The Perfect Show Window

“If you ever fall in love, promise me you’ll tell me. Be honest.”

Huiwon and Jihwan, two individuals trapped by the unyielding expectations of their families, each seek a way out. Huiwon, the eldest daughter in a family known for its strict traditions, and Jihwan, the designated successor of a prestigious lineage, find themselves suffocating under the weight of their roles. In a bid for freedom, they agree to form a marriage of convenience—a show window partnership that will provide the illusion of a perfect couple while shielding them from their families’ relentless pressures.

At first, the arrangement seems ideal. There is no need for love, only the shared understanding that this union is their path to reclaiming control over their own lives. They convince themselves that love is unnecessary, an indulgence they can live without.

But as the days turn into months, and shared glances begin to linger longer than intended, a question takes root and grows between them: Are we truly okay with this? The hollow assurances that love isn’t essential begin to feel less convincing. The safety of their carefully constructed facade starts to waver under the strain of whispered conversations and subtle touches.

Is living as a show window couple enough to stave off regret? The realization dawns slowly, like the morning sun breaking through a cloudy sky—despite their best intentions, they are not immune to the warmth of connection. Their bond, forged in shared solitude and unspoken understanding, threatens to upend everything they had planned.

In the end, Huiwon knows she is at risk of being unraveled by him, while Jihwan feels the carefully laid structure of their deal begin to crumble. Theirs is a romance cloaked in pretense, but behind the polished glass of their show window, something genuine starts to bloom.
This is our bittersweet, romantic show window.