A Graduation Gift

There was fire in Rufus's eyes. He could not believe what was happening.

"You can't do that,"

Rufus said furiously as his grip on Cassandra's wrist tightened.

"Rufus, you're being ridiculous. I expected more from you. Right now, you are just acting like a spoiled brat! You show up when it pleases you and before I know it, you're gone without so much as a goodbye. Where were you when I needed you? Whenever I asked for an explanation, you never gave me one. Instead, you decided to keep your secrets and keep me in the dark. What the hell were you thinking?"

Cassandra glared at Rufus, mustering all the courage she had to finally speak her mind. Finally saying all these things felt like a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders.

Rufus looked at her, dumbstruck as he slowly realized Cassandra's image of him: complicated and suspicious.

As it turned out, she saw Rufus as a jerk.

He came and went as he pleased without even considering how she must have felt. Because of him, her life became full of uncertainty. He never gave her a stable life or a promising future.

"Cassandra, I am doing this for your own good,"

Rufus said. There was hesitation in his voice, possibly brought about by Cassandra's face that was red with rage. She seemed absolutely fed up with the situation.

"For my own good? You want to do something for my own good? Let me give you a very good suggestion: Disappear from my life for good and leave me be!"

Cassandra shouted as she broke free from Rufus's grip, turned, and walked away.

She had had enough of the drama. She did not want to put up with Rufus's childish whims anymore. His actions did not make sense to her. There seemed to be a huge disconnection between the mature and independent image he portrayed in public and the childish and unreasonable way he acted when he was with her.

But Rufus was not about to let her get away so easily. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into his arms.

Cassandra struggled as Rufus slowly looked straight at her face. Staring straight into her eyes, he decided to tell her the truth.

"Fine, I will tell you what I am doing," he started.

many things. Cassandra could almost feel his thoughts buzzing. Finally realizing the significance

my father was dead. It was only a dozen years ago that I learned

Cassandra's eyes. Cassandra stood

I turned into a problem child overnight, from being a straight-A student. I started to miss all of my classes. Everyone worried about me and didn't know what to do. My mother could not stop crying. I blamed her for giving birth to me. I told her that she should have had an abortion instead of having

and the light was dim. Rufus's voice was the only thing that could

disease, my aunt took us abroad to have her treated. But before I left, I went to see Horace in front of

There was coldness in his voice. It made Cassandra shiver.

Group. I wanted Horace to see everything he built and worked for, go down in shambles. I wanted him to know

had been tending to

of his mistake. Life isn't all about

told, she found Rufus's story very unsettling. She could not believe what Rufus would do to Horace, his biological father, the man who gave

he was the reason why my mom suffered almost all her life. The day my mother fell ill was the day he stopped being my father. It was so unfair. How could he marry someone like Jill, bear a child like Lionel, and live a life of fortune and opportunity while my mother and I spent our days looking for shelter and struggling to make ends meet? The moment my mother died, I swore to make Horace pay. I wanted him to learn how his own selfishness and vanity were the things that destroyed

his teeth. Everytime he remembered his poor mother and Horace's absence, his hatred and anger towards him grew stronger and stronger.

alive, I'm sure that she would not want you to do such things. Otherwise, she wouldn't have worked hard to bring you up all by herself. Also, she would not have told Horace

never seen Rufus this angry. Grabbing his arms, she realized that his whole body was stiff. Clearly, he

efforts were useless. Rufus was so overwhelmed with anger.

get her, huh? Her kindness only brought her tragedy. Well, I'm different. I live to bring him what his absence has brought her,"

Nothing that Cassandra

he was wrong. He even made efforts to correct his mistake by making you part of

had hardened him. In fact, it was

youth raising me all by herself. For the first half of my life, I never had Horace there. Now that

filled Rufus with so

bit her lips, not knowing what to do.

was afraid that the more she tried to calm him down, the angrier he would become. So, she thought that it would be best if she just remained silent and accompanied him

will do what is best by staying out of it. All I ask you to do is to wait for me.

deep breath and calmed himself down. Then, he

you to push through with

replied as she looked into Rufus's eyes.

on this plan for so many years. There