Marriage is a lifetime bond, a lifetime commitment and a promise to forever. It’s a sanctified vow made by partners prepared to take the journey to an endless pledge they sworn to undertake. It is done when love is ready, when trust is whole and the obligations and responsibilities as a couple are set to be done in a lifetime. Conversely, marriage in the rich society doesn’t swing that way. Rich society doesn’t have the same viewpoint about marriage, of this sacred oath made by partners.

Marriage, in the eyes of the rich society, is done for the sake of an eternal power, everlasting wealth and for the name of their top standards. Marriage, for them, is nothing but an assurance for timeless supremacy. Nevertheless, here are the heirs blending into this rich society’s life, the heirs who are to catch the reigning’s sovereignty, having a contradicting lifestyle, viewing this society with a reversing way of life, about to tie this knot they never wanted, yet what they needed.

Ever since that day the both parties, the Kim and the Manoban, had the talk of their daughters about engagement and soon marriage, Jennie though she has brave and tough upfront, she never once had a peace of mind. All throughout the remaining day of her weekend turned restless and troubled on how the following days for her life will go on, imagining the future days of her life, which can be potentially be all sufferings under Lisa’s care. She may have been courageous that meaningful night, but now she’s out of the family’s radar, she can be this soft and feeble with her best friend whom she can openly be herself.

Together with Nayeon, they settled at the university’s fields, by the fresh Bermuda grass of the campus and under the huge tree to cover themselves from the direct hit of the sun. Jennie has been blankly eyeing on these students walking around and at the couples enjoying their break times together and Nayeon cannot leave this disregarded and so she queries out of her concern, “What’s wrong Jendeukie? You seem bothered.”

Jennie replied with a heavy sigh as she closed her eyes, “I’ve been thinking about what happened last weekend, that dinner meeting with the Manoban. It’s giving me headaches…”

“Oh yeah. I haven’t asked you about that. So, how did it go? Did it go well? Will the partnership push through?” Nayeon kept on questioning, not minding how wrecked Jennie’s expression has become as she’s busily munching on that delicious sandwich she has in her hands.

“Yes but under certain conditions…” Jennie frowned and this time they exchange eye contacts with her dying eyes and with Nayeon’s confused ones.

Nayeon closely stared at her best friend’s blank eyes, the looks that doesn’t scream any expression at all, so plain and blank but not sad and depressed at the same time. Jennie gives her chill with those unexplainable eyes and as a best friend she has been for such a long time, without words she deduced in a loud gasp, “Oh my God! Don’t tell me you… you…”

Jennie nodded, “Yes, whatever you’re thinking, that’s right.”

“Dammit you’re getting married?!” Nayeon boomed and threw that food away from her hand just to have both of her heavy hands onto Jennie’s ninety-degree shoulders.

“It can’t be helped…” Jennie for the thousandth time for this morning, she again sighed in helplessness.

Nayeon crawled closer to her best friend then squats close for her to rustle more of her interrogations, “What the hell Jennie? Did you accept it? And also, the Manoban owns a daughter like what they told you back in the hotel, remember? So you’re going to marry their daughter?”  

“Yes and I already met her as well. Her name is Lalisa but she can be called Lisa for short. But we won’t get married just yet. I guess we’ll result for an engagement first.” Jennie replied short.

Nayeon scowled on how Jennie handles this so calm and unaffected, so frustrated that her best friend remains so composed despite of knowing how huge of a problem she’s going to go through. As a best friend she cannot stand this and thus she thunders, “I cannot just sit here and watch my best friend be in the arms of someone she doesn’t love! Jennie, you don’t even know that person well and yet you’re going to tie a knot with her. Is there any other way around? Can we just avoid that marriage?”

“Unfortunately, it’s the only condition that the Manoban has to offer. It will take a year before the partnership will be formally granted. And within that year, during the process, I’ll have to live with Lisa as an engaged couple. The future of our business partnership rests in our shoulders and if we decline then it’s going to be a huge downfall for both.” Jennie said and again there goes her impassive tone while looking straight into Nayeon’s worried eyes as she explained.

“How about your parents, what did they say? Are they on it too?” Nayeon never ceased from questioning.

