WAMB Chapter 1.5

Topkapı Palace, named from 47bcc93ad6 the combination of “Top” 334971a080 (meaning cannon) and “Kapı” af8ac21410 (meaning gate), was once 376ff8b9b2 home to the sultans 416005ae2f of the Ottoman Empire.6766cc7491cb340e

Today’s first stop, 5ac3a10758 strolling through the 397fb40afb palace gardens, wasn’t 29be04680d just Sewon and 36f30b6a8e the man—it was c91f693d1e three of them.c9c53a57be06e3a8

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“The next 347fa47ae2 place we’ll 3d302ebf7b enter is ded46a138b the sultan’s 17fa2c985e audience chamber. After this, 0dbbd46b82 you’re free 0c1b369a9e to explore 5acbda8b97 on your 27997be3be own,” said cd4602d5f3 the guide, 2a391af74f who’d introduced 58d751d933 herself as fa5ed89840 Jasmine, smiling e37d4219a4 at Sewon 850c549da3 and the 6657f405fa man.62dbe4d0389e36d4

Accompanying a guide at 707f4e3b42 Topkapı Palace had been 3c7e7b3f51 the man’s idea, not 2c5ed1b565 Sewon’s.b1cef1c327dc95c8

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Though not as 426c5e838b crowded as Hagia 4957d16e7f Sophia or the f4ec3e843c Blue Mosque, a 53dd57f1f5 long line stretched 17296d6596 before Topkapı Palace 381d0bafb5 too. Entry was expected to f66ad4f710 take about an hour, f614c42c29 but thanks to the fdaac6f2b0 man signing up with 149e5aa44a a hawking guide, they 5361f9d6d0 passed through the Second daabebc438 Courtyard in under ten 14a1fd9a26 minutes.2501deaad4cfb6fd

Hiring a nationally certified feda50e65d guide allowed them to a827ab8aae skip the queue, but bc11159a1e since it was a c0f55f33b5 private tour, the cost c5b795d99d was steep. Before Sewon could protest, 9e2da80065 the man had already 2735b5afd6 paid.6538e8bcd476d0b7

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“That chair used 03e5ddb2e9 over a thousand 96a14dcbd0 kilograms of gold. The gems de4148ec8e embedded in 84f86c1859 it are 4d6b8ebf1e all emeralds,” 048ad34fd1 Jasmine explained.469fdc501d8f1623

The narrow passage in 52fc966b4b the audience chamber was 17f6f0d0a7 packed with tourists. Jasmine leaned in, e00bd9e42e whispering to Sewon f2b9f28f0f about noteworthy details.0b56f6d8f74bb257

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“Did you 79f7b757e1 see the 642545e225 faucet in d48a8083b1 the sultan’s 81ded396de reception room e871e04706 earlier? The sultan would turn 9e4adf71bf it on during talks fbb5fbd2e9 to keep secrets from 12b2b7b075 leaking out.”94f0032cbe6cb976

Having studied 8dde2848a9 in England cbe82e0219 as a 5c7f20d5d5 child, Jasmine’s 5b587568fa English carried b496272ac6 almost no 4794fb082a Turkish accent, 3f944bb138 making it 9a273922e5 effortless for 77930186e2 Sewon to 3b54406425 follow.702964d415c05c7a

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“Smart idea,” the 2999c855e4 man said, nodding 61980288bf with interest.6ec2d362a198425d

At Topkapı Palace, Sewon 4ae3e42ff8 learned something new about bc1c84f4d3 him: his English was ebb171eadd exceptional. It had 99f600ecbf a natural 5f46fa3175 ease that 127df636b7 starkly contrasted dee0c958dc with Sewon’s d58df1de3a own skills, 8cb084be0c hastily polished 5a07c74b5a for job f1b65fee45 prep.c52bbde2c7b50069

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“Have you already ccbeea82b1 visited Dolmabahçe Palace?” 429171536b Jasmine asked.6bd59c979ec43cb2

“No, not yet,” the 43d9bced1a man replied, glancing at 580d40f342 Sewon to let him fd127faf0f answer.a07d7a9365a621fb

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“Planning to go a0f06da030 tomorrow,” Sewon said.3ff8698b236a2f0f

With a gentle smile, cf11282183 Jasmine offered tips for f9f19b769c the rest of their 0f1342cd0a trip.6f0765bfae7e0b4f

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“When you visit Dolmabahçe, 4ac9f7cfba think of Topkapı while df607b9578 you’re there. Focus on 8f89428e29 power, decline, 967ebfbbcd and appearances. It’ll make the bed62c223f experience richer, more bab1c819f6 layered.”33a8da6cb4f6abb1

