"miIeven were broken up because it's the only way will would flirt with mike" true, but also. because of the flowers.
miIeven confirmed broken up is canon.
because. of. the. flowers.
flowers become a symbol of mike's feelings for el in s4. and the minute this symbol is introduced via mike's handpicked bouquet (70/30 yellow to purple ratio. he's thinking more of someone else. wonder who that could be) el shows dissatisfaction with it (i.e. the strength of mike's feelings towards her). by the end of s4 she has realized mike doesn't love her romantically (the flowers are dead), and by s5 the flowers have been dead for long enough to go in the trash (they have been broken up since before s5).
