After appearing in public as a couple, scrutinizing judgements were bound to be part of the lover’s ordeal. No verbal words assaulted the sight, but silent eyes followed their every movement into the marketplace. When they temporarily departed, each in search of different stalls, Hyunmi became the subject of ridicule. It had always been her; the female and the pariah of the relationship, therefore the inferior one.   The citizens had never been keen of furtive exchanges, opting to openly tittle-tattle in front of her. The accusations and filthy name calling were amplified through their loud whispers, but Hyunmi neglected the expected. It was the cost she chose to bear when accepting Woohyun’s affection.   However, even as she gallivanted from stall to stall in search of some winter attire, several girls trailed her from behind. There were five of them, clothed in the attire of upper middle class women. The spark in their eyes conveyed their youthfulness, like nobility who had never experienced the harsh reality of their society. Their hushed whispers, mocking giggles, and finger pointing were hard to neglect to the point Hyunmi felt the need to obviate it.   “May I help you?” She turned to the girls with both hands on her hips. Her expression twisted in anticipation for more insults and creative name callings. She mentally prepared herself to retaliate their incoming attack without losing her unperturbed temper. Upon realizing she was older and supposedly wiser than these young girls, she felt committed to the responsibility to set a good example.   “We…” The girl with her hair in a ponytail got pushed forward by the others. They seemed to giggle among themselves and fiddled their fingers together before glancing up at Hyunmi. “We were wondering about the manner with which you managed to entice the wealthiest man of our town.”   Hyunmi blinked her eyes. Their movements and intonation were far too bashful to be offensive. This, she had not expected.   “Please impart your wisdom to us so we may become as you are,” the ponytail girl said, folding her hands together as she bowed her head in surrender. All at once, the other four girls mirrored her movements of submission.   The sight was incredibly ridiculous, and Hyunmi couldn’t help but wonder of their hidden intention. What may seem as a benevolent brevity during a fleeting moment may be duplicitous in the long term.   “Our mama tells us that in order to become a proper lady, one must first offer her hand to a wealthy man in marriage. Without a wealthy husband, we would be deliberated to forgo our comfort,” another girl with two pigtails spoke after a passing moment of silence. The others nodded along to assert the credibility of this statement.   Hyunmi swallowed, uncertain how to respond to this odd request. She pursed her lips together, pondering upon her next reply without frightening their delicate souls. “First and foremost, your beliefs are false. A rich husband does not guarantee comfort. In fact, it may accomplish quite the opposite. You’d be bound to your husband as his property, thus renouncing your freedom.”   “That is the manner our mama taught us,” the girl with braided hair spoke. Her eyes oozed with b awe, as if the absence of liberty was the perfect portrayal of a promising future.   “Nay, she taught you in accordance of society’s common belief, but I immensely disagree.” Hyunmi’s disdain towards the subject affirmed itself through a passionate—albeit aversive—speech. “Women are not property. We retain the wisdom to think for ourselves and concede to our own decisions. No man should ever embark the power to debacle us from emulating success.”   Instead of fending the girls off with her strong opinions regarding a woman’s worth, the five girls diligently nodded to every single one of her words. It encouraged Hyunmi to continue speaking as if she were announcing a revolutionary battle strategy.   “Are you not a property of Mr. Nam considering your union as a couple?” The pigtailed girl questioned.   The manner with which those toxic beliefs were planted into their system remorsefully saddened Hyunmi. “Mr. Nam neither treated me as an object nor undermined my value as a woman. Instead, I feel empowered when I am with him. He is the first man who accepts my strong opinions and doesn’t reprimand me for it. If you wish to find a suitable partner, search for someone who transforms you into a better person.”   How strange it was of her to encourage these girls to find themselves a good man when months ago, she would adverse their independence as a greater vice. She had her lover to blame for her reformed opinion. Woohyun always treated her as an equal and a partner, never obliterating her to become less. He had shown her the understanding she never dared to expect from anyone. What a formidable man he was, and to think he chose her to bestow his adoration to.   “You must truly love him. Your eyes shimmer like the glistening star in the night sky at every mention of him,” the ponytail girl remarked, and the girls giggled as if they discovered a close friend developing a crush.   “I… I do not… Do I?” Her poor denial turned into hesitance, making her cheeks flare up. Despite her brief acquaintance with these girls, the first emotion they correctly perused on her face was the manner she cherished Woohyun with.   “You certainly do!”   The girls’ teasing and enigmatic laughter made Hyunmi all the more embarrassed. She knew they had no ill intention at this point, faintly reminding her of the way Rika would’ve reacted had she stayed longer and discovered their relationship sooner.   “Ah, I suppose I have become the pleasant subject of your conversation?”   Hyunmi turned with a speed that mirrored the pace of her heartbeat. Woohyun had such an impeccable timing of making an entrance, curiously regarding her with an amused grin on his lips. In front of the giggling crowd, he put up a show by gently pecking the side of her head. A chorus of excited squeals followed afterwards.   “You must truly adore her!” The braided one remarked, hands clasped together against her chest.   “I do,” he brimmed proudly.   “What enticing traits does she posses that you are so fond of?” The ponytail girl asked.   Hyunmi never dared to ask this question herself, afraid they might wake up from this beautiful dream by revealing his true intention. Yet, she truly wanted to believe he delighted himself in this dream as much as she did.   “Would you accept my answer if I were to say I am fond of every single one of her qualities? I can’t seem to find a single flaw.” Woohyun skillfully made the girls giggle before they shook their head in protest. He hummed to himself, meeting Hyunmi’s eyes. She squinted them in a poor manner to seem aloof, failing to be surreptitious of her growing curiosity. Akin to an open book, she was easy to peruse at times.   “Her abhorrence toward the rich is a formidable trait; one I failed to dismiss from my own thought as I laid awake in bed after our first encounter. I have never met such a strong opinionated woman before, yet am strangely drawn to her. She didn’t favor me for my wealth, and blatantly despised me,” Woohyun spoke of their history. It had only been months since she spewed venomous words at him, but now she accepted all of his loving sonnets. She even allowed him to embrace her by the waist and pull her close in front of the audience. “Luckily, my charm was impossible to resist.”   “I assure you your charm barely affected my refined opinion of you,” Hyunmi said, leaning away from his all too comfortable graze.   “Truly? Lying in front of these girls would not make you a proper role model,” Woohyun chimed at her, grinning when her face contorted with realization.   “Whoever opposes the union between the different social classes is a fool! There is no greater pair in this entire town than the two of you,” the ponytail girl remarked, eyes dazzling in anticipation of an adventure of her own. “You are an inspiration to us all.”   This revelation went beyond Hyunmi’s expectation. She remained stiff in place, wondering what managed to prompt their sudden respect. While she struggled to find the answer, Woohyun waved the girls goodbye, wasting no second to wrap Hyunmi’s petite frame against him once more. The warmth and comfort from being close to her was a feeling he never wanted to part from.   “You would make a wonderful role model. These girls look up to you, and I do not doubt your ability to lecture them of a woman’s true worth,” he spoke, nestling his chin against the top of her head.   “You speak of a scenario too unattainable. I barely have the resources to start.” She laughed.   “You seem to forget I happen to be the wealthiest man in town,” Woohyun reminded her of his prestigious status. “I could purchase a building for you and renovate it into a school.”   Hyunmi watched with him a playful grin, tracing her finger around the edge of his coat’s button. “For a man who possesses so much wealth, you seem to be having a hard time acquiring a certain piece of land.”   He smiled in return, knowing the exact land she spoke of. “Do not challenge me, my love. You know I am quite fond of those.”   Hyunmi continued to laugh, releasing herself from his arms. Instead, he now laced his fingers around hers as they continued strolling through the market. They became quite exceptional at ignoring public’s opinion, feeling as if the world truly belonged to the two of them. Perhaps, behind the skeptical eyes of society, there lied a curious bystander in fascination to the changes taking place around them. Their union may become the foundation to bridge the missing understan