Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Mondays are always exhausting.
Probably something every office worker would agree on.
I was no different.
On my way to work, my body felt unbearably heavy, and just standing in front of the bank building made me sigh.
But not anymore.
For me, Monday was no longer about “enduring”—it was the start of a week I actually looked forward to.
Deposit 2,340,000 won
Prize money – Sudam Cup organizers
Just seeing that number in my bank account made the world look a little different.
It was the first time I had received more than my monthly salary in one go.
It felt like getting a bonus every week.
And somehow, it even gave me peace of mind.
‘I’ve already completed my registration for the President’s Cup.’
Unlike the Sudam Cup, the President’s Cup had no limit on participants in the top division.
Which meant every amateur player above official 5-dan level across the country would be competing.
‘Top-ranked amateurs and former trainees all gathering…’
Looking up last year’s participants, their resumes were impressive.
The number one amateur ranked player who had won three national top division titles.
Even players who had finished runner-up and later turned professional.
It felt like a completely different level—a real tournament.
And yet—
‘…Why does it feel like I won’t lose?’
There it was again.
That familiar, pleasant thrill.
Facing strong opponents, and ultimately winning.
Then the prize money and achievements that followed.
Had I ever felt this excited and alive before?
It really hit me how much this talent—Go—had changed me.
Anyway.
This tournament structure started with group preliminaries if participants exceeded 64.
Saturday would cover group stages through the round of 16.
Sunday would go from quarterfinals to finals.
A tight schedule, using up the entire weekend.
‘The only downside is how far it is.’
It would take over four hours round trip by public transport.
Better to just get a place to stay nearby.
“We’re closing.”
Right at 4 PM.
I pulled down the front shutter.
At that moment, the last customer from Yeonhee’s counter left the bank.
“Thank you. Have a great day.”
She greeted politely and sat down.
Our eyes met.
Heh.
We both smiled faintly at the same time.
The other day, as soon as I lay down after showering, Yeonhee started venting.
Complaints that had built up at the branch.
Most of them centered around Assistant Manager Ha, her direct supervisor.
She had clearly been holding a lot in.
For me, I rarely had to deal with him directly and tried to keep my distance.
But for Yeonhee, he was her immediate superior.
Being constantly forced into interactions while he mixed in personal feelings—it had to be exhausting.
‘He is pretty persistent.’
I didn’t think highly of him either.
Petty, narrow-minded.
The type to look down on others.
The kind of person who once spilled his own coffee and casually told me to clean it up.
If not for work, I wouldn’t want anything to do with him.
Honestly, it sounded fine to me.
Even though Yeonhee had been at the branch for a while, we’d never really had a proper one-on-one conversation.
“Deputy Manager, it’s been a tough day—how about we wrap up with some ice cream?”
Assistant Manager Ha stretched and spoke up.
With the strict branch manager absent for once, the deputy manager nodded easily.
“Alright.”
“Thank you. Inha!”
He called out loudly toward me as I was restocking supplies.
“You’re not too busy, right? Go grab some ice cream.”
He waved a card from his wallet.
The gesture and tone clearly treated me like a subordinate.
Before I could respond, Yeonhee stepped in.
“I’ll go, Assistant Manager.”
“Why would you go? You need to finish settlement. Inha can go. Inha, hurry.”
He gave Yeonhee a sweet smile, then gestured impatiently at me.
‘This guy really…’
His attitude was as unpleasant as ever, but refusing wasn’t easy.
Even the deputy manager had allowed it.
I took the card and headed to the convenience store.
Opening the freezer, I grabbed a variety—Screw Bar, Tank Boy, and others—more than enough for everyone.
“That should be enough.”
After paying, I returned with a plastic bag.
Assistant Manager Ha stood up, took the card and bag.
“Good job. Inha, grab one too—what is this?”
His brows furrowed as he looked inside.
Taking items out and putting them back, he sighed deeply.
“Inha, why would you buy this? Don’t you know Natuur or Häagen-Dazs? Premium ice cream. Who eats this stuff these days?”
‘…What?’
For a moment, I was speechless.
Natuur? Häagen-Dazs?
He never specified any brand.
I didn’t buy it for myself.
Just normal ice cream for everyone.
And now he says this?
I didn’t feel like laughing or getting angry.
“Just take this back, Inha. We’ve got refined tastes—we can’t eat this.”
With that, he casually returned to his seat.
The bag was tossed onto my desk.
Watching this, Yeonhee hesitated.
“Assistant Manager, that’s a bit…”
He ignored her and stared at his monitor.
Other employees stayed indifferent, focused on their work.
Only Yeonhee looked uneasy, glancing at me.
