Chapter 2
Nykia rolled her eyes so hard, it was like she was aiming for Pluto.
"Oh, please. If you're actually sober, I'll do a livestream eating crap upside down."
I shrugged. Suit yourself, believe it or not.
Nykia dropped me off at the airport.
She glanced at me, struggling with all my bags.
With an exasperated look, she said, "Muriel, I heard there's a church in Sormont that works wonders.
"You should go and pray there and ask God to bless you with some brains."
I stared at her, completely clueless, as she sped off in her car.
I let out a helpless, bitter laugh.
Guess I had been simping for Felix for way too long. Even Nykia didn't believe me anymore.
I had checked in all my luggage.
Then I sat at the gate, bored out of my mind, waiting for my flight.
Just then, Felix texted me.
I opened it and saw a mouthwatering photo of Molten Cheese Bread.
Felix: [Muriel, make sure you get it from this shop.]
Felix: [Agnes won't touch it unless it's from this shop.]
I sighed.
Agnes, Agnes, Agnes... Felix's heart was all about her. There was no space for anyone else.
I couldn't wrap my head around it.
How could he be so chill about saying he'd marry me when it was obvious his heart was already taken?
I always replied instantly whenever Felix texted.
But this time, I left him hanging for ages.
Felix actually called me, which was totally out of character for him.
I hesitated for a moment, then answered.
"Muriel, did you see the photo I sent?" Felix asked.
Figures, it was always about Agnes with him.
"Yeah, I saw it," I replied.
"Then why didn't you reply?" he pressed.
Felix's voice was as impatient as ever, but now there was a hint of confusion mixed in.
I checked the boarding time on the screen.
I said, "Sorry, I've been busy. Didn't really have time to look.
"Felix, I've made up my mind, I..."
Before I could finish, the boarding announcement cut me off.
[Passengers traveling to Sormont, please proceed to Gate B39 for boarding.]
It was obvious Felix also heard the announcement on the other end of the line.
His tone suddenly softened.
"Muriel, you're already at the airport?" he asked.
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Yeah."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Then Felix said, "Thank you, Muriel.
"Don't worry, this is the last time I'll make an exception for Agnes.
"And it's the last favor I'll ever ask from you.
"When you get back, I'll make good on my promise.
"Muriel, I'll wait for you, and I'm going to marry you."
He didn't even let me finish. He just hung up, not caring if I had anything else to say.
I heard the beeping on the other end.
My heart felt strangely empty.
What I really wanted to say was:
"Felix, I'm afraid I can't do what you're asking anymore.
"I don't want to marry you, and I'm done simping for you.
"This is where we end."
Felix never let me finish what I wanted to say.
But it wouldn't have mattered to him if I were there or not.
His heart was always wrapped around Agnes, the girl he could never get.
I was watching the plane outside the window, ready to head to Sormont.
And I felt unexpectedly at peace.
Since I'd made up my mind to let go, whether I said it or not, it wouldn't change a thing.
I unlocked my phone again.
I erased every trace of Felix, photos, messages, everything.
Then I squeezed into the boarding line and got on the plane.
As the plane pulled away from the airport, I watched the city I'd grown up in slip out of sight.
In my heart, I quietly said goodbye.
Goodbye, Celvyn. Goodbye, Felix.
Felix slumped on the couch in his living room.
The coffee table was overflowing with cigarette butts.
He kept replaying how things turned out, over and over in his head.
He caught feelings for Agnes at eighteen.
And all the way up to now.
He'd been crazy about her for six long years.
But in all those years, she only ever gave him the time of day whenever things went south in her relationships.
No one understood it better than Felix.
He was Agnes' emotional crutch whenever her love life crashed and burned.
To put it harshly, he was nothing more than her spare tire, the guy she kept on standby.
But Felix didn't care. All he wanted was to stick around Agnes.
Even if it meant watching her from a distance, even if he was the invisible spare tire in her life, he was okay with that.
When exactly did his mindset start to shift?
Thinking back, maybe it was after Muriel showed up in his life.
Muriel had the same stubbornness and determination as he did.
At first, he found her clinginess annoying, always coming up with excuses to talk to him, even when there was nothing to say.
He'd mess with her, making her run errands to please Agnes, and got a weird satisfaction out of it.
But over time, he found himself getting used to Muriel always being there.
He got used to her instant replies, to her constant concern for him.
He even got used to those eyes she gave him, full of longing, always searching for something, but with a hint of disappointment.
When Shawn proposed to Agnes, both Felix and Muriel were there.
For a split second, Felix felt a wave of panic.
Luckily, Agnes turned Shawn down.
Felix watched as the elegant ring box was pressed into Agnes's hands.
He found himself imagining what Agnes would look like with that diamond ring on her finger.
But before he knew it, in a haze, Agnes faded away. It was Muriel standing there instead.
He saw Muriel right in front of him, sliding her finger into the ring he was holding.
With tears in her eyes, she answered softly, "I do."
When Felix snapped back to reality, everyone else had already left.
It was just him and Muriel.
Muriel was still there, quietly sticking by his side, always looking out for him.
He walked away without saying a word, certain Muriel would be right behind him.
Agnes and Felix were still tangled up in their passionate, messy love story. The drama and heartbreak swirled around them like always.