A Graduation Gift

Moisture was gathering in her eyes, blurring out the image of Rufus's face.

Rufus let go of a breath he did not know he was holding, got down from her. Then, he gathered her into his arms.

"Cassandra, I love you. You will never know how much I love you," he whispered into her ears.

He had no logical way of explaining it, but it turned out that she had been connected with him all this time, as if this woman was always meant to be his.

She had held him in her heart for a long time. Chance could be both a terrible and wonderful thing, and at this moment, Rufus thought there was nothing greater that could happen to him.

"I love you too, Rufus. I've loved you for a long, long time, and no matter what happens, you will always be the most beautiful thing that happened to me,"

Cassandra told him, holding his gaze with her steady eyes. Tears were falling from the corners of her eyelids and Rufus felt the warm moisture seep into the fabric of his shirt.

It had been a long and tough road to be where she was, in the arms of the man she loved.

Cassandra had always felt that she was the luckiest woman in the world because life had brought Rufus to her again. And her joy only doubled when they decided to spend their lives with each other.

They held each other, content with the warmth of silence. It was almost as if their feelings were reaching across their chest, intertwining, like vines forming infinite loops around a tree trunk.

"I want to pay a visit to your family, Cassandra," Rufus said suddenly.

He felt her stiffen in his arms at his words.

"What made you want to visit them suddenly?" Cassandra asked. She was confused.

This was the first time Rufus offered to see her family. It could only mean one thing. Could it really be what she was thinking?

in her heartbeat as she waited with bated breath for his

met my family. It's only fair that

tilted his head to kiss her forehead. He felt the quick pace of her heart and the way she took breaths in an effort to even it out.

"Your family?"

him at first. She thought he was

"My aunt, Michelle,"

her confusion. He himself had never regarded Horace, or anyone of the Tangs as his family.

wonderful history. Michelle had asked her to leave Rufus before and had an accident because of her. She imagined she would not have the best opinion of

know how Michelle would take it," she said, suddenly feeling worried at the thought of having to encounter her again.

a long time. Cassandra hoped that they could be blessed by both his and her family.

me. My aunt will never separate us,"

was his decision

have the best impression of me, you know," Cassandra chuckled nervously, looking

What if she

thoughts stopped when Rufus clasped her face between his hands. His eyes looked into her with tenderness and Cassandra found her worries melting

I'll talk to her later. I'm sure I can convince

thinking about the accident from before. He was

how happy we are

relieved to feel Cassandra relaxing once

be accepted by your family, Rufus,"

that there was a lot of things to work out with her and Michelle, but she was willing to do everything she could if

Cassandra." Rufus could almost hear Cassandra thinking. He knew she was worrying herself about the whole situation even if she was not saying a word. "You're the one I'm going to marry. If there are people having a

very clearly," Rufus said meaningfully, still holding her