A Graduation Gift

A heavy silence permeated the elevator. Cassandra glanced at the redness spreading over Rufus' hand, and felt her heart squeeze in pain.

She tried to keep the tears in her eyes from running down her face.

"Rufus… You… You asshole!"

The words burst from her. She struggled to get her emotions under control, barely noticing that her fingernails were dug into her palms. Her voice trembled with emotion.

Her reaction made Rufus's face soften.

He looked away from her, wanting to conceal the swirl of emotions in his nebulous eyes.

Each droplet of tears that escaped from her eyes splashed straight onto his heart.

His heart became heavier and heavier.

As soon as the lift doors opened, Cassandra rushed out. After a second Rufus realized that she was heading not toward the carpark, but towards the exit.

While he stood there stunned, Cassandra disappeared into the heavy rain.

He dashed to the main gate, but Cassandra was nowhere to be seen.

The swirling sky above him, was dark as ink. A traffic light stood out in the storm, a beacon in the night.

He stood for a second, and then spun back toward the carpark. Climbed into his car, he sped out of the building right away.

The car seared through the thundering weather; the wipers screeching hopelessly against the downpour. He peered through the rain, barely able to see the road. He had no idea how he would find Cassandra.

But Rufus was determined. Slowly, he circled around the block, driving back and forth for some time before finally spotting a bedraggled woman at the corner of the street.

She was huddled under a ledge outside of a darkened shop. The ledge barely kept the rain from her, with water lashing at her on either side.

As he parked the car and leapt out of the door, he saw her sitting on haunches and staring blankly at the rain.

He ripped his coat off and covered her with it.

He crouched down and put his arms around her, almost flinching as he felt how cold and drenched she was.

"What were you thinking? Do you know how severe this typhoon is?"

to keep the anger and fear out of his voice. The rain streamed across his face, and the wind ripped the words from out

gave no indication that she had heard him. The tears streaming out of her eyes mingled with the rain pouring

the spur of the moment. She was almost knocked flat by

in her eyes and mouth and entwining

were soaked and heavy, and the cold had seeped deep into her flesh and

turn. She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run in such a storm.

way forward. And she couldn't go back either. Cassandra kept

the rain, she tripped and fell to her knees. When she lifted her hands she found them covered

they were turning, and her body was

out of the carpark nor realized how dangerous this weather would be. In desperation she ran to find some kind of shelter. This was when Rufus found her.

hero from the rain, but why did the sight

the frightened look on Cassandra's face.

tidy yourself up,"

cry more tears. Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack the strength

more worried. He reached out a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew back in shock when he felt how cold she was.

you? I'm with you. Don't worry. It's okay," the man tried to reassure her and

so much like a corpse, and the

her close to him, he tried to use his

her stir a little, and her eyes looked momentarily up at

that he couldn't waste another second asking her how

buckled her in and brushed some of the hair out of her face. He wished he had a blanket to give her.

place a secret from his family, spending

but stylishly decorated, expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained.

face, but

that she had just recently come out of the hospital, and feared that her time in the rain would make her sick again. His

not even a typhoon could stop you from acting out?" Rufus scolded her, but with no real anger behind his words.

could feel the warmth in the gentle way that he handled her.

still could not move, he respectfully helped her peel

of the water seemed to calm her; she gradually stopped quivering

just... 'Oh

over her shoulders to warm her body

as the mirrors steamed up in the room,

softly, "I can do it

she whispered, she didn't dare turn her head back to look at the man behind her. Rufus

rare that the little woman didn't firmly resist. He would definitely take the chance to serve the beauty.

kind of treatment from him, but he would