Saving the Villain

Months had gone by after Maxen's last visit since he had to fly to different places to do business. It had been his routine and schedule, and he had gotten used to this after many years. However, as they were in another country, they received a piece of heartbreaking news.

The old man was dead.

Maxen and Remo had to fly back the moment they heard the news. Under Maxen's orders, they held off the preparation for the funeral so they could see the old man for one last time.

Obviously, Remo was devastated. The old man was his only family, and he was the main reason he worked for Maxen to live a hellish life together. Although he knew his old man wasn't getting any younger, he wasn't ready for the loss.

Ironic, how they lose people every single day.

After Remo bawled his eyes out in the morgue, Maxen snuck inside in the middle of the night. Standing beside the old body of the old man, Maxen kept his eyes on the old man's face. His wrinkles were still there, but he looked a little different from that jolly old man.

"Boss." a man in a suit approached Maxen quietly. "I investigated the matter, and it is just as the reports say. The cause of death was natural, and there was no foul play. He is old and had been sick. So…"

"Find out who killed him." Maxen cut the man off without taking his eyes off the old man.

pAn,Da n<0,>v,e1 "But boss —"

"Don't give me that bullshit." Maxen's jaw tightened as he clutched his hand into a tight fist. "Find out who did it, and bring him to me. I'm going to kill that motherfucker."

The man in a suit pressed his lips into a thin line and lowered his head. He didn't argue anymore, even though he knew Maxen's order was complete nonsense. The old man died in a cardiac arrest and had been coughing so terribly bad.

Even so, who could blame Maxen?

Maxen might lose people every single day, but he always settles the scores. He avenges them. They don't die in vain; Maxen would definitely send them to hell where his people could have a fistfight with their killers for eternity.

So this loss… Maxen had to settle the score. He had to. Even if it was impossible, he had to. Because if he didn't release this building turmoil within, he would lose it, totally.

When the man in a suit left Maxen in the morgue, he carefully reached for the old man's hand. They were cold, freezing. Maxen had dealt with so many deaths that he knew the old man was dead.

"I… haven't told you," Maxen whispered, squeezing the cold hand mildly. "I met this gorgeous lady while I was out of the country."

A thin layer of tears coated Maxen's eyes, but no tears escaped his eyes. Perhaps, it was because crying was unfamiliar to him anymore, or maybe… it was just that he was good at holding back his tears. Because tears in that organization meant weakness, Maxen had to grit his teeth to learn not to cry. If he didn't, they would just hurt him again and again until every last drop of tears in him was gone.

"Her name was Cosette." Maxen smiled subtly. "She's good, stunning — the most stunning woman I've ever seen. She's also very sexy and smart. I never had a good time with anyone before, but she's different. I am mesmerized by every word she says and everything she does."

Maxen remained quiet lest the old man would happily respond to him and nag him to bring this lady so they could meet. Remo had a few girlfriends before, and each time he bring a new one to introduce it to the old man, Remo would only get scolded afterward.

But then, the old man would nag Maxen and ask him repeatedly when would he bring a woman with him. Maxen would just laugh it off that time, knowing all the girls he met were just good for a night. But now… he wanted this old man to introduce a lady for the first time, but… it was impossible.

Maxen couldn't see the old man's reaction anymore, but he wanted to talk to him. For one last time while holding him for one last time, staring at his face for the last time. He never thought he wanted to tell so many things to this old man until now that he couldn't hear him.

"I told you to not die yet…" he whispered, bending over until his forehead was touching the cold hand he was holding. "I haven't asked for forgiveness yet. I didn't realign your boy's life — I ruined it. Remo had to kill for me, he had to use his body to take a bullet for me, and he had to suffer for me. He's not doing well — I am not doing well. I am breaking every fucking day."

"How dare you die?"

Maxen vented out the truth he had kept for many years from him, hoping this was enough to wake him up. But that was all Maxen's wishful thinking. Even if he said many things, the old man just grew even colder and didn't speak.

That day, Maxen lost the only family he had. Remo stayed with him despite the fact that he no longer needed to provide funds for his grandfather's medical needs. Maybe because Remo got used to this life and didn't know how to start over, or because he considered Maxen his only family and a brother he wished to take care of, even when Maxen was always in the wrong.

Together, they walked deeper into the pits of hell, bearing the guilt of lying to the old man's face about what they actually do to keep him alive.

[PRESENT TIME]

Maxen watched an old man scold Remo. The latter was sitting obediently beside the bed, his head hanging low.

"Grandpa, don't worry." The old man huffed before turning his head to Cosette, who was sitting on the other side of the bed with Luke. "I will surely tell you if he's not doing good in school!"

"I will beat the crap out of him if he gets in trouble!" Luke added, nodding reassuringly at the old man.

"Aiya!" The old man darted his eyes between Cosette and Luke; his grandson's "new friends."

"So, you do not have to worry and focus on getting better, alright?" Cosette held the old man's hand and smiled sweetly. "We got him."

Meanwhile, Remo only glanced at Cosette and Luke before he scoffed dryly. However, that short scoff was clearly heard by the three, warranting their glares. Remo gulped a mouthful of saliva before he hung his head while the old man scold him again. This time, Luke and Cosette also joined, fueling the old man so he scold Remo even harder.

Watching them from the corner, Maxen's eyes softened.

'I'm thankful to see him again,' he thought before his brows furrowed. 'Again?'

Maxen cocked his head to the side, knowing he hadn't seen this old man, and that sudden thought was something that somehow confused him as well. But even so, his heart felt relieved seeing Cosette, Luke, Remo, and Remo's grandpa in one picture.

It felt like… something that Maxen had always wanted to see. As if he had always pictured this from happening, and they just didn't have a chance.