Saving the Villain

The first day of class had always been the same every year, but at the same time, the feeling never got old. Students, particularly the seniors in their last year, were excited. The first-year students were either anxious about this new chapter of their life. Some were looking forward to what this new chapter in their life would bring them.

Those in between would either gather at the gates or high-fiving with their previous classmates and friends. For sure, just like Cosette, Maxen, and Luke, who were entering the gates of the campus, they were simply glad to be in the same class.

Cosette smiled, seeing students catching up with their circle of friends by the gates. Last year, she transferred in the middle of the school year. It was safe to say this was her first. Hence, the grin on her face and the luster in her eyes when she saw her friends calling and waving at her.

"Cozie~!" Fay called, waving at the entrance of the building. With her were Sarah and Amie, who were grinning excitedly at her. "Faster!"

"Goodness... they're early," Cosette mumbled, skipping her steps towards the girl, leaving Maxen and Luke behind her.

As she sauntered off, Luke let out a deep exhale. He glossed his eyes around, rocking his head. Since he was the same as Cosette — transferring in the middle of the school year — this was his first time coming on his first day in this school.

"It's so different," he murmured, walking leisurely without paying attention to the other students walking in the same direction as him. Maxen kept a safe distance from him, but Luke didn't care.

Luke kept his eyes ahead, watching Cosette reunite with her friends. The corner of his lips curled up, drawing a deep breath before huffing it sharply.

Back in the academy, the first day was mostly a time to show off the cars that would drop off the students. It had almost become a tradition, basing the student's value on the car that would drop the student. He hadn't seen anyone who would shamelessly squeal with their friends, or just fist bump upon meeting at the gates of the premises.

There weren't luxury cars in sight or new gadgets or luxury bags, but somehow, this simple first day of school with nothing but the students' mixed energies brought a smile to his face.

"There's never a boring day with these peasants," he mumbled, glancing at Maxen as he said it louder for the latter to hear. Luke grinned playfully, shrugging. He then walked faster to catch up to Cosette since he was already prepared for the continuation of his courtship.

"Faster you," Luke gazed back at Maxen. "Or you'll be surprised that once you catch up, we're already dating."

Maxen let out a shallow breath, watching Luke pick up his pace while calling for Cosette's name. But instead of taking Luke's advice, he walked at the same slow and steady pace.

"I should be the one telling him that," he murmured, shaking his head, keeping his eyes on Luke's back. "He'll have a heart attack if he hears that we're already dating."

Maxen would happily brag about his relationship with Cosette. Who wouldn't be proud? Aside from Cosette being the campus belle with tons and tons of admirers, she was kind and warm-hearted. Although... this time, Maxen agreed to keep their relationship a secret in school.

Why? Because Cosette had tons of admirers — Luke, included — and her fans' club would surely ambush Maxen if they knew about it. They wanted to focus on their study this year, but that would be impossible if trouble follows him. It wasn't like he couldn't protect himself, but they both thought it was troublesome.

"He's still so arrogant," Maxen murmured, and then looked around the light atmosphere on the campus. For some reason, Maxen stopped in his tracks.

This wasn't his first time attending the first day of class, but for obvious reasons, it looked foreign to him. Questions like had it always been like this? Was the first day always looked so exciting? And at the same time, pressuring? Maxen honestly didn't have any idea.

Because for him, school... was a nightmare. He simply goes to school for the one percent chance that it would make his future better. But he didn't have high hopes. He was just doing it just so... he could say he had a high school diploma if he looked for jobs that wouldn't pay him well.

'I'm glad...' Maxen raised his eyes, blinking to where Cosette and Luke were. They were already chatting with the girls, and some of their classmates had also approached them, making the group bigger.

'I'm glad I didn't... stop.' He pressed his lips, resuming in his steps ahead. In his mind, Cosette saved him more than she could've ever imagined. After all, Maxen had been considering stopping school with all the bullying and fighting in his everyday life.

He was certain he would've stopped going to school altogether if not for her. But because she kept pestering him, and he kept thinking about her with all the unanswered questions in his head, he would always find himself going to school. Now, his life was better.