“After the dinner and ever since that night until now, I haven’t heard them talking about it. Well, more likely that they are avoiding the topic. Maybe they do talk about it when I’m not around.” Jennie obediently gave the answer she needed.

“Are you sure about this?” Nayeon tried to shake up Jennie’s decision somehow using her frowns and tears but the resolute Jennie still nodded in confirmation. Hopeless, she wipes of her tears and bitterly asks, “So, what kind of woman is she? What kind of woman is my best friend going to marry?”

Jennie thinks of a while and portraits Lisa’s annoyed and evil expression in her mind and defines slowly, “She’s never fully shown to the public though some media are trying to chase her. She’s tall, blonde girl, her accent is kind of weird but tolerable, she’s vulgar and offensive and she’s loud and uncontrollable. In short, she’s a delinquent kind of woman but has a soft heart… I guess…”

“Woah, delinquent with a soft heart, what’s that supposed to mean?” Nayeon raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t know but I just feel like she has a soft spot too despite of looking so evil.” Jennie unreasonably said as she remembered how Lisa took care of her during that night at the convenience store.

Nayeon rolled her eyes and grumbles in frustration, “Whatever you say Jennie, I won’t accept this easily. I’m so against this! Whoever that Lisa is, no matter how rich they can be that they can be partnered with your family, I won’t easily let her have you! She has to be tested by me! I need to ensure that you’ll go into the right hands, considering that it’s going to be a forced marriage.”

Jennie pulled her sulking best friend for a tight hug and comforts, “C’mon, don’t be sad. I’ll just be fine since I know I have you and that you’ll just be there to support me. You won’t leave me, right?”

Nayeon pulls out from the embrace and gives her best friend a sweet caress by her cheeks and tenderly vows, “You silly! Of course I won’t leave you! No matter how worst you’ll become, I’ll always be here for you, okay? I promised you we’ll be best friends until we become grandmothers.”

“Thank you…” Jennie bobbed her head but couldn’t stretch a smile in return for Nayeon’s sincere words of assurance.

“Hi.”

The best friends terminated their chitchats as they heard someone greeting from behind Jennie. Both looked up to see the owner of this lovely voice and found this woman in her oversized black shirt, wearing an attractive smile with her pearly white teeth, a woman who’s a total definition of divine beauty. She’s familiar to the best friends, Nayeon being shocked in recognition but Jennie at long last smiles wide for the first time of the day because of this woman’s presence.

“Hi, Jisoo. It’s been a while.” Jennie greeted back with the same warm smile she’s receiving from Jisoo.

Nayeon pulled her best friend close and murmurs, “W-wait… isn’t she one of the Prime Minister’s children? Why is she talking to you? Do you know her?”

Jisoo heard that loud unstable whisper of Nayeon so she answers in behalf while on stand looking down to them sneering, “I’ve met Jennie during my first day here. We’ve became friends since then.”

“Ah yeah, she’s right.” Jennie smiled wider. “And oh, we’re on break so maybe you’d like to join us here.” She then offered and created a space right beside her for Jisoo to occupy.

“Thank you.” Jisoo delightedly accepted.

Nayeon observed the two in their huge grins while they look into each other’s eyes so lovingly. She couldn’t help but to detect her best friend’s thrilled smiles too that’s turning into soft giggles. She also realized that this is her first time to be this lively and sparkling since they got together earlier today. Then she shifts her eyes to Jisoo whom she noted giving her best friend such a look of adoration for her. In the end, in Nayeon’s perception, this two unknowingly created a romantic view, like any other couple around them sharing a moment together.

Therefore, Nayeon concluded at the back of her mind, “Aigoo~ Jennie has a crush on this woman. She’s so obvious~”  

“Oh by the way, this is Nayeon. She’s my best friend. And she’s Jisoo, well, a new friend.” Jennie then later introduced the two with each other.

Nayeon smiled at Jisoo, “Yeah, I heard about you a few times. It’s please to meet you too and it’s good to know that my best friend here has been meeting a lot of new people these days that I don’t even know of. She’s being secretive, eh?”

