Saving the Villain

"Congratulations!"

Sarah flinched when the three shouted happily. The blank looks on their faces were replaced with pride and happiness, watching them run back to her, with Fay holding the laptop. They say on either side of her, showing the list of names who passed the entrance exam.

Sarah's eyes shook before she caught her full name on the screen. A deep exhale slipped past her nostrils, while Fay shook her excitedly. When Sarah turned her head, all she saw were Fay and Cosette grinning from ear to ear. She looked to the other side, and Amie was also smiling.

"I passed!" Sarah blurted out, and the girls nodded profusely. "I… passed! I did…?"

"Haha!" Fay laughed as she spoke louder. "Sarah got into the best university! Woohoo! This calls for a drink!"

Cosette and Amie clapped, smiling, watching Fay pass the laptop to Sarah to get their drinks. Meanwhile, Sarah kept her eyes on the laptop, relieved that she passed to take a step closer to her dream.

Little did they know, the main door of Luke's apartment was slightly opened. Luke, Maxen, and Remo stayed outside while hearing the girls squeal.

"Man… they sound so happy." Luke was leaning on the railing outside his apartment, turning his head to where Maxen and Remo were. "Are you sure we shouldn't be there to celebrate it with them?"

"If we're there, Fay will just beat the hell out of you because she was happy." Maxen cast Luke a knowing look. "You sure you're ready for that?"

Luke's face contorted, remembering how Fay raise her hand whenever she was happy. Fay would slap Luke's back while laughing, and that girl was strong.

"Right…" Luke shivered in dismay. "I'd just stay here. It's peaceful this way. After a year of studying like hell, graduation is near."

Luke lowered his head until his chin was resting on top of his arm.

"Did you get into the university you applied for?" asked Maxen after a moment, watching Luke peek at him. "You always avoid the topic whenever someone brings it up."

"I passed." Luke shrugged indifferently. "But I'm having second thoughts."

Maxen furrowed his brows, glancing at Remo, who also seemed confused.

"About?" asked Maxen, looking back at Luke.

"Whether or not I want to pursue a degree." Luke gazed ahead, humming. "I mean, going to a university or a college isn't the problem. I'm confident enough and I saved a lot of money from all the gigs you hired me for. But I keep thinking… is going to a university and studying for four or more years for a certificate even worth it?"

Luke pushed himself away from the railing, turning around, and propping his elbow against the railing.

"I want to start a business," he confessed, cocking his head back while his eyes slid to the corner. "Although I have the capital, it's a risk I'm still thinking about. I haven't made up my mind yet, but I'm taking my time. We still have a graduation to attend and a full summer break, after all."

Maxen didn't reply immediately, absorbing what Luke said just now. After a while, a warm smile turned up on his face as he nodded.

"Whatever decision you will make, I know you will make it happen." Maxen nodded reassuringly. "I'm not saying this to comfort you; I just know you will make it happen."

"Man… why do you make me blush?" Luke scratched the back of his head.

"Luke." Maxen planted a hand on Luke's shoulder, waiting for the latter to look up at him. "You survived on your own these past two years. You changed a lot since the first time we met, so I know and am confident you will be a great businessman."

Luke's eyes softened as he felt Maxen's sincerity straight in his heart. Even though Luke's relationship with his father and brother was better now, Luke and Maynard meeting from time to time to eat together. Asher, on the other hand, would call him just to know if Luke was alive. Sometimes, he would send study materials or they would chat about their lives. Though Asher and Maynard never asked Luke to come back, they made sure that Luke knew he could always come home if he needed to.

"Thanks."

"Anyway." Luke cleared his throat while Maxen retrieved his hand. "You haven't revealed which university you will go to. You too, Remo! I didn't even know if you took any entrance exam."

"What are you saying?" Maxen cocked his head to the side. "Weren't you there when Remo told his grandfather that he will join the military?"

"What?!"

"I'm hurt that you weren't listening," said Remo in a sad tone.

"Wait, you did?!" Luke gasped, watching Maxen and Remo look at each other in dismay. "Hey, don't mess with me! I don't remember anyone saying about it!"

"But I did." Remo blinked wearily, frowning. "I already enlisted and will train in a few months. My old man was happy since he knew I used to be the bad guy. Serving the country will be something that will make him proud. After all, he used to be one back in the day."

"Seriously?!" Luke gasped once again, in disbelief at how sincere Remo sounded. The latter nodded, making Luke hold his head as if he was questioning what kind of friend he was.

While Luke was having a personal crisis, Remo shifted his attention to Maxen.

"How about you?" Remo waited for Maxen to look at him. "You applied to five universities and all of them were great in their own right. But you don't seem just as excited as everyone else."

"Because I know I passed all of them."

"Wo — wow…! The confidence!" Luke nearly choked, a little hypersensitive because he missed Remo's plans due to the thoughts that had been distracting him.

"But it was true," said Remo to Luke. "I'm sure Max will not have a problem entering an excellent university. But still, it feels odd that you don't talk about it or take some time in preparing for it."

The corner of Maxen's lips curled up into a smirk. "Cosette's birthday last year was postponed because her grandfather fell ill, but now that he recovered, they were planning to throw her a grand party after the graduation."

"Are you the one in charge of it?" asked Luke, tilting his head to the side.

"No." Maxen looked ahead, smiling. "But I'm thinking of something else. Something more important than choosing the best university to go to."

"Something more important…?" Luke mumbled, casting Remo a look, only to see the latter shrug. When Luke set his eyes back to Maxen's side profile, his jaw dropped as a thought crossed his mind.