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!"

believed were her bitter

as I get off work tomorrow onwards, okay?" Don't

tried comforting Cassandra, to no avail.

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

of her tears glistened as they fell of her

She refused to open it no

ground. She bit her hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She

Open the damn

banged the door desperately, not giving a damn about his priceless Italian tailormade

talk to me!

hold her in his arms,

added more water to her

of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it was a simple thing that he

man devoted and faithful to her, with whom she could celebrate

can you really do that, Rufus?' she cried silently.

unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was

she was absolutely enthralled by him, drawn by his magnetism and looks. He was so perfect, aside from his

had clearly foreshadowed the tragedy that was their romance. How could she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed to disarm her and eventually, succumb to it.

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

bothered by her unfavorable circumstances of birth, nor by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually tipping the scales

Cassandra would stare up at the empty white ceiling and sometimes looked at the distant night sky, sparsely populated by stars. She twisted and turned, haunted by nightmares.

time after time, Rufus behaved

waited and waited. She waited for his explanation, but now she was tired of it.

less and shed fewer tears

her eyes, fighting back the

weary heart. One neighbor popped his head out of the window and eyed

world

had never experienced such

into his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his

his might, again to no avail. He only bruised his

me or not, I don't care. I'll bring it down if you don't open this

his words when Cassandra felt the

the hinge sounded to be

so, so tired. I

been worn out by the constant crying. She felt spent; her

response relieved him a little.

flipped by the little woman's

I'll let you rest. I'll