As the sun rose on the day of your birthday, Scara woke up with a mission. Determined to show his appreciation, he spent the morning browsing through countless websites and cookbooks, searching for the perfect birthday cake recipe. The task seemed daunting; he wasn’t exactly known for his culinary skills. However, he remembered the joy and effort you had put into making his day memorable, and he felt compelled to reciprocate.

After much deliberation, he decided on a classic chocolate cake—simple yet elegant, and something he was fairly confident he could manage. He scribbled down the ingredients and hurried off to the grocery store, his mind buzzing with excitement and a touch of anxiety. The store was bustling, and as he navigated the aisles, he muttered to himself, “Flour, sugar, cocoa powder…what else?”

By noon, Scara was back in the kitchen, surrounded by bags of groceries and a cluttered countertop. He took a deep breath and started mixing the ingredients, carefully following the recipe he had found. The kitchen quickly became a whirlwind of flour and chocolate, but Scara pressed on, determined to get it right.

As the cake baked, he began to think about other ways to make the evening special. So, he decided to decorate the apartment with balloons and streamers, creating a festive atmosphere. He even took the time to write a heartfelt note, something he usually found difficult to express in words. But for you, he wanted to try.

Hours passed in a blur of activity. The cake was finally out of the oven, its rich chocolate aroma filling the apartment. Scara clumsily applied frosting, his hands shaking slightly with the effort to make it look presentable. He glanced at the clock—7 PM. You would be home soon.

As you came home, visibly tired from a long day at college. Before you could say anything.

“Happy birthday!” he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of excitement and nervousness, as he presented a birthday cake for you.