It is Mia

When my eyes lock on to the person who called my name, I see it is Mia. She came here together with that Roland guy who was with her last time.

Her face is bright with a smile as she runs up to me and gives me a big hug. “I was so worried when you ran out on me.” Mia says. “I feared so much that you would give up and go back home.”

With Mia hugging me like this, I am able to catch her scent. It makes me think back of better times and part of me want to just hug her and go back to then. But I can’t. She’s not my girl any more. So, I but I don’t hug her back.

“Thank god I had Emma to tell me you ended up joining the Dark Dragon.” Mia says after she stops hugging me. “It’s your mom’s old guild. That’s amazing. I am so proud of you, Darx.”

I can’t look at her. If I do, I’ll have flashes of her being naked with Roland in my head. It’s too much for me. I look away from Mia and reply with a cold, “I guess.”

“Nice armor too. Newly bought?” Mia continues in a cheery mood. “It looks good on you.”

“I guess.” I say in the same cold manner.

“Isn’t this the person that was teaching you, Darx?” Mia says when she looks over at Kiara. Mia then grins and continues, “Oh my, on date with your teacher, are you? I didn’t know you had a thing for that. So come on, introduce us.”

I sigh and look at Kiara. “That’s Kiara. She’ a B rank.” I then don’t look back at Mia and say. “Kiara, that’s Mia. She’s a C rank.”

Mia then seems to finally pick up on my behavior and her smile fades.

“Oh, I see. You’re still angry at me, huh?” Mia says softly as she steps away. “Darx, I told you I was sorry.”

I finally look into her eyes. There is a moment of silence between us, as if she is expecting me to say something. The only words I can think of to say are, “You promised we would be together forever.”

Mia closes her eyes for a moment and sighs. When she opens them again, all I can read from her is disappointment.

“Fine then. Be that way.”

Mia then turns around and walks out of the store. Kiara and Roland both have remained silent during this whole interaction, as well as the shop keeper. I wonder what they will think now. Who will be the first to do anything?

After watching Mia leave the store, Roland turns to me and starts talking.

“You know, Darx. When I saved Mia’s life, I didn’t do it to take her from you. I didn’t even know she had someone in her life. By the time I found out, we had already become too close.” He says calmly.

I feel I should say something, but I don’t know what. Should I be angry? My feelings are all a mess.

“She knows she did you wrong by not telling you sooner. But she at least wants to stay on friendly terms with you. Though, if you keep on hating her like this, you will lose more than just a lover. You will also lose a friend.”

Lose her even more than I already have? He thinks I hate her?

“I wouldn’t say I hate her.” I start explaining myself to Roland. “It’s just …”

While thinking on how to describe how I feel for Mia, I keep returning to one word. Just one emotion keeps coming back up and it is the only one that sounds true. But it is a painful one to think of and I feel tears forming in my eyes.

“I really loved her, you know.” I tell Roland as my voice cracks. “We’ve spent so many wonderful days together. Kept telling each other how fond we were of one another. Made plans of being in the same guild, go on adventures and fantasized about romantic nights in Riledo. But now all those promises from her seem like they have been nothing but lies.”

“They weren’t lies, Darx.” Roland continues in his calm demeanor. “Whenever she talks about you, she always does so fondly and with a smile. But then she remembers you running out on her. She’s been hoping for you to show up at our guildhall again. She’s even been asking me which of our guild members I think would make a good girlfriend for you. She feels so guilty that she literally wants to help you find a new girlfriend.”

Mia has really been acting like that? I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to think.

“The only thing she has left now are the letters you send to her from before your awakening. They help her think back of a time when she didn’t feel hated by you. She still wants to adventure with you, Darx. But since you are avoiding her, that can’t happen anymore and it makes her cry.”

Mia’s really been crying over me? She fears losing me as a friend? But how does Roland know all of this? Does she tell him all or does he see it without her needing to tell him?

I take a deep breath to collect myself, then I ask Roland. “You really like her, don’t you?”

Roland nods and says, “I do.”

I sigh. No wonder she became attracted to Roland. If his feelings for her are honest … Then he may actually be a good match for her.

“I can’t promise I’ll get over it. I don’t understand my own feelings as well as I should. But I can promise I’ll do my best to try and get over our breakup.” I say. “I don’t know how long it’ll take for me to heal, but I’ll do my best. In return, I want you to promise me that you will never hurt her and will always keep her safe from harm, alright?”

Roland makes a fist with his right hand and taps his chest with it. “Rest assured, I will either succeed or die trying.”

“You better.” I think to myself.

I then nod and say, “Thanks.”

After that, Roland walks out of the store. Probably to return to Mia and talk to her. Finally, I turn to Kiara. She still hasn’t said a word.

“Do you think I succeeded?” I ask Kiara. “At quitting to carry this weight with me.”

“It looks like you have taken the first steps at letting her go. The difficulty you have in doing so shows the strength of your love for her. Also, despite you showing resentment at her for hurting you, you still want her to be safe. People usually don’t care about their exes like this. They tend to no longer want to have anything to do with them instead. I have a feeling you are quite a compassionate person, Darx. You may even be too good for this world.” Kiara says, educating me about all the things she has observed.

“Yes, well. Maybe that’s the reason why I get hurt so often.” I reply.

“I heard she had letters from you. I take it you have letters from her as well?” Kiara asks.

So, Kiara noticed that as well. She really does pay attention to details, doesn’t she?

“I do.” I reply.

“Would you mind if I could read them?”

Read Mia’s letters. I don’t know. That feels like violating Mia’s privacy. But if what Mia wrote in those letters were her true feelings or lies, I feel Kiara might be the one person to figure it out.