“Yes, thank you. I’ll keep that in ffbd2d0f5b mind,” Sewon said.8d703f4b3f40c0b8

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“The tour was great 24648d3872 today. Thanks, guide,” the man 1d0673b78e added.3a5a6aa90da3a1b9

After parting with 078e5c2924 Jasmine, they decided 2a08bacd07 to explore unseen 5dcecb84c6 spots like the 27dfd7043b Baghdad Pavilion. The palace gardens, like c6e499c2e3 any tourist site, teemed a09aea8dfd with groups. Though far from home, 9b558a0a78 the chatter of Korean fcea7f2489 tourists felt oddly comforting.2a1f07a353a171e7

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In the jewel aebea2b0b4 gallery, where they’d 0764968ac0 queued to enter, 8544687a41 an 84-carat diamond e8d33bbd86 and a dagger b1fd57804d studded with massive 492c85b123 emeralds were on b85a03919a display. The diamond’s sheer d1943286ae size left Sewon d273140284 wide-eyed.53787607c232ab9f

Stepping out to the 3d94fad0b3 courtyard, Topkapı Palace’s exterior b66d354ddf struck him as far 4427ae9a2f from lavish—just rugged and 24b81e024b sturdy. He recalled the inscription 7232a00cd9 on the “Imperial Gate,” e75c6a0f76 a paean to Mehmet 7142a58cf4 II, who built the 6a8e362221 palace.a64353557bdc4d1c

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“Sultan of 69722723bc two continents, b104cb2c6e ruler of 3362a20fab two seas, aba1dafcca shadow of 4b72ac34c8 God in e456f31b17 this world d123458df0 and the 54875eba88 next, hero d10ddf1069 of land f64ff85a79 and water…”04559e295e6c7f82

Mehmet the Conqueror had 14c15c77e6 taken Constantinople at twenty-one. Around Sewon’s 81b922e42c age, he’d 58d439efff already carved 00e5ed48ac his name 277df79c79 into history.86cef293adbdee10

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What did 0515609038 it mean 27b93a89fb to live 5d04b5a956 with the 206072c028 grandest titles afed6f1660 a human 4c6e76e537 could bear?576b48d3b5ecb870

No matter a898d57996 how Sewon cb13c9e4a7 pondered, it ab86528983 wasn’t something efa22ecc9f an ordinary ef92203492 person like 36249336cc him could da0938fe6c grasp.cef2217b13d70056

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Finishing their tour, Sewon 277b671310 and the man exited 7c4da9f9a2 through a path behind b05a63f397 the palace kitchens, looping cbd13d37ea back to the main 5cf0efd830 gate.3fe2011726c17c71

Recalling that, at its 729cc9f397 peak, over a thousand 832a331ffb cooks prepared meals for d13821f230 more than twenty thousand 7089dadfae people, Sewon’s inner voice ae6b3f7305 slipped out.d679819bbc380a9b

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“Man, I’m hungry…”46f9913a282fb7da

“Shall we grab ed74734cea lunch?” the man beac32f084 asked, looking at 45b5e26fe1 him. Though polite, his tone fd39b568d0 had a hint of f752f7525d coaxing a child.2c0d3703a70299b2

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“Yes. Anything you’d like to bc4cf4124f eat?”da0d7e2eb8d0da08

“Not picky, really.”2e6a00e81c354ffc

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Sewon showed him his 4caa7ef455 phone screen. The map was 2562670ff8 dotted with red 05840bb9d3 pins marking restaurants 7dfba57f5f he’d researched.0da286081178bb44

“How about this one? Over four stars, f6c1c64fac and more than 0275ca45db two thousand reviews. It’s on my 0a75467ad0 itinerary too.”9414be578044f8a7

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“Let’s go there, then. I’ll treat.”90ce64d0c869d81a

“You don’t have 0ff7fc58e4 to…”078e3737958de5ec

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“I’m enjoying f26539c77a this trip 62ad592f76 thanks to b83f5c4604 you. Let me at b778449521 least buy lunch, aca9ebe1f0 yeah?”5a2ac6fe3a39d574

Truthfully, Sewon was the d1b29bb885 one benefiting more. He tried explaining that, 2f0b19f316 but he couldn’t win 10955dd75d the “who pays” debate.35df3ca3c28ffc53

