Saving the Villain

The itinerary was to visit monumental spots, temples, and attractions around the city. Unlike where the secluded Quinn family vacation home was located, the city was totally different. Cosette and their classmates toured with enthusiasm, while Maxen was the only person who dragged his feet.

Cosette and Maxen's dilemma was slowly set aside as time passed by. And thus, they didn't discuss it and the trip with the company of their classmates got things off of their heads.

When they almost went to the last of their destination, they made a stop in a park to have some snacks. In the park, there were also things they could do, such as horse riding, riding bikes, and food stalls everywhere.

Walking beside Maxen on the sidewalk, Cosette glanced at him. "You want?" she raised the popsicle she was eating, making him lean his head back.

"No." His expression was dead like usual.

Cosette smacked her lips and shrugged. Their other classmates were trying out other things the park was offering, but Cosette chose to just walk around and enjoy the fresh air. Maxen would automatically accompany her; that was his job, to keep an eye on her.

"Are you still..."

"No." Maxen's dull expression grew duller, knowing what she would ask. He barely recovered from it, and as much as possible, he wanted to distract himself. How could she just remind him of last night and this morning's occurrence?

"Gosh... so cold."

He drew a breath and stopped, letting her walk ahead. "I should just leave her alone," he mumbled to himself, but couldn't really do it. If leaving her was something as easy as before, he would've done it in a heartbeat.

"She's not even waiting for me." He frowned, about to take a step, only to freeze when he caught someone running from the side and straight to Cosette. "Cozie!"

Maxen yelled, and without thinking twice, he jumped towards Cosette. However, Maxen wasn't fast enough as the person bumped into Cosette, causing the two of them to crash to the side. For a moment, Maxen held his breath as his heart stopped beating.

His eyes burned, balling his hands into a fist, grinding his teeth in anger. Without thinking, he marched towards Cosette and was prepared to teach the other person a lesson.

Meanwhile, Cosette winced.

"Ah..." she checked her palm and bit her lips, seeing that she grazed it on the concrete floor.

"Ouch, ouch." Cosette looked at the person who crashed into her that caused her to fall, furrowing her brows as the person in a black hoodie was sitting up.

"Are you alright?" she asked, seeing that the other person was holding her ankle. "Did you sprain your ankle?"

Cosette was about to stand and help the person, but before she could, Maxen came to her side.

"Are you alright?" he asked, panting as if he ran a marathon. She looked back at him, studying the fear, panic, and anger in his eyes. Maxen examined her, his hand on her arm trembling.

"Ye — yes..." she stammered, a bit surprised because his expression was something she has never seen before. A subtle smile appeared on her face, as his worried expression was enough for her.

"I'm okay, Max," she reassured, looking him in the eye and nodding.

"Your hand."

"I just grazed it, but nothing serious." Cosette forced herself to sound alright to not worry him.

"Damn it..." suddenly, a girl's voice caressed their ears. "Why are you walking so slow? Damn, that hurt. You should've moved — ouch, ouch!"

And that, Maxen's eyes were clouded with anger as if in a snap of a finger, all he saw was red. Without thinking twice, he sprung to his feet and grabbed the collar of the girl's hoodie. Even the latter was shocked when she was back on her feet.

"Sorry is the only word you need to say..." Maxen gripped her collar tighter, his teeth clenching in anger. "... but you make it sound like it's her fault."

"Wait — wait--" Seeing his eyes that seemed to only see blood, the girl grabbed his wrist in panic. "Hey! Don't beat me up! I'm a girl!"

"A girl?" the side of his lips curled up like a maniac, laughing at that ridiculous claim. "Do you think I won't beat you to death just because you're a girl?"

The girl gulped as a chill went up to her spine. That young man was seriously angry, and he didn't show the slightest hesitation. He would beat her up.

"Oy..." came out a shaking voice when he raised a fist. Her eyes dilated, holding her breath. Every second felt like forever, and all she could do was stare at those dark eyes that were akin to the devil.

This young man wouldn't give her mercy, and that was for sure.

"Maxen Cloven!" Cosette yelled, seeing that Maxen would strike the young lady. He stopped upon hearing her voice, and his eyes, which were clouded with anger, slowly showed clarity. Cosette huffed and pushed herself up, wincing as she realized she had grazed her knees as well. However, she didn't dwell on the pain as she stood up, miffed.

"I said, stop, Max!" she ground her teeth, breaths heavy, eyes glaring. "Let her go."

Maxen didn't look back at Cosette, but he could tell she was angry. But he was even angrier as he glared at the young lady before him before slowly letting her go.

"You're lucky this is not in the past, or I would've mugged you," he huffed before glancing to his right when Cosette approached them. The moment their eyes met, he could tell she was upset with his aggressive actions.

"Violence is not always the solution, Max." Cosette hissed, making him look away. But unlike what he expected that she would only scold him and apologize to the lady Cosette stood in between them.

"And how dare you blame me for this crash?" her voice this time was low and intimidating, causing Maxen to arch a brow and glance at her. Although Maxen couldn't see her expression, he could tell Cosette wasn't about to play nice.

"You were the one running so fast and not looking. A simple apology will be fine and settle things." Her eyes sharpened, looking back at the young lady in a hoodie with her chin up. "But you just went on with your nonsense. You're lucky you crash into me and not him, or I don't mind ruining your life with everything I can."

Maxen blinked twice as a big question mark hovered over his head. Did she mean if Maxen was the one involved in the accident, she would use all her power to convict this person? Wasn't that a little extreme? But then again, Maxen nearly beat this unmannered young lady if not for Cosette.

'Why do I feel happy, though?' he bit his tongue to stop himself from smiling. This wasn't the time to get butterflies in his stomach, but he sort of enjoyed being protected by Cosette. It made him happy, and his anger just magically disappeared because of it.

"Goodness... are you two crazy or what?" mumbled the young lady, darting her eyes between Maxen and Cosette. The more she looked at them, the more she couldn't help but take a careful step back.

"Sorry!" the young lady huffed. "It's because you already saw me coming, and still didn't run away or jump back! We could've prevented it if you were fast to react."

"This little--" Maxen cracked his knuckles, getting more annoyed every time the young lady speak. However, Cosette cast him a warning look before she set her eyes back on the other person.

"We could've prevented it from happening if you were not running in the first place. Can you see anyone else running around?" Cosette tilted her head to the side slightly, eyes on her. "I don't mind, nor do I need your apologies anymore. I'd rather not have it than get your half-baked sorry."

Cosette sized up the young lady with her sharp eyes and scoffed. "I feel rather sorry for you." She shook her head and turned on her heel, facing Maxen.

"Let's go, Max. There's no point in wasting our energy and time with this person. She won't take responsibility for it or acknowledge her fault." She raised a hand, and Maxen quickly held her arm to assist her.

"Ouch..." Cosette winced as soon as she clutched his arm and pressed the wound on her palm.

"Let me hold you." She looked up at him when he held her arms instead. "We'll go back to the bus. Can you walk?"

"Mhm." She nodded and smiled subtly. "I'll get used to it later, but I think I sprained my ankle mildly."

"Tell me if you can't. I'll carry you."

"Alright."

As Cosette and Maxen carefully walked away, the young lady snorted. She clicked her tongue in irritation, darting her eyes between the two lunatics.

"Gosh... kids nowadays," she mumbled before perking up when she heard someone calling her from a distance.

"Mia! Let's go!"

"Coming!" The young lady, Mia, limped her way in the other direction, while Cosette stopped.

Cosette looked back at the limping young lady, furrowing her brows. "Mia?" she whispered. "The female lead?"