"Make sure James drinks the prescribed medicine," the therapist lectured as they gave Nathaniel a paper with the said medicine.

Nathaniel stared at the paper and sighed.

He stood up from the chair and thanked the therapist before he left the room.

When Nathaniel saw James in such a sorry state, he experienced guilt that he'd never felt before. He hated seeing people in a depressed state.

Nathaniel promised himself that he'd help anyone from now on. He would never let anyone suffer such a tragedy.

~~~

Nathaniel was preparing lunch for James. making sure that he perfectly cooks James' favourites.

Nathaniel glanced at the medicine that was supposed to be given to James.

Since James would decline the medication at most times, Nathaniel mixes it into his food instead, since there are no other options for him. However, some say that crushing and mixing it into the food won't lessen the effects.

Nathaniel simply hid the medication in the food and prayed to God that James would swallow it with the food.

As Nathaniel was preparing, someone entered the kitchen and saw what his younger brother was doing. "You do know that medicine will barely help, right? The problem here is that we need to help James get back on track and give him the will to get "better". The thing is, we're having problems forming a connection with James," Nathaniel's older brother, Marcus, scolded in a whisper, scaring James so hard he nearly knocked over a glass of water.

Nathaniel seemed offended as he rushed to grab a clean fork. "Look, this is the only way he'll take the anti-depressants. It's either this or he'll slowly get sick and eventually die. Please just don't tell James, okay?" he hissed back .

Out of nowhere, Marcus remembered something. "Your anniversary is coming up. When you two first got together, remember? Why don't you prepare something memorable for James? Maybe that'll get you two close again," he suggested.

Nathaniel face-palmed internally. He had almost forgotten about their anniversary!

Nathaniel looked at the calendar on the fridge to realise that it was tomorrow. He barely had much time to think about what to prepare for their anniversary.

He sighed. He'd just think about it afterwards.

After finishing, he grabbed the plate and started making his way upstairs and to James' room, where he lay in the bed, watching an old sitcom on the television while snuggled in blankets and a mound of pillows.

"James? Food's ready."

James didn't reply with anything at all except a small and muffled sound as he shifted on the bed, his face barely noticeable from his jacket's hoodie covering his head, and then two chunky blankets covering his mouth.

Nathaniel noticed the pile of books on the bed. The room was a total mess, but he paid no attention to it and tried his best to walk past the mess without spilling anything.

"I made your favourite, you know. I tried my best to perfect it, using the recipe that your father left for me to cook for you," Nathaniel said while he set the plate down in the empty space and started looking for the bed table under James' bed.

Nathaniel found it and started putting everything on it.

"No."

Nathaniel was caught off guard by James's reply. "What do you mean, "no"?"

James shoved away the plate. "No."

Nathaniel groaned and moved the plate back so it wouldn't knock over. "You're acting like a child, James. It's a singular meal and your favourite. I'll give you dessert afterwards, too. "

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Still, James went silent as he hid in the blankets. "I'm alright. Leave me alone," he muttered under the blanket.

Nathaniel begged James, hoping that he would feel sorry for him and himself.

"I don't want any. Leave me alone, goddamn," James shot back in a tone that made it seem like Nathaniel was feeding poison to him.

Nathaniel, shocked, but understanding, slowly nodded and stepped back. though he still left the plate there. "Let me know if you need anything," he whispered before stepping out of James' room.

~~~

Nathaniel planned a small celebration for their anniversary but still wanted the surprise to be perfect.

He wanted the celebration just for the two of them so that James would feel comfortable. And since James still hasn't recovered from the trauma, he got rid of the idea of going out to reduce James' social anxiety. He settled for a romantic dinner in the backyard.

Nathaniel imagined creating a backyard that would attract James' attention; he knew James adored space, so he imagined styling up the backyard in a space style and scheduling their date for a night when bright stars and a luminous moon would be visible.

