Midway through the film, Ivy could even hear the sniffles from the girls in the back row. Her own eyes also welled up with tears. The audienceâs response was the ultimate accolade for an actor.
Watching the movie in its entirety, Ivy felt transported back in time, to when she was that girl waking up on a creaky out-of-town bed, in a world unknown. All she had to lean on was that foreigner.
Maybe there was love between them; maybe it was just her fear of being left behind.
Valor seemed to grow more attached, yet he had his own life, his own world. He didnât enjoy her constant clinginess.
In the sleepy fishing village, he relished their adventurous jaunts to the hills and the sea. But in the bustling city, Valorâs stickiness became a burden.
They had been so in love when they first left the village, hands tightly clasped. But as time went on, their first argument erupted.
He couldnât understand why Valor always needed to know where heâd been and when heâd be back. He felt like he was losing his freedom If bringing Valor from that rundown village was a mistake, he wished to sever their ties right there.
Valor didnât understand what sheâd done wrong. She just wanted to know when heâd return. Was that so wrong?
Alone in the rental, she desperately craved company. She missed her hometown, yearned to return to Auroraâs side. But when she had resolutely decided to leave the village, she had also fallen out with Aurora.
âHave you forgotten what you said to me by the sea? Do you not remember your confession, or were they all lies, man?â
âWhy donât you get it, Valor? My love for you was real, and so is my current annoyance. If you had kept some distance, maybe I wouldnât have grown tired so fast. Why donât you find a job instead of moping around the apartment all day? If you had your own friends, things wouldnât have come to this. Weâre adults. You have to learn to stand on your own.â
The smile had vanished from Valorâs face. She was no longer the girl who laughed and roamed the island with Aurora.
Valor let out a cold laugh.
She had indeed wanted to forge her own path. But this man, whoâd promised to take her away, only abandoned her in this apartment and return to his thriving social life. And now he blamed her for not have a job.
âI donât want to stay here anymore. Take me back to the village. Iâm breaking up with you.â
After a long silence, Valor made her demand, but it wasnât granted.
They had escaped secretly. Valor could go back; she belonged to the village. But he couldnât show his face there again. Taking her away had irritated the villagers.
If he dared to return, heâd be beaten black and blue. He wasnât that foolish.
âIf you really want to go back, go by yourself, Valor. Iâm not returning to that dump.â
For the first time, Valor lost her temper. She slapped him hard across the face, âThatâs not a dump!
Thatâs my homeland where I was born and raised!â
âIf you love your homeland that much, why did you ever try to escape from it?â