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!"

What he believed were her bitter tears, which betrayed her

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

Cassandra,

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 it anymore, so I

glistened as they fell of her eyes.

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

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

Open the

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

talk to me!

He ached to hold her

said only added more water to her tears.

to herself, full of doubt. What she wanted was quite simple, but it was a simple

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

can you really do that, Rufus?' she cried

of excitement. Ever since 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

his magnetism and looks. He was so perfect, aside

so blind? Nonetheless, his constant profession of his love for her never failed to disarm

to her and only her, but it was just wishful thinking and naive of her to believe that. She had been

never bothered by her unfavorable circumstances of birth, nor by what others thought of her. But in Rufus's heart, Amanda had been gradually

from her. Countless lonely nights, Cassandra would stare up at

time, Rufus behaved

and waited. She waited for his explanation, but now she

and shed fewer tears for

eyes, fighting back the

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

what in the world

never experienced such desparation.

could bring such chaos into his heart. He felt his blood boiling; his

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

don't care. I'll bring it down if you don't open this damn

the door shake. He apparently charged

sounded to be in

so, so tired.

the constant crying. She felt spent; her

response relieved him a little.

by the little

let you rest. I'll