Nathaniel smiled just thinking about making James happy again. He missed the old James, but Nathaniel was dedicated to making James just like he was in the past.

Nathaniel thought of baking cupcakes with blue frosting and sprinkles in the colours of the bright stars. Nathaniel already went to the store to buy the materials he'll be using when making the cupcakes.

He knew that James' favourite was purple yam, so he made the cupcakes yam-flavoured. It was nice that it already looked like a galaxy because of the colour itself.

Honestly, he never knew purple yam existed until James introduced it to him. He liked how unique James was, and that's how Nathaniel began to fall for him.

...

His family members wanted to help him prepare, but he wanted his surprise for James to come entirely from his efforts.

Nathaniel looked at his watch to see it was already getting late. He looked up at the sky, the sun slowly setting down. He finished at the perfect time.

It took him a while, and he was pretty tired, but he couldn't care less about himself. He was too focused on thinking about how he could make the afternoon perfect for James.

Suddenly, he heard his older brother calling out for him and rushing towards him.

"Nathaniel! Nathaniel!" his brother yelled. "We need you quick! James is having a bad tantrum!"

Nathaniel wasted no time and started to rush back inside the house to figure out what was happening with James,

As soon as he entered the house, he heard James yelling about how much he hated being in the house.

"I can't believe people like you are treating me like this! I've had enough of feeling like the weaker one in this house!" James ranted, leaving Nathaniel's family shocked.

James had a suitcase with him, making Nathaniel realise that James was threatening to leave the house.

Nathaniel knew that James was not emotionally and mentally fine yet. Nathaniel thought that James was having his usual tantrum, so Nathaniel tried to calm him down, just like he usually does.

"James, calm down. We're not making you feel weak—we're trying to help you with your situation," Nathaniel said in his caring tone, while cautiously trying to approach James.

James shot a glare at Nathaniel. "That's what you want me to think! I'm no child anymore, Nathaniel! I will do what I want from now on!" he snarled, his tone filled with hatred.

Nathaniel, being the understanding one, ignored the fury of his partner. "Come on, James—we're celebrating our anniversary soon. Calm down for a second... please?" Nathaniel replied, trying not to irritate James any further.

"Oh? Do you still think we're still a couple? How idiotic of you to think that I actually liked you from the start!" James laughed in response, his now emotionless blue eyes staring at Nathaniel.

"Three years! Three whole years I had to deal with your loud mouth! Never in a million years would I date someone like you again!" James continued, making Nathaniel feel insulted.

Nathaniel was at his breaking point. All of James' insults made Nathaniel realise that all of the things he did for James went to waste on this day.

Nathaniel's father was about to calm him down, but it was too late when Nathaniel was on his limit.

"You're the idiot here! I've saved you a few times, and this is how you repay me!?" Nathaniel yelled at James. "After all I did—all the blood, sweat, and tears I wasted, just for you!?"

Nathaniel's response made James chuckle. "Please. Guess who's finally on their limit! Doesn't it feel good? I see that you're tired of bottling up all your anger for years!" James shouted back sarcastically.

The two went on and on, Nathaniel's father and brother having no idea how to stop them. They had never seen Nathaniel and James having such an intense argument.

"That's it, James! Get out of this house now! I've had enough of your child-like personality and your pointless arguments!" Nathaniel demanded, making the room go silent.

James didn't reply as he started dragging his suitcase to the door. The room was so quiet that only the rolling wheels could be heard.

James put his hand on the doorknob, but before he could open the door and permanently leave the house, he looked back at Nathaniel.

"Leave. I don't want to see you anymore," Nathaniel ordered before he turned his back and went upstairs.

James opened the door. Before he went outside, he stopped and said, "Curse you all, I'll come back and take my revenge."

He stepped outside and slammed the door behind him.

The brother and father were left baffled as to why James wanted revenge. Was it because he now hated Nathaniel? Or was it something else?

This stayed a mystery for the family.