บททั้งหมดของ Locked Out of Her Heart: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Clarence's POVThe following morning, when I powered on my phone, two missed calls popped up on the screen. There were also two messages, both from the night before. The first read, "Why didn't you wait for me?" The second read, "Blake was cooking, so I couldn't step away. Let me know when you get home."Before I could reply, Serena's call came through. "Blake removed your fingerprint from the door lock of his own accord. I've already talked to him about it."Then, she added, "Eira and the others are hosting a gathering tonight. Join us. We're all friends. I'm sure you'll get to know everyone over time."I wasn't particularly keen on attending it, yet I agreed anyway. …When I arrived at the private room of the cheese fondue restaurant, Blake was already seated at the head of the table. He patted the chair beside him. "Rena, sit here!"I wanted to sit to Serena's right, but another one of their friends beat me to it. "Come on. Let me sit next to Serena so we can have a fe

Clarence's POVThe cab pulled up downstairs at Serena's apartment.I used the passcode she had given me that evening to unlock the door. The warm yellow light shone onto the tabletop, illuminating my document folder. The folder had been opened, and the document inside had been torn in half, the pages crumpled and covered in large water stains. The ink had bled out, smudging the official seal and signatures into an illegible mess.I picked up the document that had been torn in half, my fingers trembling at the jagged tear. It was a property transfer agreement. Mom had planned to transfer ownership of the house back in our hometown to me. It was supposed to be mailed to my place. However, when Serena heard about it, she said, "Have it sent to my place. I know someone at the housing authority. I'll handle the paperwork for you, so your mom doesn't have to go through all that trouble."Now, it was ruined. Mom would have to make another trip to the notary's office in our hometow

Clarence's POVThe train departed at 2:00 am. I bought a coach ticket, and only a handful of passengers were scattered throughout the carriage. I blocked Serena's number and archived our chat on WhatsApp. By the time day broke, I had arrived in Southwich. I found a budget hotel near the train station. When the receptionist asked how long I'd be staying, I said I'd play it by ear for the time being. I wasn't sure yet. Once I entered the room, I put my suitcase down. Then, I unlocked my phone and started browsing job openings in Southwich on a job-search app. …Third-Person POVSerena returned home, changed her shoes, and walked into the living room. There was still a throw pillow on the couch that Clarence had used the last time he was there. It was slightly crumpled where he had squeezed it. She walked over and smoothed the pillow out. Standing in the middle of the living room, she looked around. She couldn't put her finger on what was wrong, but somehow, her house felt mu

Clarence's POVOn Monday morning, I reported for my first day at the new company. The human resources representative gave me a tour, showing me where the restrooms, the pantry, and the fire extinguishers were. Ultimately, she led me to an empty workstation. A short-haired guy was sitting at the desk next to mine. "Hey, welcome aboard! I'm Lucas Smith.""I'm Clarence Calloway," I responded."Nice to meet you, Clarence. Let's grab lunch together! I'll show you around then."I sat down, placed my mug in the corner of the desk, and turned on the computer, waiting for IT to come and install the system. Lucas had already put his headphones back on and started working, humming under his breath. No one went out of their way to look at me, nor did anyone ignore me. It was just the right amount of distance—not too close, not too distant. When lunchtime rolled around, Lucas really did come over to get me, and we went to the cafeteria together. It wasn't a long walk, but he talked nonsto

Clarence's POVBy the time I left the office building, it was almost 10:00 pm. The night air was cool as I walked home to my rented apartment. It wasn't a long walk. It was just about 15 minutes. After taking a few steps, I suddenly realized that I hadn't thought of Serena in almost a month. When was the last time she had crossed my mind? It appeared to have been the day I went to buy a duvet at the supermarket and saw a bedsheet identical to the one she had. I had stood there in front of the shelf for a few seconds before picking out a different set. From then on, she had completely slipped my mind. I hadn't deliberately tried not to think about her. I genuinely couldn't remember her anymore. After becoming a permanent employee, I moved to a new apartment. It was a bit bigger than my previous studio and had a small balcony. I bought a smart door lock and installed it myself. The technician had said over the phone that he could come over and set it up, but I told him I could