A Graduation Gift

'Tastes good? Must've been Amanda who said it.

Amanda bought this bread for him, but he turned around and gave it to me? It's ridiculous how he thinks I know nothing about this.

Rufus, you must be wallowing in satisfaction right now as two women pine for you at the same time.

What exactly am I to you?' she thought to herself.

Her trust in him was already at the brink of collapse, but because of this, it had fallen rock bottom. 'Is there any good reason, any reason at all to stay in a relationship with a man who uses what his other lover gave him to flatter me?' she wondered, apparently in a daze.

"Rufus, we're bearking up!"

Cassandra wrestled with herself before blurting it out, hear tears like torrents streaming down her cheeks.

"What's wrong with you, again?"

Rufus's smile was gone like the wind and was replaced with a look of concern when he saw her tears. A wave of panic engulfed him.

'Why is she crying? Is it because of my tardy return?

But no matter how upset she is, she has no right to break up with me because of that small slight, ' he thought and got kind of crossed.

"I remember saying that to you before, are you just using that to get back at me?"

Rufus asked, knitting his eyebrows and studying her expression, grasping for some sort of clue that would give away her true intentions.

Cassandra only shook her head, unable to say anything.

"Tell me what happened, Cassandra. Please, please talk to me,"

Rufus pleaded. He took Cassandra's arm and held it tightly. She was wracked with sobs.

His stomach did a one-eighty. He was so physically close to her, yet their hearts and feelings were so far away from each other.

He silently wished that she would stop being so stubborn and be gentle like other women. He just couldn't bear seeing her in tears.

"I don't love you anymore. We're done,"

Cassandra cried out desperately and in one swift motion, pulled her arm out of Rufus's grip.

Once upon a time she had always imagined that she would live a happy and peaceful family life with Rufus.

But the recent events had only reminded her that she was never good enough for him. They weren't fated to be with each other.

"No!"

just heard. What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her true feelings—she was still deeply in love with him.

as I get off work tomorrow onwards,

Cassandra, to

Cassandra shook her head slowly as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "it's impossible for us to be together. I mean it, Rufus. I really don't love you anymore. I can't continue to love you. I can't afford

of her tears glistened as they fell of her eyes. She then returned to her

shut, full of bitterness, and left Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how hard he banged

She bit her hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She didn't want Rufus to

the damn

kicked and banged the door desperately, not giving a

to me! I'll do

hold her in his

said only added more

thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it was a simple thing that he could never

wanted nothing more than a simple life, a man devoted and faithful to her, with whom she could celebrate life and love

can you really do that, Rufus?' she

I met you, my life began to take a different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was so dark, ' her thoughts recalled all the past

Lionel, she was absolutely enthralled by him, drawn by his magnetism and looks. He was so

have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed

just wishful thinking and naive of her to believe that. She had been so confident, but now it had all

others thought of her.

and messages, Amanda would take Rufus away from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the

time after time, Rufus behaved like it

explanation,

gone, she thought she would suffer less and shed fewer tears

eyes, fighting

trying to soothe her weary heart. One neighbor popped his head out of

in the world is it that you

experienced such desparation.

other woman could bring such chaos into his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his heart could beat out of

punched the door with all his might, again to no avail. He only bruised

not, I don't care. I'll bring it down

when Cassandra felt the door

few seconds, the hinge sounded to be in too much stress. Cassandra started to get flustered.

so tired...I am so,

crying. She felt

response relieved him a little.

flipped by the little woman's weary

rest. I'll see