The fresh and sweet aroma of newly baked confectioneries filled the air appealing to passers-by and hawkers as well. Sight of dumplings ands tofus competed with the rich and sweet fragrance of cakes and buns.
By the stalls , people, mostly children crowded around salivating and buying as much as the their money could carry while munching on the cakes and whatever goodies in display.
The atmosphere was one of love, a true community of food lovers and the best place to get in touch with the spirit of food . Meanwhile, the food vendor is known as the woman with the best delicacy.
A white palanquin suddenly stopped and laid down the burden it had. A young man clad in a commoner's garb strode out and walked towards the food stalls, a young girl of about ten years shrunk at the farthest corner peeping from time to time at the people happily munching on food with a shrunken eye and an evident starvation.
At the food stand, the young man dipped into his pocket and brought out a gold coin shocking the whole assembly.
"I want all this dumplings with lots of bean paste, including this meat skewers", he seemed impenetrable with an icy nonchalance ignoring the fact the people around him are stupidly shocked. As if he was immune to the stares, he brought out another gold coin and ordered that the rest of the goodies be bagged for him disregarding the stares.
"Ajusshi !", he looked down to find a young girl looking at him with a hungry gaze. "I'm starving", she said when his attention was focused on her. His heart constricted when he saw her emaciated looks and cracked lips.
"I was about calling you, my dear". Her eyes shot up with surprise and disbelief. "Me?", she asked, pointing a shaky finger at herself.
The lady selling the confectioneries stood stunned at the huge amount of money in her hands before suddenly returning back to her senses.
"Boss, isn't this too much for the child?". Though she's happy to make such a big sale and go back home on time, still is the man trying to help or kill the child?
"She will take as much as she wants, the rest will be mine!", he said not even sparing her a look. The lady gasped as she looked at his lean body , maybe he's donating somewhere because his body is not one belonging to a glutton.
He hunched down and handed the food to the child, then proceeded to unwrap the food amidst the stares of all and sundry. A man finally spoke out in rage.
"You might be a rich punk but we all are here to buy too, how could you buy everything just to give this brat here!"
"Yes, it's true. I actually came before him but now everything is gone!", another echoed in approval and support of the first man.
"I know you are rich, although you are dressed like a beggar but at least you should have left some for us to buy too", another chipped in carefully, taking note not to offend the man before her. His face has an aura of an aristocrat his well sculptured face aside, and his demeanor is one not to be ignored. She looked bashfully at him before leaving to calm her irrational heartbeats.
"Go to another place", the scolded young man said making them swallow their words. The young child looked appreciatively at her savior as she digged in hurriedly , savoring the taste and enjoying the aroma.
A man suddenly appeared and bowed making the audience more stupefied. "Master, we should leave now".
"Mmm", he replied then patted the girls head before leaving with his man .
"Ajusshi, wait!", the girl screamed as she dragged the big bag of food with her.
"Here, have the remaining ones . it's a bit too much for me". Meekly, she handed the remaining ones to this savior that gave her food.
"Share with your siblings", he replied making no effort to take them.
"I have none". Her voice sounded with the tone of sadness.
"Then with your parents". She shook her head.
"They won't need it".
She stuffed the food into his hands, afraid he will reject her again. This time he didn't bother her but handed it over to his man and left.
"Ajusshi!", she called out again.
"Yes?".
"What's your name?".As she asked this question, she saw the man besides him raise a brow at her but was stopped from the look of things by her ajusshi, cutting him off from whatever things he wanted to say.
"Why do you want to know?", he asked her.
"So that I can repay back your favour one day".
He chuckled then proceeded to stuff a coin in her hands. "You don't owe me, my dear". Her eyes shone with a stubborn gaze as she shook her head.
"Please?".
"Soon... Kang Soon". He answered helplessly then he left.
At the same time, a strikingly beautiful young girl and a boy with a bit of handsomeness stopped at a shop not faraway admiring a terracotta.
The piece was an embodiment of talent with a sense of fragility. The young girl raised the object up with a smiling face only for it to freeze. Not too faraway, a young girl was being bullied by an angry mob of irritable men. She nudged her brother who was engrossed on checking out another collection.
"Hmm?", he grunted not taking his sight from the beauty in his hands.
"Look", she pointed at a direction making him see what was happening too.
"Where are you going?", he asked in alarm dropping the object in his hands, before he could catch up she was already standing between the child and the crowd.
"Go away witch or we crush you with her!". A man suddenly yelled at her as she comforted the frightened child.
"Why?", she asked nonchalantly.
"it's none of your business, or are you planning on paying us for her damages?".
"And if I don't?", she asked arrogantly her eyes throwing daggers at them. Whatever the reason is, full grown men shouldn't attack a child.
"Hey pretty, leave now so as not to hurt yourself!", a man from the group of maniacs tried coaxing the angel before them. He has met beautiful women but none was like her and he wouldn't want her face destroyed.
"You don't want me hurt ?", she looked at them exuding the aura of astonishment, gratitude and fragility.
"Yes", the man replied with the smugness of a hero saving a beauty."Your dressing is not too shabby after all". Currently, due to their tight position at the moment, expensive dresses and jewelleries are a thing of the past , still her clothes are not one to be looked down on.
"Then why did you hurt my little sister?". The once calm eyes changed to one of instant anger and suppressed emotions. The elder brother who lost himself in thought for a moment jolted back to the present immediately he saw his sister's cold gaze.
"Hey Yoona, let's go!", he cried out before rushing to shield her from the crowd. He turned to the man closest to him and who seemed to be the leader and apologized.
"Kind Sir... big boss ... please forgive and forget, my sister was just joking. We don't even know the girl!". A resounding slap replied his pleadings and sent him staggering backwards into the arms of one he swore to protect. The men bursted into a boisterous laughter and their ego boosted. The young girl gasped at the outcome and ran to hold the young master who was slapped because of her.
Yoona looked at the red mark on her beloved brother's face and boiled with rage, she made to surge forward but was held down in a tight grip.
"Where are you going?", he fearfully asked as he saw her eyes blazing with the ferocity of a wild beast.
"I need to practice my lessons". She guided them to one corner amidst the vehement disapproval of her brother. The men watched this melodrama with a hint of amusement, what is the girl planning to do? Seduction?
"Trust me!", then like a wind , she surged towards them with an inhumane speed.