Happiness Blossoms

Shrimp was sitting alone, as always, he felt loneliness due to his curse, knowing that he would always outlive anyone he forms a relationship with, so he often isolated himself. Whenever he had to interact with someone though, he would put on a fake happy demeanor, which is exactly what happened when Shi approached him.

“Oh hello there! It’s nice to meet you, whoever…” Shrimp spoke, his eyes widened, this dragon was so handsome.

“Hello there. Uh, is everything ok? You seem a little surprised.” Shi said.

“Um, yes, I am fine. Could you tell me who you are? My name is Shrimp.” Shrimp said.

“I am Shi. I am what is known as a Serptail, I am not from around here, I ended up here after um, well being in a fight with a dragon that attempted to take me away from home. I fell in the water and then washed up here.” Shi explained.

“Oh, I am sorry to hear that.” Shrimp said, his heart thumping with excitement over getting to meet such a cute and handsome dragon.

“I’ve been trying to look for a place to stay, but no one would let me stay with them, all of them giving me mean looks or making rude comments.” Shi said.

Shrimp was a little nervous about this now, mainly due to his curse that resurrects him every time he died, but eventually after a few moments, he gives his answer.

“You can live with me if you would like.” Shrimp said.

“Oh really? Thank you!” Shi exclaimed and hugged Shrimp, this made Shrimp’s heart pump faster as his face turned a shade of pink.

“Yeah.” Shrimp said calmly.

Shrimp led Shi to his house and they lived together for a few months, and then that was when Shrimp finally decided to open up to Shi about his curse.

“Shi, I have something to tell you. This is very important.” Shrimp said.

“Yes dude? What is it?” Shi asked.

“Um, well you’ve learned about animuses during your time here on Pyrrhia, right?” Shrimp asked.

“Yeah. Wait, are you saying that you are one?” Shi asked.

“No, it’s that… an animus cursed me a few years ago, set me with a curse that I would come back to life every single time I died. It is very stressful… I fake being happy as a coping mechanism to the stress it causes me.” Shrimp said.

“Well, it doesn’t seem faked when you are around me.” Shi said.

“That’s because you genuinely make me happy. This leads me into something I want to ask you, Shi.” Shrimp said.

“Oh? What is it?” Shi asked.

“Um, do… do you want to be my boyfriend?” Shrimp asked.

“Well then, I thought you would never ask. Of course I do! And I know exactly where we can go on our first date. I’ve been around the continent enough to find the perfect restaurant.” Shi said, grabbing Shrimp’s wrist as he ran out.

Shrimp was surprised that it went that easily for him. Shi pulled him inside the restaurant and the owner came right up to them.

“Hello you two, would you both like a seat?” She asked.

“Hello miss Ibex, sure we would. Me and my handsome boyfriend would love a seat.” Shi chuckled.

“Oh, so you both are dating? That’s amazing. Well then, I wish you both luck for the future.” Ibex said.