And Jisoo chuckles in return, “Let’s be friends too, Nayeon.”

“Of course we will but…” Nayeon paused as she gathered her things from the grasses and suddenly she stands up from her place then continues, “…but I have to go now. I just remembered that I have to meet my classmates in five minutes for a project.”

Jennie intently glared up at her best friend and mouthed, “Yah! What the hell are you saying? Don’t just leave me here!”

Yet Nayeon ignored her best friend’s appeals with a wink full of tease and bowed before running away, “So, I’ll just see you guys around.”

Jennie couldn’t stop her best friend any longer as she dashed so fast until she’s lost out of sight in just a few seconds and now who’s left with her is Jisoo, the person she feels so light with yet a little uncomfortable to be alone with. This isn’t the first time they’d talk and be alone together but since that day they first met at the same time the last time they talked, she has been ticking by these feelings she cannot explain herself, feelings that linger her every time Jisoo passes by her mind.

"Sorry about Nayeon. I don't know what suddenly got into her mind." Jennie clumsily said as she repositioned herself to properly face her friend.

Jisoo though keeps her eyes onto the gorgeous lady and replies, "No, it's alright. Besides, you're the one I really wanted to talk with."

"Huh? M-me? Why me?" Jennie furiously blushed at this radiating smile that Jisoo's flashing towards her and even had this unusual difficulty in her words.

Jisoo settles closer to her to deliver in a low voice, "Actually, I told my dad, well the prime minister, that I met the World Hotel's heir on my first day here. And he wanted to meet you personally one day. So, I'm inviting you, if possible, to our place this coming weekend. Is it alright? Sorry if I'm causing any inconveniences."

"No, it's alright." Jennie rapidly waves her shaky hands as she faltered. "But... it may not be one of these days though. You know, there's a lot going on in our side too and there are things we need to fix. Problems keep on coming in so I have to help out.  I'm sorry but I'll definitely make a schedule for us. I really want to meet the Prime Minister up close too so I really appreciate your invitation." She then cleared up for the expectant one yet specified none of these problems she mentioned.

Jisoo in a split second she moped and Jennie caught her doing so, feeling a little disappointed with her answer that killed a lot of expectations. But, Jisoo being an open one, she immediately erased this down expression out of her face and smiled to safeguard in response, "I see. Then, maybe anytime you're free. I'll just be one call away whenever you want and plan to come. I'll make adjustments for you and I'll match it with dad's schedule."

"Really, I'm sorry." Jennie grimaced as she lowered her head.

Jisoo lifts up Jennie's face, cupping her by the chin with her gentle fingers and gives her the sweetest smile assuring, "I totally understand this kind of society we live in. It's not that easy to be hanging around even for young ones like us. Please, don't be sorry. We're friends and as friends we should understand each other, right?"

Because of Jisoo's tender words and that gentle smile she only gets from her, Jennie couldn't help but to feel a rush of blood flowing to her blushing cheeks to double this thrill she has in her mind but her heart remained stable as it is. She's never had someone treating her this way before and so this feeling she has is too foreign she cannot describe.

In the end, to stop this thrill, Jennie awkwardly looked away, separating Jisoo's gentle touch against her chin and offers in a stutter, "If y-you're on a b-break too then maybe you'd like to j-join me?"

Jisoo looks down at those shaky hands of Jennie extending towards her with a packed sandwich on top. She detected this nervousness creeping up to this timid woman in front of her and can only giggle at her actions in silence. "Sure. I'd love to. Thanks." She then accepted late with her own warm hands, purposely swiping it against Jennie's hands as she grabbed the sandwich.

The two share moments they rarely experience. Aside from Nayeon whom Jennie's always with, she never had a good laugh like this with anyone out of the business world, only now that Jisoo happened to her locked up life. And Jisoo for the first time is feeling so much freedom to be with someone else out of the politics, even with this senseless topic they enjoy, she still finds it momentous she doesn't want to end this short break she joyously spends with Jennie. Hence, both cherish this moment that not all people in their society get.

