Chapter 13

Clarence dreamed of the first time he'd seen Laura in university. At the freshman welcome ceremony, she'd taken the stage as the student representative. The students, who'd been half-asleep during the dean's long speech, had suddenly come alive. The crowd had buzzed with excitement, whispering about how the young woman on stage looked like something out of a dream. "Clarence, look! Please, just take a look! She's absolutely stunning—a rare beauty!" Annoyed by his friend's insistence, he'd finally glanced up. And in that moment, time had seemed to stand still. Laura was tall, with jet-black hair that fell to her waist, porcelain skin, and sharp, cat-like eyes. When she'd looked down at the freshmen, she'd seemed like a goddess showing mercy to mere mortals. Naturally, she'd become the undisputed campus belle of Sunnyside University. ... "Clay! This is the fifth time you've zoned out during our dates this month!" Clarence pulled himself out of his thoughts and murmured an ap