❝ Why do I feel like I'm just a chapter in your book while you're my entire story? ❞
❝ Well, you're obviously wrong, because you're my entire novel, cover to cover. ❞
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
A blank canvas. That's how my life was. Until she took my hand...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I felt the creepy sense of déjà vu wash over me as we drove through the streets. The only difference was that I was not the one in charge of the wheel.
"Is it okay if we visit a friend of mine?" she asked, and I nodded in agreement. She reared the engine and picked up speed as we wove through the traffic to turn into a quieter alleyway. Streetlights illuminated the darkness, and I could faintly see a restaurant. The car came to a halt, and she got out. I followed her lead.
Facing us was a building named 'Looker Bureau'. It looked almost abandoned, but she did not mind rapping her knuckles on the wooden door.
It was answered a few seconds later by a man looking to be in his late forties or early fifties. He had a receding hairline and grey hair neatly combed. His eyes, sharp, softened at the sight of the girl.
"Ah, here's my partner!" he exclaimed, welcoming us in right away. As soon as we were in, he embraced Serena.
I looked around awkwardly. The interior didn't seem as bad as the exterior did. Albeit messy, it had bookcases, a steel desk with a chair, and a sofa set. The kitchen counter stood to the southwest, and the lighting made the place look more like a secret hideout than an office.
"Ash, I want you to meet Mr. Looker. Mr. Looker, this is my friend, Ash!" Serena set the introductions in motion. The man, Mr. Looker, had a gentle smile.
"Hello there, Ash! I assume you're the young man who has stolen my partner's heart!" My breath hitched. What?
"Detective Looker!" Serena chided before sighing. "Don't mind him. He literally says this to any friend I bring along, even if it's Shauna," she explained, shooting a glare at the older man, who looked sheepish.
"You can't blame me for wanting my partner to find a soulmate!"
"Isn't this going out of hand, though?!"
The old man waved her away and took me by the shoulder. "Let's go have tea and perhaps dinner!"
"I wouldn't want to be a bother, sir—" I began, but he waved me off. Perhaps it was his habit.
"Any boyfriend of my partner's is my friend as well!"
"Mr. Looker!"
I sighed to myself. As much as I loved being called Serena's significant other, I hated that she was constantly denying it, as if she were rejecting me indirectly.
Dinner was a nice affair. Mr. Looker had ordered what he misspelled as a 'take off'. I still had the mental picture of Serena and me looking at each other, wondering what he meant before 'takeout' decided to feature in my mind.
After a meal of steaming hot noodles and wasabi sauce, complete with tea, we bid each other farewell and good night. Before we could leave, though, curiosity struck Serena.