Maxen was living a better life and had regained the habit of dreaming about a brighter future with her in it. Therefore, as he walked closer to Cosette's group, he reminded himself of the things he had to keep in mind.

'I'll be good and study well. So in the future, she won't have to worry about me,' he told himself, keeping his eyes on Cosette's figure, shunning everyone else around her. 'This time around, from this moment on, I will... always protect you.'

Maxen stopped several steps away from them, but his eyes remained on her. He was so focused on Cosette's side profile that he didn't notice the odd looks from his other classmates.

"Cozie, wow... how can you look even better than last school year?" Fay was in awe, looking at Cosette from head to toe. "Wow. That's all I can say."

"Gosh... you flatter me so much." Cosette laughed, raising her brows when she heard a male classmate's puzzled voice.

"Who...? Another transferee?"

Cosette furrowed her brows, glancing at the male student. She then followed where he was looking, and her eyes landed on Maxen. The latter was standing a few steps away from their group, standing motionless, eyes on her. The second their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat, making her gulp slightly.

However, unlike her reaction, her classmate had a completely different reaction. Some of them looked at Maxen from head to toe, unable to recognize him. If Cosette's heart fluttered in their eyes, Maxen's unchanging expression was akin to silently telling them to 'move and stop blocking the entrance.'

"Wow..." Fay muttered, blinking countless times at the beauty looking back at them. "Ever since Cozie transferred to this school, most of the transferee looks good."

"Cozie, is she one of your admirers like Luke?" Amie tugged Cosette's arm and whispered in the latter's ear. "Just how long is your hair?"

Sarah remained silent, studying the young student from head to toe. She heard Amie's whispers as she was just standing beside her.

"Now that I think about it." Sarah's brows furrowed. "I hadn't seen Maxen. Would he be late again? On the first day of school?"

"Goodness... look at you all." Luke clicked his tongue continuously, looking at everyone in disbelief. When his classmates' attention shifted to him, he continued. "He just slimmed down and grew a bit taller. How can you all act as if he went under the knife?"

"What?" Fay cocked her head to the side; the same reaction from the rest of their classmates.

"What a lively bunch," Maxen mumbled, advancing in their direction to enter the building. He didn't have time to idle just like them, since he was serious about topping the class and graduating with at least good grades so he could enter a good university without Conrad's backing.

But just as Maxen walked past the students, with the students taking a step to the side, he grabbed Cosette's wrist. He stopped for a moment, tipping his head at the entrance of the building.

"Let's go. There will be a flag ceremony. Let's leave our things in the room first."

"Oh... right." Cosette nodded, and before she could wrap her head around the fire of determination in his eyes, Maxen already dragged her inside.

"What that..." Luke gasped, watching Maxen take Cosette away from them. Meanwhile, their classmates looked at each other with the same puzzlement in their eyes.

"Who...?" Amie trailed off. Maxen's voice even deepened, thus, no one even recognized his voice.

"Is she Cozie's boyfriend?" Fay muttered, cocking her head to the side, watching Cosette get dragged by Maxen. "Well, they look good together. But where did that guy come from?"

"Cozie is very pretty, so her boyfriend will want to guard her even if it means transferring to a different school," Sarah chimed in while rocking her head mildly.

As everyone wondered and murmured their comments, they flinched when Luke's voice suddenly pierced their ears.

"Oy, Maxen!" Luke grumbled, stomping his feet to follow Maxen and Cosette. "How dare you act like you are her boyfriend, hah?!"

Everyone's eyes followed Luke and listened to his continuous yapping, causing their brows to furrow. They then looked at each other, wide-eyed; some were pointing in the direction where the three left.

"That's... Maxen?" some female gasped as they looked at the entrance of the building with wide eyes. "That's what he looks like without the fats and pimples?!"

For a good two minutes, everyone was speechless and frozen on the spot. All they could do was stare at the entrance of the building, flabbergasted. It wouldn't take long before Maxen's sinful charms would spread around the campus, becoming the handsome prince named Luke's rival for the campus bell.

And thus, the beginning of another series of this 'love triangle' or... something else.