“Ha…”
Before, I would’ve endured it.
I was used to workplace hierarchy.
If I just kept quiet, things would pass.
But not anymore.
‘Do I really have to accept this?’
When anger peaks, it turns cold.
That’s how it felt.
I picked up the bag and walked toward his counter.
Standing under the overhead light, my shadow stretched over him.
“…Inha?”
He looked up, his eyes shaking.
Suppressing my emotions, I spoke clearly.
“If you’re going to ask for something, be specific.”
I placed the bag on the counter.
“If it’s something you’re giving me to eat, I don’t need it.”
“In-Inha! What do you think you’re—”
His voice rose.
I didn’t look away.
His lips trembled as he tried to speak.
But no words came out.
He just stared blankly at the bag.
His face showed confusion and intimidation.
“….”
The atmosphere turned cold.
I could feel it shift, but I didn’t care.
The organization doesn’t consider me—why should I consider it?
I turned and walked back to my desk.
It felt refreshing.
‘Why did I put up with it before?’
I had always thought I needed to endure unfairness.
Because I was a contract worker.
But thinking about it now, I didn’t have to.
This wasn’t a work order—it was a personal favor disguised as one.
There was no reason to be treated like that.
‘I’ve… changed.’
And I didn’t dislike it.
The version of me that used to shrink back—
With just one talent added,
felt clearer now.
“Sunbae!”
In a busy area one subway stop away, Yeonhee waved as she approached.
“Did you wait long? Sorry, settlement didn’t match up.”
“It’s fine. I had things to do.”
I had some time since I finished earlier.
Normally I’d watch videos or read webtoons, but today—
I played two matches on the Three Kingdoms Go app.
‘Two wins secured.’
At this rate, I could reach 7-dan soon.
“Things to do?”
“Just something.”
“Wow, you’ve got a lot of secrets lately.”
“You said men without secrets aren’t attractive.”
“What? That’s for women.”
We joked as we headed to a nearby barbecue place.
Talking about college days, we had pork belly and soju.
“About Assistant Manager Ha…”
Yeonhee started.
“What’s his deal? The way he treats you—why is he like that?”
“Troublemakers aren’t just customers.”
“Exactly. What’s with the ‘premium ice cream’ nonsense… so pathetic.”
We drank, using him as our topic.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know. I try to keep distance, but he keeps bothering me.”
She looked stressed.
Confident and outspoken, but—
Workplaces don’t allow you to act freely.
“If it gets worse, report him. These things are taken seriously now.”
“…I thought about it. But I’m new. It’ll stick to me.”
She laughed bitterly.
We were the same.
Same background.
For both of us, this bank wasn’t something we could easily leave.
We endured, suppressing emotions.
“Sunbae.”
“Yeah?”
Slightly drunk, she rested her chin on her hand and looked at me.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
“No. Don’t.”
“Why! I haven’t even said it. I will. Listen.”
“That’s not how favors work.”
I laughed.
“So what is it?”
“Don’t misunderstand, okay?”
She hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“Can you… pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“What?”
“What?”
We blinked at each other.
When I didn’t respond, she quickly added—
“Not for real. Fake. Just for photos on social media.”
“Fake boyfriend?”
She showed me pictures.
Couple-style wrist shots, V-signs, silhouettes on the beach.
“Just a few like these. No faces. Hands, backs, shadows.”
“…Because of him?”
“Yes. I think he’ll bother me less.”
She must’ve been desperate.
“Won’t you get caught?”
“Absolutely not. Trust me. I’ll edit them.”
She smiled, but she was serious.
I could see the sincerity.
“I’ll buy food and drinks. Please, just this once.”
“Ha…”
I thought of everything—
His tone, his gaze, the coffee incident, today’s ice cream.
Honestly, I was sick of him too.
“Alright.”
“Really? No backing out!”
“I won’t.”
Her face lit up.
“Since we’re on it, how about this weekend?”
“No.”
“A date?”
“…There’s a Go tournament out of town.”
“You play Go too?”
I nodded.
She looked surprised.
“…It actually suits you?”
“Liar.”
She laughed awkwardly.
“Where is it?”
“Namwon. Pretty far.”
The 9th Chunhyang Cup.
An amateur tournament held in Namwon, the setting of the classic Chunhyang story.
Smaller than the Sudam Cup, but with decent prize money.
“It’s far… should I come with you?”
“What?”
“You’ll be bored alone. I’ll take photos and stay out of the way.”
She shook her car key.
“As you can see, I’ve got a car.”
Unexpected.
And honestly—
‘That’s perfect.’
“……Deal.”
It was too good to refuse.