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!"

he had just heard. What he believed were her

for you as soon as I get off work tomorrow onwards,

tried comforting Cassandra, to

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

around, some of her tears glistened as they fell

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

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

Open the damn

door desperately, not giving a damn about his priceless Italian

please talk to me!

filled Rufus with dread. He ached to hold her in his arms, to reassure her that everything

what he just said only added more water

to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was

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

really do that,

different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world since it was so dark, ' her thoughts recalled

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

she have been so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed to disarm her and eventually, succumb to

her and only her, but it was just wishful thinking and naive of her

was never 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

Rufus away from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at the empty white ceiling and sometimes looked at the distant night sky, sparsely populated

after time, Rufus behaved

explanation,

she would suffer less and shed fewer tears for the

fighting back

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

in the world

experienced such

into his heart. He felt his blood

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

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

his words when Cassandra felt the door

the hinge sounded to be in

am so, so tired. I

by the constant crying. She felt spent; her tears had

him a

flipped by the little woman's

rest. I'll