Saving the Villain

Meanwhile…

Asher was standing in front of the floor-to-length window inside the student council office. He held his hand behind him, staring at the students in the garden. Since he was the president of the student body, being here even when classes were about to resume wasn't new.

After all, Asher doesn't only focus on his own classes and tops them. He also had to manage his time and do some paperwork for the company, and then fulfill his duties as the president of the student council. He doesn't need to attend classes every day, though, unless it was important.

"That brat…" he let out a deep exhale, recalling his outburst last night. "I don't know if he is getting more mature or going backward since transferring school."

His worries about Luke were slightly lessened when Luke entered high school. Luke's good grades hindered the elders from picking on Luke, and they couldn't use his little brother to bother Asher. Although Luke was rebellious and wasn't cautious, Asher could clean the slip-up and instill fear in the students lest they plan to sabotage his little brother.

It had always been like that. After all, the students in this school came from well-off families. Luke had offended a great ton of young masters and misses, and Asher had to deal with them accordingly. But the situation now was different.

Luke was in another school, and even when the students didn't have the ability to slander Luke in high society, Cosette was there. One word from Cosette, and the word would immediately reach the elders of the Quinn Clan. Good thing Cosette told Luke's mischief to Maynard so it wouldn't spread, but what if she told other people?

"I don't think she would…" he whispered, considering Cosette's personality. "I agree with him that she probably did that out of her concern as a friend. Still… I hate it."

His dissatisfaction regarding Luke's attitude towards him lingered in his heart. Or rather, the words Luke recklessly spewed pushed several buttons. For instance, 'using Cosette for his bruise ego.'

"I don't need her…" Asher muttered with a frown, thinking about Cosette. He went silent, lowering his eyes to the female students walking alone or by a group. "... definitely… don't need…"

Asher ran his tongue across his inner cheek as he trailed off, letting out a deep exhale. Perhaps Luke was right. Cosette… had hurt his ego and disappointed him. She wasn't bad, and if he was going to be honest, Cosette was perfect.

She was smart, came from a great family, she has good humor, and was pretty — very much. Luke wouldn't be attracted to her if she wasn't attractive enough, and his little brother wouldn't go crazy for her if her character was dull.

"Whatever." Asher shook his head, turned on his heel, marching towards the president's desk. "I don't want to involve myself with her… unless she realized that Nobody isn't worth her time."

When Asher sat down on the chair, he rested his arms over the armrest. He reclined, arching his back to stretch it. When he glanced at his laptop, his brow arched.

"Hah… why didn't I think of that?" he rocked his head, bending over to pick up his phone sitting next to the phone. Asher sped-dialed his assistant's number, hearing it ring once before the line connected.

"Remember the boy you ran a background check? Yes, that guy the Blacs took in." Asher rocked his head, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Mhm. Send the report to me now and conduct another thorough investigation. Find his relatives and know what they were up to. Good."

Asher hung up and smirked, tossing the phone on the desk. He drew a deep breath, cocking his head back.

"Luke…" he muttered. "... I never stole your things. I simply took out the things I know will hurt you. That Maxen Cloven… included."

In the end, Luke's warning had done nothing, and also, his assumptions were right. His big brother had changed throughout the years; his methods and thinking wouldn't easily bend anymore. But what Luke hadn't realized yet was that Asher Quinn… was good at finding logical reasons for his actions.

And thus, this brewing problem he was about to throw at them to ruin the building friendship his brother had with those two 'disappointments.'

******

Back in the disappointment club (Luke apartment unit)...

"Ah…"

Cosette laid flat in the middle of the apartment, moaning in relief as her back felt so stiff after cleaning. Around the corner near her was Luke, exhausted just like her, as both of them never cleaned extensively all their lives.

Meanwhile, Maxen shook his head as he tied the bag of trash. He didn't look as exhausted as them. Unlike the two, the only trace that Maxen helped them clean was the sweats on his plain white shirt.

"Luke, do you have money? I think I would need to ask for money for this," she mumbled, staring at the ceiling blankly.

"Do you think I will clean myself if I can afford it?" he muttered listlessly, spreading his arms. "Ugh… I think my arms will fall off. Ah, shit! This is worse than when hitting the gym."

"I'm so tired…" Cosette frowned, hearing her stomach grumble. "Luke, you promised you'd buy us food."

"I did… but my spine, my arms, and just my entire skeletons are about to fall off." Luke frowned as well, hearing his stomach grumble. "I never felt so hungry all my life. Now, I can feel poverty seeping deep into my bones."

"Pfft —" Cosette burst out in laughter while Luke kept his poker face until his defenses broke as he laughed along with her. Although they were hungry, the two of them were too tired to even sit up. Hence, instead of wallowing, they ended up laughing while holding on to their stomach.

'They're losing their minds because of hunger.' Maxen shook his head while wiping his hands with a handkerchief, watching those two lying on the floor laugh for no reason. 'Really…'

Knock! Knock!

Luke and Cosette stopped laughing when they heard a knock and a voice outside the door. They turned their head, only to see Maxen saunter off. The two blinked blankly, watching Maxen open the door and after a moment, Maxen kicked the door closed while carrying plastic bags full of food.

"I ordered food since you haven't thought about it until now," Maxen explained as he carried the food towards the table.

"Hey, Cozie…" Luke called under his breath, watching Maxen prepare the table. "... am I hallucinating? Why am I suddenly seeing an angel?"

"That's god, Luke."

When Maxen looked back to tell them to stand up and eat, he flinched. Both of them looked at Maxen with a sparkle in their eyes, as if they just met their hero.