The Heart's Gambit

Opening Game

"Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools."

Ecclesiastes 7:9

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Sooji didn't like to lose, not unless it ensured an alternative pleasant outcome or was needed for a greater good—preferably one where compensation for her was inclusive.

      Otherwise, she'd have to assess and consider her other options more thoroughly.

      That wasn't to say she hadn't lost much; for she had lost plenty. Her home, formal education, full-time job, father, friends, family members, parts of her crumbling soul, lots and lots of money...

     But each loss was rewarded tenfold; she counted every blessing given and learned to be grateful for every single one she encountered on the way, regardless of her struggle to accept the losses that accompanied them—she was human, it was innate to be flawed and selfish, she reasoned.

     She wouldn't have had it any other way. Except for this current way.

     Her present troubles perplexed her as she couldn't perceive what greater good there was in gaining some pocket cash when she was losing...

     Her. Very. Mind.

     "Okay, now that we have all our pieces set accordingly, we may begin. Since white goes first, you can choose any of the pawns—"

     "That sounds racist."

     She stilled, nonplussed, hand hovering over the white pieces adjacent to her black ones.

     "What?" she rasped, breathless.

     "Isn't that racist? Why does white have to go first?"

     She blinked rapidly, emotions flashing and wiped away from her eyes with every fluttering blink.

     Firstly, she was annoyed at her for interrupting so rudely. For someone of high pedigree, Sooji had expected that she came with a basic level of politeness.

     Secondly, Sooji marvelled at how aware this child was of important subjects at this young age and wondered just how many children like her knew about these issues—social media has its moments of good influence.

     Thirdly, she felt frustrated because she didn't know what knowledge the child already possessed regarding such matters and how to explain it properly to a child.

      After all, this 'simple' explanation (which was anything but) would heavily weigh on her worldview—she was a mere tutor to her, not someone personal in her life—she felt it would be better that someone else explain lest she inadvertently misdirects her from learning to not harm due to their lineage and skin tones.

     It is the duty of the guardian or parent to teach them, to begin with. However, should she hear any form of traduce that which were garnered through the aforementioned, Sooji would feel herself incumbent to transfigure such an offensive frame of mind; it was no skin off her nose.

     Slowly, with a deep inhale, she regained her composure, "I'm not sure, but that's how the games were back then, so you can ask your parents-"

     "I thought you were a chess tutor?"

     A painful sigh; she had lost all of her agonising progress. "Yes, I am. But rather than explaining the components of chess and its origin, I teach how to play efficiently and use analytical thinking."