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!"

to believe what he had just heard. What he believed were her bitter tears,

you as soon as I get off work tomorrow onwards, okay?"

Cassandra, to no

slowly as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks, "it's impossible for us to be together. I mean

around, some of her tears glistened as they

Rufus standing outside. She refused to open it no matter

Cassandra slowly sunk to the ground. She bit her hand to keep her sobs from escaping. She didn't want Rufus

the

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

begging you, please talk to me! I'll

of her weeping filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her in

what he just said only added more water to

he really do that? Give me whatever I want?' she thought to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it was

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

that, Rufus?' she cried

into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was so dark, '

his magnetism and looks. He was so perfect, aside from his identity.

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

wishful thinking and naive of

never bothered by her unfavorable circumstances of birth, nor by what others thought of her. But

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

after time, Rufus behaved like it was nothing.

waited and waited. She waited for his explanation, but

thought she would suffer less and shed fewer tears for the rest of

shut her eyes, fighting

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

in the world is

had never experienced such

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

might, again to no avail. He only bruised

it down if you don't open this damn door

when Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently

sounded to be in too much stress.

so tired...I am so,

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

relieved him a

flipped by the little woman's

rest. I'll see