Bittersweet Candy Bowl

124. Second String, page posted 5/5/25

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Author commentary

Veronica: Used to what?

Comments from Patreon

Comment ID #28030

Bro needs a hug

arjay

Comment ID #28031

Bro’s mad the people he hurt moved on

audie

Comment ID #28032

You mean the people who violated his boundaries because they couldn’t see him as anything other than a romantic interest?

Friosis

Comment ID #28033

They’re all doing what he asked now though and he’s mad at them for it. you would think this is exactly what he wanted for both himself and them?

audie

Comment ID #28034

This is so sad

Especially seeing how one of them kissed him without consent, one of them physically abused him for years, yet another said he would give him up without a thought for someone who had done nothing but hurt him and the last one said without thinking he wasn’t needed anymore

Not to mention his girlfriend straight up cheating on him

Some of those people did see the error in their ways and apologised but the damage to trust is still there

He’s going to develop a bad case of hyperindependency if this keep going

Which i know from personal experience is a bad place to be in

Kiall Vun Myeret

Comment ID #28035

But they were ALL supposed to be hung up on me FOREVER!!

mobsterseeker

Comment ID #28036

be used to what, people finally respecting the boundaries you put up?

SomeColourMage

Comment ID #28037

I really do feel bad for Mike. He’s going through it right now. It’s a little frustrating as an observer, because, well, all the people who have moved on from him are people *he* has rejected, either due to having no interest in or too much baggage with (Lucy).

Maybe he’s worried that they won’t care about him anymore, now that they have new relationships? Or maybe he is regretting his loyalty to Sandy?

Even if Paulo and Daisy don’t want him romantically anymore, they will always care about him as their friend. I hope Mike can realize that someday.

Michelle M.

Comment ID #28038

Timeline-wise hasn’t it been like a month since Mike told Paulo he can’t keep enduring his friends giving up on him for not reciprocating their romantic feelings? Outside of James being a dick about David I would think this situation would be exactly what he wants, no longer being the target of non-Sandy romantic interest

AlisterTX

Comment ID #28039

He’s gonna pull off a Lucy and try to off himself soon isn’t he?

Joselyn Rivera

Comment ID #28040

I hope not

arjay

Comment ID #28041

Dude, this has been my concern for a long freaking time now. When the track team was introduced I thought we were going a different direction and was relieved. But now… yeah, a lot of those concerns are bubbling back up for me as well. There’s su much that feels like forshadowing Mike’s attempt, and… I don’t want it to go that direction, but if Mike doesn’t seek help sometime soon, I don’t see things getting better before his repressed emotions boil over.

Alec

Comment ID #28042

The thing is for me I keep thinking it’s just a matter of time before he either tries to off himself or is too scared to do it and just hurts himself willingly cause his mental state spiraling and I’m scared for him

Joselyn Rivera

Comment ID #28043

He’s going to reenact the dark ending of Super Fire Pro Wrestling Special.

SCD

Comment ID #28044

Well… eto svoyego roda tvoya vina Michael…

Yellow467

Comment ID #28045

On one hand, he told all of them to go on and git because he didn’t have feelings for them or because of Sandy. On the other, he’s probably looking at it as everyone eventually leaves him for someone else (including Sandy even though she begged to come back). He needs therapy

Aesthete Noire

Comment ID #28046

oo i went back to reread a bit and he said “it shouldn’t be a surprise anymore” back in unwanted gift…

audie

Comment ID #28047

Your friends still love and appreciate you, Mike!!

esinololly

Comment ID #28048

Mr. Magoo: (singing) Oh, poor, lonely child. Poor lonely child.

Mike: (singing) When you’re alone, alone in the world. When you’re alone in the world.

SCD