sky, someone is sincerely concerned about you. I only want the best for you... you don't have any idea." It was silly of her to send this type of voice message, thinking he wouldn't listen to them anyway.

Maxen stopped the more he listened to her voice messages until he reached the last one.

"It's really sad that I didn't get to hear you, but... I hope you have a peaceful and good dream." She chuckled sweetly before she yawned once again. "Good night, Max. I'll still bother you tomorrow. Hehe."

He stood in the same spot and in the exact same position for a minute before lowering his hand with the phone. He looked up at the clear night sky, ignoring the cables hanging over the establishment of an old area in the town.

"Under the same sky and moon..." he whispered gently, eyes soft, and a heavy heart. "... goodnight, Cosette."

That night, something went crystal clear to Maxen. He was filthy, shameless, and ambitious because...

He liked her. Not just as a friend, but he liked her.

He didn't know when it started or the exact reason.

Was it because she was kind to him? Was it because she was the first person to approach him with a pure intention? Or was it the fact that she didn't see him or look at him just like everybody else?

He didn't know which for sure, but he knew it was a little bit of everything.

Either way, he liked her and he would be forever grateful for her existence.

Just like this night, there was a moon that radiated to those who didn't have the privilege to have light to see through the night.

Cosette was his moon. The light in his pitch-black path and world... but the moon was too far beyond his reach as well.

*****

The next day...

"Hello! Good morning!"

Cosette blinked twice to see if she was seeing things correctly. Right across from her in the dining hall... was Luke Quinn.

"Sir Blac, thank you for letting me join you for breakfast." Luke turned and flashed Conrad a bright smile. The latter stared at the young boy with his classic unresigned expression, sighing faintly when he recalled the morning call he received this morning.

It was Maynard. Luke reminded him of his father.

"Dig in." Conrad nodded and motioned his hand, glancing at Cosette when she finally recollected her thoughts.

"Luke, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"You said you're only available during weekends. It's Sunday today, isn't it?" His smile grew brighter, almost making Cosette and Conrad shield their eyes as he was blinding.

'Goodness! My heart!' she mentally planted her hand on her chest, moved and not surprised by Luke's personality since this was surely something he would do.

"Ahh..." she laughed awkwardly, the complete opposite reaction from her internal dialogues.

"Huh?" Baffled at her awkward reaction, Luke tilted his head. "Do you have plans for today?"

Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line and gazed at him for several seconds. "Yes, but if you don't mind, you can come." The side of her lips curled up, thinking that this could be a blessing in disguise.