Saving the Villain

"Enjoy your weekends...!" Cosette left her class with a friendly remark before packing her things and leaving. She had been a teacher for a couple of months now, and she could confidently say she didn't regret her decision.

Never in Cosette's wildest imagination did she ever think she would become a teacher. Whether in her previous life or the current one, it didn't cross her. Thus, it surprised her how she enjoyed teaching and being a second parent to her students.

It reminded her of the young Cosette and Maxen. They said the school was like a second home, but Cosette realized that wasn't always the case. Sometimes, school and home were a youth's main battlefield. That was why she thought she could make a school a place a child could have peace. She might not change the world, but at least she could keep youth from becoming another Maxen Devilsin.

"Teacher Cosette." A male teacher approached Cosette the moment she came into the faculty.

Cosette's steps slowed down, brows raised. "Yes, Sir Sebastian?" her steps stopped, facing the P.E. teacher who was still in his tracksuit as always.

"The faculty staff are planning to have dinner together. Do you want to go?"

"Uh..." Cosette pressed her lips, looking back at him apologetically, even before she could respond. "I would love to, but I have an important family dinner tonight."

"Ohh..."

"I'm really sorry. Maybe I can come next time."

"It's alright." The P.E. teacher, Sir Sebastian, scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly. "I mean, family is important and you are very family oriented. Anyway, if your arrangement gets canceled -- not that I am praying for it -- you can come."

"Mhm." Cosette chuckled, nodding at her colleague before he awkwardly bid her farewell. As she parted ways with her, the smile on her face remained, walking back to her desk.

Cosette wasn't dense not to know that Sebastian had a little crush on her. She was already mature enough to notice, but she simply didn't pay attention to it. After all, Sebastian was harmless; all he did was invite her to legit teacher dinners and gatherings. No more, no less.

Moreover, everyone in the faculty knew she was married as well. Although they didn't know who her husband was, she preferred it that way. It was the reason she entered this school; people would treat her just as equally to everybody else.

Therefore, Cosette had all sorts of colleagues. For instance, Sir Sebastian. He was loud and robust, but he was actually very shy and kind. Some teachers were strict and unmoving, making Cosette feel they were watching her every move. Some were friendly to Cosette, but not everyone likes her.

The normal work environment a person had.

It was very different from the career she pursued in her previous life, where she was the boss. That she only needed to lift a finger to destroy a person's life, and that she was above everyone else. It also paid better, about a hundred times or more. This sounded better, but to be truthful, Cosette was more fulfilled with her current career.

"Teacher Cosette, are you leaving?"

Cosette stopped just after a few steps from her desk, hugging a few folders and a lesson plan She turned her head to the source of the voice, smiling, and nodded.

"Yes," she said to another fellow teacher who was around her age.

"You're not coming to the teacher's dinner?"

"I have a family dinner as well, and I can't miss it." Cosette maintained her smile. "Maybe next time."

"You always have family dinners." The female teacher pouted, resting her chin on the cubicle. "I think it was just two days ago since you had a family dinner."

"That's impossible."

"What?"

"It's been a month since I had a family dinner with my dad and grandparents."

The female teacher blinked. In the school, she was the closest to Cosette. Thus, they would usually chat whenever they had free time to spare.

"That's what you said two days ago too," said the teacher. "Cozie, if you don't want to come, just say so. Is Sebastian making you feel uncomfortable?"

Deep lines appeared in between Cosette's brows, lowering her eyes to think about what she just heard. Cosette only had one question in mind: did she have another episode?

"Teacher Cosette? Teacher Cozie? Hello?"

Cosette snapped her eyes up, returning to the current lapse, only to see her colleague looking back at her with genuine wonder in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" asked her colleague with furrowed brows. "You suddenly turned pale. Is everything okay? I was just messing with you. The dinner is not compulsory, so it doesn't matter if you have family dinners every day."

Cosette forced a short smile, huffing quietly. "I'm sorry. I just remembered I have an appointment today after class. Enjoy the long weekend!" she wasn't done speaking yet as she bid her farewell, waving and almost jogging her way out of the faculty.

The female teacher, who was just talking to Cosette, perked up. She raised a hand but didn't go up completely as Cosette reached the door.

"Long weekend?" she murmured, cocking her head to the side. "She's joking, right?"

*

*

*

Cosette rushed to her car, shutting the door with a thud. Her complexion was a little pale and her breathing was heavy. She immediately sprawled her arms in the compartment, pulling out a small journal. Flipping through the pages of the calendar, dismay and panic washed over her face.

Her colleague was right.

In her calendar, there was a marked date two days ago. It says; family dinner, with a little note in it that says success.

"Hah..." Cosette closed her eyes, dropping her journal on her lap before clutching the steering wheel. She rested her forehead on the steering wheel, keeping quiet for a moment until she reopened her eyes.

"I..." her lips quivered while her grip tightened. "... don't remember it."

Her face crumpled, trying to recall the last family dinner she had, but nothing. She couldn't remember it. Normally, she would remember or even the snippets. But now... it was nothing as if there was just a gap in her memory that she couldn't fulfill, no matter how hard she thought about it.