That night, Sam and Valerie walked hand in hand down the street. The sky was dark, the wind was cool. After their talk, Sam had let out all his frustrations in tears. To help him calm down, Valerie suggested they take a walk, just to clear their minds.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
"Hey, Sam? Look at you… what a mess."Sam's heart sank. He turned and saw a few college classmates standing at the corner, their eyes filled with contempt. Worse, their gaze quickly landed on Valerie, dripping with disdain and mockery.
One of them pulled out a stack of money, waving it provocatively in front of Sam. "You want this? You got it?"His tone was full of derision, and the others laughed, mocking both Sam and Valerie. Another classmate pointed to his girlfriend's branded bag, cosmetics, and phone, sneering, "Can you even afford a girl like her?" He added sarcastically, "You can only afford a girl like 'this'." His eyes clearly looked down on Valerie's clothes, bag, and phone.
Sam said nothing. A storm of helplessness and anger surged within him. He wanted to lash out, to teach them a lesson, he clenched his teeth, looked at Valerie, and held her hand tightly. He knew that losing his temper now would only hurt Valerie, and he didn't want her to worry. No words, no matter how sharp, could shake his love and resolve for her.
Valerie gently held his hand, stroking the back of it, trying to calm him. Sam felt her intention, took a deep breath, and decided not to engage, treating the mockery as if it didn't exist.
Together, they walked away in silence. The laughter and the display of luxury still echoed in their ears, but Sam's heart was clear—he would protect this love no matter what the world said. He believed that after these trials, their relationship would only grow stronger. Proud of what he had earned with his own hands, he was confident that he and Valerie would have a happy and fulfilling future.