Trouble arrived in the form of Marco, a local guy who’d had a crush on Isabella for years. Marco was tall, muscular, and had a permanent scowl on his face whenever Bernie was around. At the town’s weekly market, Marco confronted Bernie while he and Isabella were buying vegetables. “What’s a city boy like you doing with Isabella?” Marco sneered, crossing his arms. “She needs a real man, not some pretty boy who can’t even lift a sack of rice.”

Bernie, feeling his pride sting, squared his shoulders. “I can handle myself,” he said, though he wasn’t so sure. Isabella stepped between them, rolling her eyes. “Marco, stop being a jerk,” she said. “Bernie’s my friend. Deal with it.” But Marco wasn’t done. He challenged Bernie to a test of strength: carrying a 50-kilo sack of rice across the market square. Bernie, not wanting to look like a coward in front of Isabella, agreed.

It was a disaster. Bernie barely made it ten steps before his arms gave out, and the sack fell, spilling rice everywhere. The crowd burst into laughter, and Marco smirked triumphantly. But Isabella didn’t laugh. She helped Bernie up, brushing the dirt off his shirt. “You didn’t have to do that, you know,” she said, her voice gentle. “I don’t care about stupid contests. I like you for you.” Bernie’s ego was bruised, but her words made him feel better. Marco stormed off, muttering under his breath, and the townsfolk whispered to each other, their plan moving along perfectly.

That night, Isabella invited Bernie to stargaze on her farm. They lay on a blanket in the middle of a field, the sky above them a canvas of twinkling lights. “I’ve never seen stars like this in the city,” Bernie said, awestruck. Isabella smiled. “There’s a lot the province can teach you,” she said, her hand brushing against his. Bernie felt like he was in a dream—one he never wanted to wake up from.