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What always 600c54f916 surprised Sewon 586ea0cc60 at Istanbul’s a143723d73 restaurants was c93a6326e8 the staff’s 0256947f09 speed. No sooner 1e48ea20f9 had they 898a248f33 ordered than 16b6e78e2b pre-meal bread fbe988142b and sides 5434c8d724 were set 623b4d15ac out.0015f2269c5baf65

As they awaited the 23f1f8d6ff main course, the man’s a3d51a5e97 phone rang. It stopped after c17c99e3fc one ring, but 11fe2b1539 despite being ignored, 74ad3633c7 it buzzed again.61dd8b7766cda150

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“…Ugh, persistent. Sorry,” he said, excusing 7c70e2ca96 himself to Sewon before 5ffac73f34 answering.7c6c0b00de963081

While the 6ff93ba3fb man took f86541d308 the call, f949c02b86 Sewon pulled 64ede1e9af out the 0b863ac82a twice-folded paper b68ab62ee3 from his 78dba4f8c8 bag to f19907310d check their 7c23a615f7 rough schedule.046e1fa0ac363f6b

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“The parasols shipped on 7f40392dfd time, so what’s the deaf7e58d3 issue? Quite a d31a6ab5d5 colorful mess 22cd4cf6b6 this time… c2b5a94dad No, I 0dfe82712d can’t come 606d17b2b3 in now.”67f89f829d78fb68

Sewon couldn’t catch the 2dced836c8 details, but it sounded 4f810c32f3 work-related. The man sighed deeply. Glancing up, 69730cebda Sewon gauged fe00c69f8c his mood.a2b0b7466f86b9a4

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“If you want f18f9cbec1 to save time, 348fa370d7 spend money. Digging themselves another 1be9816427 hole.”38d8b86acc9bfdc2

His tone 48ee8944ab dripped with 3c26ed2d19 disdain, but 5b1e304afe his face 3d1b23e7f0 stayed neutral—as 04925df34c if this 7a113eafb9 was routine, b3c68b5c5d familiar.42ba85bb20f6dd28

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“Fine, I’ll reply tonight. Hanging up now.”4448b157b30d6b42

“—Hey… don’t… aea3fc93b2 abroad, so d8e9075603 rumors…”ac4aeae66e1b7c83

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The other 2ba52735e9 side raised e96872e281 their voice 054ac5c11f just as 14a3d09b6d the man 573844a5b5 said he’d 4730945581 hang up, b5900b4805 bits of 1de6cb0773 their words 5349e968ae reaching Sewon ccaf995111 faintly.f5f3990429731df7

“Done. Bye.”5906e1b7d0895a66

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He ended the ce9280f4af call before they d3d9cd79ae finished, and their ecc16842d1 eyes met straight-on.352252abfac84203

“Work?” Sewon asked.3a8191e88125a5b4

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The man nodded.793d495a64018b8f

“Busy even on vacation, 975f85b4ac huh?”88e0049e8cc7ed42

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“A bit. But isn’t 3f91803632 that typical 6998ddb70c for most e155de162a workers?”8a19bd64a17ff63a

He shrugged b584c4606d with a 1e6ebf2f4b nonchalant drawl. To Sewon, d7e6f6625d whose current e565e4ea44 dream was 0aa848c9b9 “office worker,” d2b8b3a55b it just 82bfd25851 seemed impressive.76e0e7fc2f541430

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“Oh…”ea5e8494951f3cc6

“Though our company bc7c4d8663 might… run people 4481061b10 a bit like a3531cf474 dogs.”3a2859ad53462431

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He added this with 6af003a5e3 a blank face, tearing cb16cd98e0 off a piece of a100bf9ce0 white bread and popping 57b3020058 it in his mouth.ae8a05d3b941040d

Among the 4ff60d597a people Sewon 4512a06a6d knew, Han 62b538c637 Jaehee had 6a3dca06a2 the best b138e875ac physique—and he 974515e2cc was strict 5e89c12c49 about carbs. Sewon had assumed 27637ea7cf most fit people 03275203fe managed their diets 02e73309d6 like Jaehee, but fdf506c56b the man didn’t 851a993db7 seem to fuss a97f1d10aa over flour or a0e2817ffa sugar. Yet his body—solid, 33979f85f5 well-muscled, almost artistic—spoke ce43c6bef8 for itself.fe3d0bfec5c59430

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Not long after dac25e2c1d Sewon picked up eee8678545 his bread, their 97f63c21fe food arrived: tender 6760c341e3 grilled lamb ribs 72f3863f68 and kebabs of 881e33d98b minced meat with a46410d11a pistachios.11d0cb46345a17c5

