Saving the Villain

"Good thing I trained my taste buds and stomach before running away," Luke muttered while chewing, warranting a glare from Cosette.

"Don\'t eat if you don\'t want it," she spat and clicked her tongue. "Also, don\'t talk while chewing. Since when did you start talking when your mouth is full?"

"I\'m manifesting poverty, alright?"

"Who manifests poverty?" Cosette scrunched her nose up, looking at Luke with utter dismay. "Goodness. I\'m so hungry I can\'t even get angry at him."

As the two continued gobbling up the food Maxen ordered, he glanced at the broken table not far away. A deep exhale slipped past his lips. It was a good thing Maxen was quick to react as the foot of the table gave in when he was preparing the table. They avoided wasting food, but now, they were eating on the floor.

pAn,Da-n0v e1,c \'Good thing we cleaned almost everything,\' Maxen thought, heaving a sigh of relief as the studio apartment looked better than hours ago. Although there was still a mess in the corners, Luke could sleep properly… hopefully.

He then looked around, catching a few more things to fix. If this was his place, he would surely tell himself he would work on it the next day. However, the person who would move here was looking. Maxen set his eyes back at Luke, who was still in constant banter with Cosette.

\'Damn…\' Maxen secretly clicked his tongue. \'I don\'t like him, but is he crazy?\'

After all, who in the world would run away from home at a young age? His frown deepened when he realized he also run away from home. Maxen was younger when he left that damn home. But then, he thought of his hardships.

Luke ran away from home but he had money to start. He was still lucky since he had a place to stay in. It might not be enough for this second young master, but compared to how Maxen had to sleep under the bus stop for the first several nights and at the construction sites until he got his first paycheck, this was milder.

But well, Maxen couldn\'t really think lightly just because Luke got his own place. After all, the environment they grew up in was far different. Therefore, their perspective of what a problem was may differ greatly.

\'I don\'t care about him.\' Maxen mentally shook his head as he was about to continue eating. However, just as he held his cutlery, he paused and let out a sharp breath. \'This is crazy.\'

Maxen remained silent throughout their meal while Cosette and Luke only stopped talking when they were stuffed. The two had this relaxed smile as if they were relieved to have been revived from the brink of death.

"I\'m so full —" Cosette raised her fist in front of her lips to cover her mouth as she burped silently. "That was a good meal."

She then turned to Luke, who was sitting at an arm\'s length on the floor. The latter was drinking water as he finished eating at the same time as her. Just as her lips parted, both of them arched a brow when Maxen stood up and walked away wordlessly.

"Max, where are you going?" she asked, halting him from his step. Maxen looked back at them, and his eyes fell on the used paper plates and cutleries.

"I\'ll buy something in the convenience store."

"Oh, should I come?" she perked up, about to stand up only to see him shake his head.

"I\'ll be back real quick."

"Oh." Cosette frowned, watching Maxen go without her. Meanwhile, clicked his tongue seeing the somber reaction from her.

"Oy, Cosette," he called in irritation. "Do you really need to rub it on my face that you like him?"

"What?"

"Why are you frowning as if he\'s going to war? He\'ll just go to the convenience store!"

"But Maxen always likes me around."

"What?" he gasped, his heart almost stopped for a second. "Shameless! Wait. Did you tell you that?"

"Does he need to tell me he likes me around? I\'m not dense and I can feel he enjoys my company."

"Damn, girl." Luke cast her a judgmental look. He would\'ve gotten angry at Maxen, but knowing that guy, there was only at least ten percent chance he would actually say that. After all, Luke had always thought being verbal was his advantage against Maxen over Cosette.

Cosette stared at his reaction and tilted her head to the side. "That\'s strange."

"What, strange?"

"You."

"Me?" Luke pointed at himself. "What about me?"

The side of her lips curled up before picking up their paper plates and placing them inside the plastic bags. She then asked him to pass his to her, which Luke did. As she slowly tied a knot in the plastic bag, she spoke.

"I thought you will scold me or tell me to love you too since you\'re so in love with me. But instead, you didn\'t seem to mind my display of affection for Maxen." Cosette raised her head and turned it on him. "You even questioned if he told me that when you usually explode and point a finger at him."

"Hah! Who said I don\'t mind?" he cocked his head to the side, crossing his arms under his chest. "Cosette Blac, you and Maxen aren\'t married yet. Unless you two exchange vows, I will always have my time to shine."

"Please take that back."

"No." He shook his head, refusing adamantly. "I don\'t know what sort of love potion he put in your drink, but I just can\'t understand why you like him so much. Is it possible that if we meet first, you\'ll like me?"

"What do you see my feelings for?" she frowned. "I\'m not that shallow."

"Then why did you like him over me?"

Cosette gazed at Luke and smiled brightly. "How did you know I like him?"

"Does that matter? Come on. Tell me what that guy can do that this handsome guy can\'t."

"Haha." Cosette shook her head and sized him up. "You know what? Why don\'t you find out yourself why I liked him?"

"You mean you want me to pursue him?"

"I mean, get to know him." Cosette snapped her tongue, shaking her head, looking at him in dismay. "Once you got to know Maxen, you\'ll understand just how nice he was behind that cold front."