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, which betrayed her

as soon as I get off work tomorrow onwards, okay?" Don't say things like

tried comforting Cassandra, to

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

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

standing outside. She refused to open it no matter how hard he banged on the

She bit her hand

the damn door!

kicked and banged the door desperately, not giving a damn about his priceless

talk to me! I'll do whatever you

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

he just said only added more

he really do that? Give me whatever I want?' she thought to herself, full of doubt. What she

to her,

really do that,

began to take a different direction into unknown lands. I can only feel my way into my world

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

identity 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

of her to believe that. She had been so confident,

what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually

messages, Amanda would take 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 by stars.

after time, Rufus behaved

his explanation, but

thought she would suffer less and shed fewer tears

her eyes, fighting

One neighbor popped his head out of the window and

the world is it

had never experienced such desparation.

He felt his blood boiling; his heart could beat out of his

the door with all his might, again to no

bring it down if you don't open this damn door

Cassandra felt the door shake. He apparently charged at it.

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

am so tired...I am so, so tired. I

the constant crying.

response relieved him

heart flipped by the

rest. I'll