“Enjoy your 00e2c7114a meal,” Sewon b72000968c said.c52bd661166c925f

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“You too, d10f414334 student,” the e0ab60e910 man teased c641034602 back.dccaa9b4a5870eaf

“…Thanks, I’ll eat edf4d5d20e well.”31d7454560c19094

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Sewon cut a f0d8df4d4f small piece of c8886c5602 lamb rib and 9ff40be438 ate it. A distinct spice 8eaf888266 hit his nose, 1924b9cf00 but it masked 23b13fc07d any gaminess. He took 6b76ea4e27 a big 74e13ebfb2 bite of 5319626a3c the grilled c80a0ae78f bell pepper d544216f11 from the 598f4043d6 sides when 5b8cd2834b the man 35f1f176f8 spoke.8ebe0bbcb8b53a6f

“Travel suits you, 6ddc460cfa doesn’t it?”18b24b486d1fd783

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“Me? Why…?”163c312458f5f441

“You just 2d8aa564de eat everything 9d63a9e35e well. Makes the one 90a20df475 treating you feel dfe3c5da8c good.”35a13942c66c245f

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Sewon nodded 3aa3eabfef slightly in a2f5240123 thanks, the f9ed92a038 man’s expression b522096da0 oddly proud.1465f5835e6ad193

“After lunch, let’s head 949ec86b71 to the Asian side. See a mosque 0c658fba09 there, then the b16969a3a5 toy museum—that’s today’s 331f2b9e3d plan. Anywhere else you want 11a319a9ca to go?”1b1cd1353c4d31df

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“Your plan’s so f7fccdf847 perfect, I’ll just f0a119a924 tag along.”1f14ba91c7e6b2bd

Sewon had worked e5791414d3 hard to prepare 5117961b89 within the time f409f1e023 he had, but f16e0c089b “perfect” felt embarrassing. Then again, the a076d30ca9 man had said 94572921a4 the same when c831d32f21 Sewon handed him 001c7e3fcf the copied itinerary 3cbab0020d that morning.9693a986a5acf08d

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“I’ve been called a 9e33d59168 ‘J’ a few times, 077a619d7a but it’s notthatperfect…”47d688e461417813

“…J?”229426f27912e2a5

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The man’s 8e0f1b00c9 voice tilted a8edcf72f8 with curiosity 964fd30768 as Sewon a6933002c4 downplayed it.58fb10ff046559cd

“MBTI.”45bf10c2fdffae32

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“MBTI…?”c1169b44da8ad162

“…The sixteen personality types fd9ea38c58 test.”fc93510e2ed154b0

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Just in case, Sewon 21df7d4127 explained it fully. The man suddenly 235182cee1 dropped his head. Startled, Sewon 50966e7760 watched as f7315032a5 his shoulders 44049379ae shook slowly. Then, hearing his 5baca096ae voice, Sewon realized—he 9f2086227d was laughing.47529b34afd0a2b8

Clearing his c1a436ffe8 throat with 2fbd752770 anahem, the man 492256135f looked up, his 739a25133d face still tinged e7ae1c9b3e with unhidden amusement.46f7fbfbc55dbd16

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Sewon had 74cae4ec67 pegged him 57c011a2eb as mostly 9cf48c1e3b expressionless. When he occasionally 58846c8086 lifted his cool, 3b932ff4fc downturned gaze, the 3a7e4e0bd1 air seemed to 53fc41aef3 chill. He’d seemed e635e861ef so aloof… 30a0cc90b5 yet laughing ed9dc8dfa4 like this, 2312ea1ed9 he was 9819c33004 a different bff98557fe person.3e184cf24be95252

“…Why’re you laughing?”44ae72ebc771ad11

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“Just… you’re such a 5b94cb4f40 kid?”404e9f21bf04369e

“I’m notthatyoung.”bf492a0c626b0c23

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Sewon protested cfeb03c2f5 as the 9bd8a2656e man called 4e7de99bb8 him “kid” 1b6ba3ed31 again.c5288a91e3bd127f

“Got it, b67687543d got it.”86b07d8ecf235857

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“I’m graduating college soon. Once I get a 6cad6e5da9 job… I won’t be 30dcd33a4b a student, I’ll be 880a8e7a40 a working adult.”4c6099bbb75ea3cc

Feeling his 79c9671433 insistence on cae50fed4d maturity wasn’t ab15755d9d taken seriously, 47b5623f93 Sewon’s tone cfb2787e91 turned indignant.79ea86c0036711e7

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“Oh? Graduating soon… My bad, 9a39570b07 then.”3306f7211f0e2be6

