"Let's play a game." He reached across the table and grabbed my hand, lacing his warm fingers between my own. "We'll go on dates like this at least once a week and meet each other's family. Whoever catches feelings first loses."
That moment is one I...
After that, I couldn't leave. Knowing I made him cry like that made me change my mind completely. I promised him I wouldn't go and he watched me unpack my suitcase, laying down with me afterwards and making sure he was on top of me so I couldn't get up. "Adam."
"I'm not apologizing, you're an asshole." He scoffed. "And in taking you to the doctor tomorrow. I want to find out what's wrong with you."
It's true. I admitted that I didn't want to go, I was just afraid of staying. I thought if I didn't go, Adam would somehow get hurt again. "I don't like the doctor."
"I don't care. I talked to Elise and she said you're depressed."
"I'm not depressed. But I'm sorry I made you cry so...I'll go."
"It's not like you to say sorry. So don't."
"You deserve an apology."
"I don't deserve shit. You can take that apology and and shove it up your ass. If it'll even fit with your head up there."
"I really am sorry."
"You're pathetic."
"Yeah."
"Agreeing with me makes you even more pathetic. I should have just let you leave if you're gonna pity me." He stood up and grabbed my keys, tossing them onto my chest. "Get out."
"You told me not to leave. So I'm not going anywhere.You said I was just like him. Who were you talking about?"
"Get out!" He raised his voice. "I'm sick of your shit. So just go."
"Who were you talking about."
"I've been in a relationship before..." he mumbled. "The guy cheated on me and lied about things that he didn't even need to. His name was Elijah."
"I'm sorry."
"Idiot, I said stop apologizing and go!"
"You said everyone lies to you."
"I've had a heart disease since I was a child. Everyone's always told me I'd be okay and all of that garbage they feed to patients who are gonna die."
"Wha- you have a heart disease?!"
"Cardiac hypertrophy. It means my heart is enlarged. I get tired really easily and my heart has to beat faster if I'm using too much energy. I nearly had a heart attack helping move boxes."
"You're going to die?"
"At this point I damn sure hope so." He scoffed. "Now get out."
I went home, finding my mom sitting on the couch with a confused look on her face. "Tomorrow's Monday. Why are you back?"
"...Adam kicked me out for the night. We got in a fight. I also just found out he has a heart condition so...I'm even more worried."
"Oh Baby." She stood up and hugged me. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I think I'm just going to give him some space." I sighed as my phone buzzed. I quickly pulled it out and checked my messages, flinching when I saw Elise had sent me a photo and was typing beneath it.
Elise:
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Elise| I went to check up on him and he was sitting in the bathroom floor. I can't get him to breathe normally and he's coughing up blood.
Shuji| call a hospital, I'll head over there.
"I change my mind!" I quickly headed for the door. "I've gotta go!"
The drive to the dorms went by in a blur, hearing ambulance sirens not too far once I actually got up to our room. I ran into the bathroom, finding Elise helping Adam hold his arms over his head to he could breathe better.
"Shuji?" He glanced at me. "I told you to-"
"Are you okay?" I got down on my knees beside him and held a hand on his cheek. "Can you breathe?"
"My chest hurts." He leaned his head back against the wall. "I feel like I'm gonna puke."
"He took medicine." Elise sighed. "I don't know what it was and he won't tell me."
"Adam what did you take?" I asked quickly. He shook his head.
"Who cares? I'm gonna die at some point anyway. Why not now?"
"What did you take?" I repeated softly.
"None of your business."
"Fine. I'll just see what's missing from the cabinet." I stood up and ran through every medication we had, discovering that the entire cabinet was full of empty pill bottles. My heart sunk, ears ringing as I immediately pulled him up by his collar and shoved my fingers down his throat.
"What did he take?" Elise asked.
"Fucking everything!" I held his head over the toilet, listening to him gag and puke up less than half of the drugs in his system.
"Stop." He shoved me away, panting. "I don't want to fight you on this. It's my decision."
"It is not!" My voice grew into an angry tone, deepening and cracking in a way that made him flinch. "Don't you dare say that! I don't care how many time I have to make you puke your fucking guts out, you don't get to die!"
"Shuji please don't yell at him. He doesn't need that." Elise grabbed my shoulder. I smacked her hand away.
"I don't give a shit what he needs. It isn't every goddamn drug in sight!" I glared at Adam as he faced me. "Now either you're gonna make yourself throw up the rest of it or I will hold you down and do it myself."
"Why? What does it matter?"
"I'm the one who left." I scoffed. "This is my fault, isn't it?"
"The doctor called after you left....they can't fix it." He laughed blankly. "So I figured this is the better way to go."
"Adam. You have five seconds or I'm making you puke."
