Saving the Villain

Four days had passed since Cosette transferred to her new school. Maxen didn't come back after skipping class on her first day, demotivating her even more with days he was absent. It was just not fun when the reason (Maxen) she chose this school wasn't around.

"You keep looking at that spot." Sarah pointed out, sitting on the chair in front of Cosette. "The person who sits there is always absent, but whenever he turns up, he is always covered with bruises."

"That's right. He hangs around those delinquents, so he always gets in trouble," Fay chimed in, as her chair was just right next to Cosette.

Amie was Fay's seatmate, so she peeked her head forward and over her desk, eyes on Cosette.

"You should be careful with that person, sister Cozie. They said that he even hurt women if they offend him." Amie warned her.

Cosette frowned, but she couldn't blame them. They had a basis on their claims since Maxen was a loner. Although they said Maxen was usually quiet inside the room, the constant bruises on him whenever he goes to school were enough barometers he was going down the wrong path.

'Did he get beaten up again? That's why he was absent?' she wondered with a frown, gazing at Sarah, who was still giving her warning on not to get too close with Maxen.

"He may be quiet, but who knows what's going on inside his mind —" Sarah abruptly stopped as she cleared her throat, glancing at the entrance of the room. Out of curiosity, Cosette gazed at the entrance and relief filled her heart.

There, Maxen was just coming in hours after the class started. The aloof air around him was still there, but it didn't seem he was beaten up. His swelling face soothed a little and his black eye was almost gone. There was still a band-aid across his cheekbone, but unlike the first time they met, she could finally see his facial features better.

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Maxen sat down on the seat beside Cosette, not giving her a look, lost in the world through the music coming out of his loud headphones. The latter, on the other hand, smiled as she studied his side profile.

'I will not let him off this time,' she cheered, on fire on sticking with Maxen for as long as she could.

Soon, the class started, but Cosette never left her eyes on Maxen. She was literally drilling a hole in his head with her gaze that Maxen couldn't ignore anymore.

'She's so annoying,' he thought.

He slowly cocked his head in her direction, raising a brow and mouthed. 'What?' but the only reply he received was a smug grin.

'What is she planning?' he wondered as he looked away, staring at the window once again. Whatever reason Cosette was staring at him or whatever she was thinking was none of his business. To him, it was better if he have nothing to do with her.

His gut feeling told him it was better that way. Cosette was someone who would get along with everyone. But… he was the complete opposite.

'She should stop staring, though,' he muttered inwardly, still feeling her gaze from his side. 'She' starting to creep me out.'

*****

When lunchtime approached, Sarah turned around to tell Cosette they should eat together. However, the latter hurriedly put her things back in her backpack and told them she had something else to do. The three nodded in confusion and watched her flee the room.

"Did something happen?" Sarah wondered, casting Fay and Amie the same baffled look. Both of them shrugged as they were just as puzzled.

Meanwhile...

'There he is!' Cosette hurriedly followed Maxen as she caught his figure turn to the corridor. 'I will not let him skip school alone. Sorry, daddy dear. But your perfect daughter will finally skip class for the first time in her life.'

She looked up while holding onto the railings of the staircase. Maxen was heading upstairs, so she kept a safe distance from him. She followed him and soon reached the rooftop.

'I thought he will go to the back of the school, but to think he went in the rooftop…' Cosette peeked her head through the door, only to flinch when Maxen spoke.

"Why are you following me?" he asked, leaning on the side of the door with his arms crossed. He raised a brow, watching her clear her throat as she opened the door and entered the rooftop.

"Well, I'm not." Cosette lied through her teeth, averting her eyes, hands interlaced behind her.

She followed him, thinking he would sneak outside the school. Her plan was to see what he was doing whenever he would skip class. But to think Maxen would go on the rooftop, a part of her assumed he would meet someone... but it turned out she was simply overthinking.

"Hah…" Maxen clicked his tongue as he shook his head, sauntering to the shade around the entrance of the rooftop. He didn't say anything as he plopped his butt down on the floor, his back on the wall, eyes closed to enjoy the midday breeze hitting his face.

Cosette pressed her lips together as she took careful steps and shamelessly sat at an arms-length beside him. Her shoulder tensed up when Maxen gazed at her with an arched brow.

"Can I sit?" she asked awkwardly, only to receive a sarcastic, "you've already sat down."

He had his eyes closed while she studied him like a curious cat. "What are you listening to?" she asked out of plain curiosity, but he didn't answer.

Their day played out without the two of them talking. Maxen ignored her throughout, and she just stayed silent like a shadow. He didn't even ask if it was fine for her to skip class, although it crossed his mind.

'Weird,' he thought, slowly opening his eyes and catching her doodling in her notebook. 'Why is she here? What is she curious about?'

His eyes lingered on her briefly before closing them again. 'Whatever. She will stop if I keep ignoring her.'

Unbeknownst to him, his number one fan wasn't someone who will give up easily. It was just the beginning of having her as his tail, like a shadow who was always following him.