Saving the Villain

Maxen, Luke, and Cosette stayed in the hospital to accompany Remo's grandfather. With Cosette and Luke's personalities, they immediately got along with the old man. Meanwhile, Remo had to endure getting ganged up by the three whenever he speak a word. In the end, Remo had to keep his mouth shut while Luke and Cosette chatted with his grandfather.

"What are you doing here?" asked Remo as he shut the door behind him after he excused himself. His grandfather was having a good time with those two, so leaving him for a bit would be fine.

Maxen was leaning against the wall in the corridor outside the private room. He had his arms folded under his chest, gazing at Remo as the latter leaned on the wall across from him and just right beside the ajar door.

"I just took a call," answered Maxen to Remo. "I sent you the contract days ago. You haven't signed it."

"I will." Remo rocked his head, taking a peek inside, only to see his grandfather laughing with Cosette and Luke. "Tonight. I'll hand them over to you tomorrow morning…" he trailed off as he looked back at Maxen.

"Should I hand them to you, or should I go to another place to submit them?"

"I'll take it tomorrow. It's easier that way."

"Alright." Remo nodded, and then silence followed the two of them. He shoved his hands inside his pockets and cocked his head back.

"It's been a while since I heard him laughing that loud," he said after a minute of nothing but silence, listening to his grandfather's lively voice that was chorusing with Luke and Cosette's. "I forgot the last time. All I remember is his silent cries."

Maxen studied Remo as the latter sounded sentimental. He would be lying to say he wasn't surprised how Remo actually care for someone. They didn't have a good start, and Maxen always had this biased opinion about the guy. After all, Remo wasn't just a jerk; he was a bully and a tyrant. He was a very scary guy.

"I'd give up my soul to hear him laugh like this." Remo set his eyes back to Maxen. The side of his lips curled resembled a smile, nodding at Maxen. "Thanks."

"Thanks?" Maxen cocked his head to the side, arching a brow. "You don't have to. It's a give-and-take situation."

"I still want to thank you." Remo let out a dry laugh, looking back inside the room. His eyes softened as he watched his old man in a great mood. Even though Remo doesn't recognize Luke and Cosette as his friends, or even Maxen, he was fine, if that was what they claimed in front of his grandfather.

It actually put his old man's heart at ease that Remo had a new set of friends.

"It feels a little lighter to know he's doing well… he'll keep doing well," Remo added with a faint sigh of relief.

Maxen tilted his body to see what was going on inside. The scene was heartwarming, and knowing Cosette and Luke, Maxen was certain they were candidly having fun chatting.

"Sometimes… I envy those two," said Remo as he slowly looked back at Maxen. "It looks like they had no problem at all."

"I used to envy them too." Maxen smacked his lips. "But once you stay with them a bit longer, you won't."

"Why?"

"Because… their character is contagious."

"Said the person who was always worried about them."

"That's just my character." Maxen shrugged. "Considering those guys, even when I relax, I can't completely put my guard down. They're all I have. So, I want to take care of them. I guess you understand that part, right?"

"Right…" Remo rocked his head in understanding. "I do."

Remo and Maxen might've almost grown up in the same chaotic environment, but they still have many differences. Both of them had never had the same equilibrium before. But now they have. And that was, they want to protect those who mattered to them and give them peace, even if that means the burden they carry gets heavier every passing second.

The two of them didn't stay that long in the hallway when the attending physician arrived to do his rounds. Maxen, Cosette, and Luke stayed over to hear what the doctor had to say. After that, they also have to leave.

Remo stayed behind to look after his grandfather. Fortunately, Remo's result after his check-up came out good. No broken ribs or anything. Surely, Remo was a tough guy to stay in good shape despite getting beaten up so badly. Although he had to take the prescription drugs and rest for the rest of the weekend.

When the three reached the parking space, Cosette and Luke gasped in disbelief when the car they used to get to the hospital was different. Driver George wasn't there anymore, and Maxen was holding the key.

"Where did Uncle George go?" Cosette mumbled as she looked around while approaching their car.

"I told him I'd drive from here," explained Maxen as he walked around the car to the driver's seat. "I didn't know he switched cars."

"You're driving?" Luke gasped in disbelief, standing beside Cosette, staring at Maxen over the roof of the sedan. "Aren't you… seventeen? Won't you get in trouble?"

"I got my license."

"But you're seventeen," Cosette pointed out, and then her eyes dilated as she covered her mouth with her palm. "What date is today?"

Maxen chuckled, seeing her expression. "I turned eighteen today, so your dad allowed me to drive. Hop in."

pA n,dan(-)0ve1.c0m With that being said, Maxen hitched inside while Cosette and Luke were frozen on their spot.

"Today…" Luke blinked, looking at Cosette's mortified expression. "... is his birthday?"

Cosette slowly lifted her head at Luke. Her complexion was pale as a sheet of paper. That alone was enough for Luke to get that Maxen wasn't lying.

"Come on…" Maxen rolled down the window from the front passenger seat, bending over to see the two. "We still have —"

Maxen abruptly stopped when Cosette and Luke suddenly jumped, holding on to the door's handle. The two of them looked at each other competitively, and seeing that they were competing who would sit in the front, Maxen shook his head and let out a sigh.

'Not again,' he thought as he was forced to watch Cosette and Luke fight for the front passenger seat right outside the car.