post upright muriel (gn! apprentice)
After many unforgettable adventures, which do not fall short of saving the world, this is where they hit a plateau. Different lifestyles is what they said. It still hurt the same, even if it ended amicably.
Muriel needed three years to get over a one-and-a-half-year relationship. Thankfully, he had a support group… and he couldn’t believe he let Portia talk him into this.
“It’s all the craze these days! Regular dating is over, we’ve entered the era of speed dating!”
“I… I really don’t know.” Muriel stood awkwardly at the entrance of the Palace ballroom.
“What’s the worse that can happen?” She put a hand on his shoulder, “You can’t keep dwelling on them…”
“I know.” He huffed, “I don’t want to think about it.”
“Anyway! What are we doing standing here for? Get in!” She gave him a push that he couldn’t stay still for even if he wanted.
The ballroom had a dozen people with tables placed just for this event. It was Nadia’s idea, well technically Portia’s, who told Nadia about speed dating and the countess was the one who decided to actually do an event. Portia was the one who saw the idea in a book and wanted to try it out after Julian told her that Asra told him that he (Asra) thinks it’s time Muriel finds someone new.
Point is: Nadia is hosting a speed dating event that’s really just for Muriel but invited more bachelors so Muriel wouldn’t be the center of attention.
And now that the man of the hour arrived, Julian wastes no time in coming up to him. “Aha! Muriel! Fancy seeing you here!” Julian gave him a big hug and Muriel responded with a half-hearted pat on the back. “Wait… Why are you here? Aren’t you dating Asra?” Muriel said with a poker face, ready to snitch to his best friend at a moment’s notice.
“You rang~?” Muriel felt a touch on his shoulder before he saw Asra.
“We’re looking for members to add to the polycule.” Julian said a bit too casually.
“Too much information.” Muriel muttered with crossed arms.
“Sooo… Muri… anyone catches your eye?” Asra wiggled his eyebrows at his old friend.
Muriel scanned the room, there were a lot of well-dressed people, he looked down at himself. He was definitely underdressed. This already didn’t seem like his type of crowd but he didn’t want to leave just yet.
Despite it being three years since the breakup, they still dwell in Muriel’s head. It’s been incredibly hard living without them after they helped him find himself. They said it themselves, “Even if we’re breaking up, all the progress you’ve made is yours. You can still be happy, you should be happy, on your own accord, not reliant on me. ...Tell me you’ll be happy...? It would give me peace of mind.”
After a monologue choked through sobs of how pained he is and how precious they are to him, Muriel ended it with, “I’ll try. I’ll try every day to be happy, be-because even if we aren’t together, it’s what you would want for me.” He knew he was lying, he knew his happiness would be ripped away the moment they walked out the door of the hut. And that’s exactly what happened.
He could try to describe just how heart-wrenching it is, all the feelings involved, all the self-doubt, the bittersweetness of it all, but Muriel was never good with words. Asra, on the other hand, found the perfect way to put it, "Break-ups suck."
Muriel had so many memories swirling through his head constantly, he’d never admit it out loud, but he yearned for some relief. A part of him hoped this will work.
“Muriel...?” Asra’s eyebrows furrowed and Julian waved in front of Muriel’s face.
Muriel shook his head, “I forgot the question, sorry.”
“Anyone you’re interested in?” Asra repeated.
“I’m more of a personality person, so no.”
“Good.” Asra shot him a soft smile, “Because you’re gonna have to show yours off in a bit.”
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