If Jennie is having an extraordinary morning, Lisa is having her typical morning, her usual morning that's being welcomed by an unfamiliar hotel room yet a very recognizable situation wherein she found herself in a bed next to a y woman in her . The only thing that differs this morning from her usual days is the absence of her hangover for she feels fine and well the moment she opened her eyes, emptily staring at the ceiling with her deep thoughts she doesn't usually encounter.

Similarly, Lisa ever since that night their fate was declared, not a single second she found a peace in her mind. She danced all night to shake the thoughts off but it didn't work. All the liquors she always has at every night club she visits didn't smell the same that night and ended up having none. Even for the night when she used to enjoy hearing a woman her name in satisfaction didn't feel the same as she felt blank before, during and afterwards until to this time that the morning is already shining upon her.

"Damn that Jennie!" Lisa cursed as she blamed the other heir for this trouble she's undergoing.

Lisa lazily got up from the bed to get herself dressed and fixed. She got her wallet and brought out all the remaining thick cash just to throw it on top of this soundly sleeping woman she did the last night before she stepped out of the hotel room, so casually like nothing happened on that sinful room she left.

While she occupies the elevator herself, her phone rings and decides to pick this one up coming from the worried Bam yelling from the other line, "Yah! Lisa! Where are you? We're about to start the practice! Taeyang-sunbae might not let you slide this time if you get late!"

"Sorry. I might not be able to attend practices today and for next days too. Some things came up with the family." Lisa said so down as she leaned against the corners.

Hearing this lazy half-hearted response from Lisa, Minzy snatched the phone and this time it's her turn to yell, "What the hell Lisa! We can't cover up for you all the time! If there's something going on then you better come here and tell us about it!"

"I can't tell you right now. I'm sorry. There are lots of things in my mind right now so I'm not really in the mood to argue with any of you." Lisa grumbled.

Minzy sighed, "Okay. You're being unfair but make sure to tell us about it next time. Don't just go out there and take it all to yourself."

Her friends' understanding and consideration brought hope to Lisa's draining hopes. "Thanks. I swear I'll make it up to you guys. I'll quickly learn those new dance moves you'll have today and also I—" But then she cut off her own words as the elevator opened and saw a familiar figure that passed by in front of her.

Lisa with no hesitations and further ado, she immediately dropped and cut off the call to confirm this spark she just felt from this person she recognized even with just its back that she saw. She cannot be mistaken with this feeling, this pressure that brought her heartbeats twice faster and brought her mind into disarray. With all her might Lisa desperately searched for this person until she reached outside the hotel.

From a distance, she saw a white van making its park in front of a woman in disguise, wearing a familiar yellow cap that only Lisa can recognize together with men in black closely guarding her. Together with this woman in disguise as well is a well-built man holding her hands tight which tampered Lisa's heart right on the spot. She looks happy, smiling so wide caused by this humorous man laughing beside her yet all that Lisa wants is no other than her attention.

"Chaeyoung!"

Lisa dreadfully called out to the woman. Her voice was definitely heard for it echoed all over the area and the man who was with Chaeyoung turned to Lisa as he heard her desperate voice that cracked and he saw Lisa dashing hysterically towards them. However, her voice was left ignored, her efforts of running were all discounted and Chaeyoung pretended to have heard none of it as she pulled the man with him inside the van.

"Hey! Wait! Chaeyoung!" Lisa in so much desperation still tried to call out to the van that sped up from her until it completely went away and she just let her drained body drop down the heated ground, helplessly watching the road with her teary eyes.

In spite of that disguise, Lisa was so sure she saw the right person, the woman behind all these misbehaviors and troubles she's causing. She's the woman behind Lisa’s tears, the woman who never left her mind after all these years she hasn’t kept in touch with her. Lisa right at that moment, all the emotions she felt that day she was left out, everything is coming back to her, stabbing her heart she couldn’t breathe, squeezing all the tears she has and pondering her so hard she cannot stand back in her feet.

Chaeyoung, on the other hand, her smile disappeared the time she entered the van and sat there miserable, guilty at the same time of her pretentious act of hearing none of Lisa’s desperate calls for her. Certainly, she caught Lisa shouting her name and she recognized her voice even without looking at her. But due to this society she moves around, she chewed in this willingness to face her, this longing that’s choking her and the yearning to have Lisa in her arms she grounded it all.

