A Bittersweet Mystreet

{Chapter 4}

After the talk with Aphmau the night before, Garroth and Laurance had barely spoken a word to one another for the rest of the night. Neither of them knew what to say and were a bit nervous to say anything at all, but if they wanted to apologize to Kawaii~Chan they'd have to work together.

They sat together at the breakfast table the next morning, only muttering a quick greeting before busying themselves with their breakfast. On a normal day, they would have talked about their plans for the day. Whether they would be home for lunch or dinner, any plans for the upcoming days, or the rest of the mundane topics, being friends for so long came with the benefit of no longer having to keep a conversation to enjoy each other's company. Talking wasn't necessary with them, but today, it was a need that hadn't been met.

For Garroth, the shame was overbearing. Each time he started acting in a love-crazed frenzy with Laurance, it never ended with one of them sweeping Aphmau off her feet. She wasn't interested in Garroth; that was one thing he knew for a fact. Unfortunately, Laurance wasn't aware of this. While Garroth was trying hard to move on and pursue his life, Laurance dragged him right back down. This wasn't healthy for them or anyone around them. Sure, they still had feelings for Aphmau; they were allowed to feel jealous, but they didn't have the right to do anything about it.

Laurance had a different reaction; his mind continued to replay every one of Garroth's comments against their plans. Every "I don't think we should do this" from his best friend was sounding a lot more like an "I told you so" right now. The talk last night with Aph had started to settle into his bones. This was their last chance with Aphmau, as both a potential partner and a friend. She was right; Laurance and Garroth were adults, and it was time to start acting like it. Well, as best as people in their mid-twenties stuck in a Minecraft roleplay could act.

The silence between the two had become suffocating, so Laurance finally took the plunge and spoke.

"Okay," Laurance said, putting down his food and looking up at Garroth. "I was thinking we could bake Kawaii~Chan cookies and go to her place to apologize," he suggested, trying to make eye contact with the boy who kept averting his gaze. Garroth hummed in agreement before pulling up a recipe online, awkwardly walking over to the kitchen, and unpacking various bowls and utensils from the boxes. Laurance got up to join him, leaving their breakfast at the table, and the two got to work. It was fairly quiet between the two of them; the only words muttered between them were whether they were measuring an ingredient or adding something to the bowl, yet both of them were itching to say something to the other. After all, communication is key in any relationship.

"Laurance, about what happened last night-" Garroth spoke.

"Don't," Laurance interrupted, "Everything that had happened in the last couple of days was my fault. I should have listened to you. We wouldn't be in this mess if I didn't."

"That's not true." Garroth and Laurance turned to face one another. "I should've kept pushing instead of giving in."

"But I noticed how you weren't really happy with the decisions I was making, and I still didn't do anything about it!"

"Even so, I didn't tell you how I was feeling. I should've said what was on my mind." The two stepped closer to one another.

"I was so wrapped up in Aphmau that I pushed you aside, but you kept helping me regardless. I didn't realize that you didn't like Aphmau anymore."

"What? Laurance, I still like Aphmau, but..." Garroth had to choose his next words very carefully. "I know that the chances of her liking me back aren't very high."

"Garroth, what do you mean?" Garroth paused and took a deep breath before speaking.

"During college, I told Aphmau that I liked her, but she said she didn't like me back. It hurt at the moment, but when it started sinking in, I started losing interest in her. I still like her and will still try to win her heart, but... I think I'm okay if I don't have a future with her anymore."