A Graduation Gift

Rufus and Amanda's earlier exchange came back to her. He sounded so gentle as he reassured her over the phone.

Thoughts began to swirl inside her head. She had been in love with Rufus for so long, and at times, he seemed to be so affectionate.

But it was not only to her. Both she and Amanda occupied a space in his heart.

The clock ticked rhythmically inside the office, the sound creeping thickly through the walls. Cassandra closed her eyes against the piercing pain that came with every heartbeat. When a heart got tired, even love became a burden.

"Amanda, why are you standing there in the cold?"

From afar, Rufus saw Amanda's figure in the doorway, her thin skirt fluttering against the wind.

She was sick, but she still stood in a draught.

Rufus pulled Amanda into the car and drove to the hospital.

"Where does it hurt? Is it your disease?" he asked.

When he found out about her condition, Rufus took it upon himself to learn more about the disease. From what he found out, her condition couldn't be cured; even the latest medical advancements could only control it.

Amanda nodded absentmindedly, her face blank.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain? Hold on. We'll be in the hospital soon."

Rufus felt himself toward Amanda's sorry state. She was lethargic and listless, like a dry leaf swaying in the autumn wind. It was no use denying their history. She was the girl who made him know what love felt like; although they had parted ways, they spent wonderful times together. He would always have a certain fondness for her, and he felt sympathy pour out from him as she suffered severely from an incurable illness.

"Rufus, if someone wants to hurt me, will you protect me?"

asked, turning her head to Rufus. Her sudden question caught him off-guard,

have the protection of your father. No one

gaze as a sad smile

was something else she wanted to

twisting the fabric of her skirt, her knuckles white

You're like a sister to

comforted her as he felt waves

would mean. He was putting distance between them, so as not to lead

could give her now that his heart

didn't catch the subtle shifts in Amanda's expression. For the past days, she had been uneasy, scared, and

played along. "Can I call you

the car. Her heart quickened as she took in the sight of him. At that moment, she could swear with certainty that no one but he

"Sure."

be

did he know that Amanda thought differently. The word put a distance between them, true, but it was a necessary setback. There was more to the word 'brother' than met the ears. Even as it put distance between them, it left no

her mind. Amanda shivered at the image of the man she

nightmare, a shadow with watchful eyes that followed her every movement. She knew it was absurd, but she

he come to this city? Shouldn't he be living an extravagant life, with wine

met him twice in G City.

message, saying that he missed her very much. She felt her throat lurch even with the sweetness of the words. The walls spun around her and she struggled for air. The next thing she knew, she was at the hospital after a bout of hypoxia.

skin crawled at

his hateful smile, he had demanded everything from her. Not even murder could shake his composure. He could kill anyone whenever it

had no semblance of morals. The only thing that made him decide was whether he

even abandoned her like a