“Do you know that person who was calling out to you back at the hotel?” The man sitting beside her suddenly asked, alarming Chaeyoung’s thought that’s out of the world.

Chaeyoung regrettably shakes off her head in denial, “No…”

“I thought it’s someone you know since she was calling you out by your real name. Maybe it’s just some diehard fan of yours then.” The man clinched as he easily believed Chaeyoung’s cover.

“Maybe…” Chaeyoung replied short, acting oblivious of Lisa.

The man then tosses her the latest tabloid wherein she’s shown in the front page to severely warn her, “Do you see the headline? They are trying to ruin your career again using some pointless and baseless information again. Some nosy media are tailing you too since it was reported that you came back and that you’re making an official comeback on modeling. You better watch your actions and don’t be reckless.”

Chaeyoung threw the paper out of her sight and sighed, “Don’t let them bother you. That’s pretty normal in entertainment industry and you should know since we’re on the same business. I won’t be affected by those. Besides, I’ll be appearing on shows soon too so they’ll get what they want from me.”

“I’m just worried for you, Chaeyoung.” The man genuinely said and he caresses her face but was immediately rejected as Chaeyoung tugged her head away from him.

Not wanting to talk about it any further, Chaeyoung promptly changes the topic, “What time are we going to meet your parents? I still have schedules later on, recordings and some magazine interviews with photoshoots. I won’t be available right after our lunch anymore.”

“I see…” The man said then checks on his own packed schedules in his note before deciding, “I’ll ask them to join us for lunch then. I also have business meetings until tonight. You can go back home and sleep first without me.”

Chaeyoung frowned and couldn’t stop this loneliness filling up inside her, growing each day she’s with this man she decided to go with. Though she has her hand intertwined with him, she feels nothing, not a bit of love she’s expecting to trigger on her, she feels alone more than ever but nevertheless, all she can do is to smile and accept these decisions that only he can make that no one can reject or defy, not even the powerless her can do it.

“Okay, I understand.” In the end, all that Chaeyoung can do is to fake her smile and let her hand be clasped with him.

That day late in the afternoon, Jennie as ordered by her authoritarian parents has gone back home right after she attended her hectic day at the university. She’s tired like always and her energy has been drained fast as she has expected. It’s a common night for her to return with all their mansion’s servants welcoming her and guiding her inside until she can reach her room but it’s absolutely a bizarre night for her to return overhearing her parents arguing somewhere in the mansion.

Jennie stopped midway on her way to her room upon distinguishing the continuous exchange of shouts from a room and asked the maid with her, “Are those mom and dad arguing?”

“Yes Miss Jennie. Actually, they’ve been like that since this afternoon when your father came back early from work.” The maid honestly informed though a little scared of the roars that keep on going.

Jennie turns the other way around, detecting where the scene is until she arrived at the master’s bedroom which was left opened and where she can clearly hear her parents exchanging endless bickering. She’s taken aback for this unusual argument between them and for a moment she got a little hesitant to take a peep from the small gap but as she heard her name being mentioned with her mother breaking out in tears, she soon decided to stuck her ears for a listen.

“Dear, do something! I don’t want Jennie to get engaged to that unruly daughter! What more if they get married? There’s no way that Lisa can take care of our daughter! I don’t even want to imagine our Jennie’s life with that woman! Our daughter will only suffer! We did our own background check and you’ve seen it, right? We cannot just easily trust our daughter’s future to someone like her!” The mother howled, begging her husband in her cries, hugging him so tight in vulnerability.

But the father undesirably responded, “I’m against it too, okay? I’ve been trying to find other way for the Manoban to push through with the partnership but they are firm and definite about their condition. I even tried to double our share with them but they rejected.”

“Then let’s just cancel the partnership and look for someone else. Let’s cut off our ties with the Manoban and search for new partners. There are a lot out there. We can do that, right? I can’t afford to sacrifice Jennie just for this!” The mother frantically proposed.

“Well, I can do that but the Manoban has the most funds and they are the highest in terms of investments. It would be a waste too if we let them go.” The father still insisted but