Saving the Villain

Cosette never thought she would ever regret mentioning anything about Boy's Love. As an avid reader, she had also taken the Dao of the inevitable. Hence, while watching Luke and Maxen, a hidden part of her tingled with excitement and she couldn't help but ship them in her head.

The only problem was she didn't intend to voice it out, but she did. Now she was paying for the price.

"Ugh..." Cosette wore a horrified expression, looking to her left and then to her right. Maxen and Luke were standing several steps away from her; Maxen on her left, Luke on her right.

Ever since she told them they suit each other, the two of them kept their distance from each other. They stayed close to her as they were in the park earlier, but somehow, the two ended up keeping their distance from her as well. Now here they were, waiting for the bus with the three of them at a great distance from each other.

She kept looking from left to right before she huffed. "Do I disgust you that much just because I like reading boyxboy stories?"

Maxen and Luke froze, turning their heads in her direction as if their necks were rusting irons.

"No," they answered in unison. "But he disgusts me."

"What?!" Luke gasped in dismay as he looked at Maxen from head to toe. "I disgust you? Me? The great second young master Luke?! Wow... the nerve!"

Maxen simply scrunched his nose up slightly and looked away to avoid trouble. It was not like he was the only person who said he was disgusted. It was a mutual feeling. No matter how good-looking Luke was, Maxen simply didn't want to give Cosette a ridiculous idea he never fathomed she would even be into.

"Hey! Are you ignoring me?!" Luke dramatically gasped before Cosette looked at him with a frown.

"Luke, you sound like a dramatic wife." He nearly choked as his eyes dilated at her remarks. "It's better if you just stay away from each other for now. Goodness. I was just joking, but you two took it seriously. It's nothing to be so defensive about."

"..."

Luke and Maxen gazed at her in dismay, making her brows raise as she took a cautious step back. Maxen's gaze was something she was getting used to, but not this kind of gaze from him. And now, Luke as well!

"I'm sorry..." Cosette raised her hands up in defense as she lowered her head. "I'll shut my mouth."

She zipped her lips and pressed them into a tight slash. Cosette held her hand behind her, rocking her feet back and forth as she waited for the bus to arrive. Their day wasn't much, but it was already enough for her to know Maxen had eaten lunch and wasn't in trouble.

Her lips hooked up into a subtle smile as she watched the cars speed through the road. Luke didn't complain... much. At least, all he did was raise the question; "how come this is fun?" while they were in the park to take a walk.

She once again glanced in Maxen's direction, and then at Luke, who was still clearly riled up. Still, her smile stretched. Their first 'bonding' wasn't that bad.

'I should plan our next bonding properly.' She mentally nodded while grazing her chin. 'I didn't plan things properly since I didn't expect Luke to come by in our house and knowing Maxen, he should rest than use his energy in traveling and such.'

"Right... I should schedule it on days he doesn't have work," she mumbled before snapping her eyes when the loud screech rang in her ears as the bus stopped in front of them.

"Finally!" Luke hailed as he hopped forward, only to take several steps back to give way for the passengers going out of the bus. Cosette giggled as she stood beside him, elbowing his side.

"Why are you so riled up, Luke?" she humored. "I was just kidding."

"Geez... your jokes are really scary, Cozie."

Cosette giggled as she gazed ahead, watching the last passenger exit the bus. But before they could enter, Maxen stood beside her, which she thought he would bid her farewell.

"Hey, you don't have to say goodbye. We'll be fine." Her eyes went round as her breath hitched briefly when Luke suddenly hooked his arm over her shoulder, pulling her back to him. "See you... never."

Luke waved happily before he dragged her towards the entrance of the bus. As they were taking the step up, Cosette snapped her eyes and looked at him.

"Wait!" she immediately wiggled her way out of his grip and clicked her tongue. "I still have reminders --"

"Huh? What are you doing?" asked Luke while Cosette abruptly halted from speaking as Maxen took the step up and rode the bus.

"I need to make sure she arrives home safely." Maxen jerked his chin while keeping his cold front. "You're keeping the bus from moving. Go."

"This little --!"

"En... let's go." Cosette patted Luke's back and pushed him mildly with a big smile on her face.

In the end, Luke was unable to complain since the driver also urged them to pay and enter. Maxen smirked triumphantly when Cosette had to pay for Luke and made sure that the latter would notice that taunting smirk.

"Let's go, let's go..." While Cosette was busy pushing Luke inside, she didn't notice that his face had already gone red. Maxen chuckled as he shrugged mischievously, enjoying the thought that Luke couldn't even have the leisure to express his histrionic sentiments.

Unlike usual, the seats were still mostly filled. So they didn't have a choice but to sit in the back. Since Luke was the first in the three of them, he perched on the window side, Cosette in the middle, while Maxen was in the other corner — far away from the two of them.

Cosette gazed at Maxen, who was, as usual, leaning on his side, arms crossed. His eyes were on the window on the seat in front of him, silent, and seemed to be detached from this world like usual.

A shallow breath slipped past her lips. 'Did he really plan to walk us home?' she wondered as she didn't expect that he would when he just said he still had another part-time.

"Max," she called airily, keeping her voice down to not disturb the other passengers. "Maxen."

He quirked a brow and cocked his head back, eyes on her. He mouthed, 'what?'

Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line and looked around. She then dragged her buttocks near him until she was close enough to him.

"Didn't you say you have a part-time?" she asked out of plain curiosity.

"Mhm."

"Won't you be late if you walk us home?"

"My boss texted me and he said he won't be opening the shop."

"Oh..." she rocked her head in understanding, lips forming an o-shape. "Then, does that mean you can stay with us longer?"

"No."

She frowned. "Why?"

"I only planned to make sure you arrive home without that guy abducting you." He pointed at Luke with his chin, causing her to look back at the latter, who was busy grumbling. "I will go home right after."

"You can stay in our house."

"No, thanks."

Cosette opened her mouth to argue with him but ended up shutting her lips closed. All she could do was huff and lean back, thinking of ways to make Maxen stay in the Blac's residence tonight. If he didn't have other things to do, it was better if he just rest in a more comfortable place, even just for tonight.

She hadn't seen his place, but even if she wouldn't base it on the novel, Maxen was surely staying in a place that barely had a roof over him. Her thoughts were cut off when she heard Luke's voice.

"Cozie, what are you doing there?" he asked before he sprawled his arms and grabbed her arm. "Sit here."

The second Luke pulled her arm for her to sit near him, Maxen suddenly held her other arm to stop her. Cosette, who was appalled at Maxen's action, raised her dilated eyes at him.

"Stop forcing her, will you?" he muttered in irritation, judging eyes on Luke. "It won't kill you if you ask her nicely instead of dragging her like that."

"Hah... I'm not forcing Cozie."

"Then what do you call grabbing her arm and suddenly pulling her the second you told her to sit next to you, even before she can give her consent?"

Luke laughed in ridicule as his eyes sharpened in anger, glaring daggers at Maxen. The latter wasn't the person to back down as he held Luke's ridiculing glares with a cold front.

"Uhm..." Cosette, who was mortified at this seemingly young love triangle in other people's eyes, gazed at the people in the front who were looking back in their direction. "Heh... he he..."

Luke and Maxen furrowed their brows as they glanced in the front. Seeing the eyes watching them, Luke suddenly let her go, but Maxen carefully did.

And so... it was the most awkward bus ride Maxen, Cosette, and Luke had ever experienced.