You had hit rock bottom. After transferring from the US to South Korea as an exchange student, you started to fall into massive debt. Your minimum wage job at the grocery store was just barely covering rent and food, but you were still in good spirits.
"Have a nice day!" You wish the last customer of the day well as they exit the store. As you begin to clean your station for the night, your manager motions you into his office.
"(Y/n), we need to talk." The solemn look on your manager's face made you nervous, as he was normally easygoing. "The store has been going downhill and has been losing money. In order to stay open we have no choice but to let go of some staff members."
Your stomach drops and your eyes fill up with tears. "You can't fire me! I need this job so badly!" You clasp your hands together, pleading with him to change his mind. "I'll be on the streets! I can't pay rent now!"
With a heavy sigh, your manager points towards the door. "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do. You are relieved of your duties."
You run out of the store in tears, trying to figure out your next move. You decide to head home for now, as it is late at night and you need to catch the subway home. Sprinting down the street and towards the stairs, you get soaked by the pouring rain outside. Luckily no one seems to be waiting for the subway, so you can wallow in your misery and sopping wet socks for a while. You sit on a bench and put your head in your hands, beginning to work out a plan for getting a new job. Right as your head starts to spin over the thought of being homeless, you feel a light tap on your shoulder.
"Hello Miss, you seem to be in distress. Are you alright?"
You look up to see an attractive man in an expensive-looking gray suit. He looks concerned, but there is almost a glint of mischief in his dark eyes.
"I'm fine." You weakly smile and sit up straighter, a pathetic attempt at seeming composed.
He raises his eyebrows and turns up the corners of his mouth. Of course he didn't believe you. You're soaking wet and have been crying for the last half-hour. "If you'd like, we can play a little game to cheer you up. How about ddakji?"
"Like the children's game? Are you serious?" Your shock turns to frustration as you look at him in disbelief. "Is this some kind of a sick joke to you?"
The smile on his face remains as he waits for you to finish. "Not at all Miss. In fact, I'm so serious that I'll add a twist. Every time you win a round, I'll give you 100,000 won. Every time I win, you give me 100,000 won."
Your eyes widen in surprise and you begin to stand up, but as your thoughts get the better of you, you sit back down and shake your head. "I'm not about to fall for this scam. Leave me alone."
His voice drops to a whisper. "I think you want to rethink this, (y/n), especially since you are in debt to student loans and just lost your job."
You look at him in horror. How did he know your name? How about the loans, or the job? You take a shaky breath and stand up. "Okay, deal."
A light chuckle escapes his lips and he pulls out his briefcase, opening the two clasps holding it shut. It reveals two colored origami squares, one red, the other blue. "I'll let you pick your color."
You carefully select the red square, inspecting it carefully.
"I'll remind you of the rules. On their turn, the player must throw their square at their opponent's square on the ground. If the square on the ground flips onto its other side, the thrower wins the round." He places his square on the ground and looks at you in anticipation.