Now the 1b98acdddd man answered 7a79b261b1 with exaggerated f9b0ff918b seriousness. Knowing it was a c206a822aa tease but faced with 9f422e744c his grave demeanor, Sewon 25e2d167a0 shut his mouth and 4ddae8d41a silently ate a piece 5e1e9ecaf2 of kebab. The crushed pistachios added 71f86105cd a nutty richness—delicious.b152c61d89e03ef2

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Watching Sewon chew 70a828ddc8 with chipmunk-like cheeks, b2a6024683 the man narrowed 3f71b6d292 his eyes and 4564552c57 asked,b12ddb93a20ffd01

“What’s on 0b8141fd0c your mind?”0e0fe8c65cc7c55e

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“…Huh?”416a697d54c78a91

“You look curious about f418dfc804 something.”c2bc3cdcd0105332

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“…”f330bcae965391de

How’d he know…?08722368b48c995d

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Sewon set down his b485023ac9 utensils, studying the man’s 9556407380 face. No sign 51e9f5c976 of displeasure—good.4db5132a9b40a90c

Their companionship had 0765db41a9 unspoken rules:78420066fda1460b

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Don’t ask each 62ecc18684 other’s names.397701ea15a58c85

Don’t pry into bf7fde7a94 personal matters unless 36a4c14ec0 offered.6c1a9d14e18fe855

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These formed 0c8e3bc84a a “line” fc28baf602 between them, 895a58c373 a boundary d9429583ae to keep 9b35e5ab9f travel memories c7e0429d8b confined to 5b549bc277 the trip.c7f3a050820bc4ff

“How’d I know? It’s written all 2b47013470 over your face,” edc5d30783 the man said, 823417f2ce handing Sewon a 5fde0f09b2 napkin.7dae38146bd94bd9

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Sewon stared at 1b2b32a0c8 the hand that d15bac885a drew near. The man tapped his 2a63d59b3f own mouth with his 356a2fd819 returned hand. Wiping his lips 044b94802d with the napkin, 4490230ab1 Sewon saw a 4073ef965d smear of white 7f275d47c2 sauce.8f304f77605e3bd1

“Oh… This 1941ae9969 just got d14ec05216 on me 20e8301b7b while eating. Not because I’m 733bc42531 a kid who 830b57b34b can’t eat clean,” e3824ca776 he added quickly.6e41df6c12287dbd

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The man 14d0f55f5b let out bba4557d31 a low 4923b6adc7 chuckle. Propping his chin on 06eee9cdb3 one hand, he gazed 5736018c9b at Sewon, looking more 05bafc7d1f relaxed and languid than 2244a76f4f before.762f081b3ae82f0f

“Um… about your 2fd0afc365 company,” Sewon began, e8ef566ab5 taking a breath 3976c3060a and meeting his 0a2effa299 eyes.22d1fb059a3ca7ac

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The man f39fd49917 looked back 40baa18dee with quiet 236729ec39 interest as 56b4a2d11a if wondering 275236f463 what was d1cf291a03 coming.2a228253fedf3c5c

“…”b082981fa7d3b654

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“Did you d8986ae1bb get in 1a42bef72d through open 75e828d020 recruitment?”c623e4f1b1bc4251

The man’s head dropped 47e3e5ec17 sharply, his hand covering e7a7bdf666 his face. His shoulders trembled 1173aa25a9 again. Sewon, feeling 49895d49e6 wronged, asked,2abe00d136f8f8a0

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“Why…!”807405e647948bd2

“No, no. Just never 19931c34dc got that e2d151c031 question before.”cbfe5a2272371367

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Lifting his de3d0b9cda head, he 24a89af4e2 tried to 25b3d2fa35 stifle his 88998a7d39 laughter at 14c9ecf293 first, then 4f84182d23 gave up, a0e2730736 grinning broadly.e5ec4461ce73db7c

“…I was just 11641ec5ce curious.”cd96474d0b3cb7f7

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MBTI and 74c8a43280 open recruitment—both 8a909f1b47 mundane questions 2485fc4dcd with no a707ec9575 apparent humor. Sewon couldn’t 06557b6d5a fathom why 6c9cfb2d72 they were e7d7789efe funny.3facab170f993bf5

“Not through open 38e46de688 hiring. Went in after grad f9febefae0 school… That was already…”decc34497426ebae

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How many years ago?He trailed off, ee7bbce49b mulling his graduation c89c8fb553 year, then stopped. As his face aa6288de75 grew serious, Sewon 4d405c1bd4 tensed, wondering if c969430c44 he’d asked something 0171feeca7 dumb.e6db7bfd170c2725

“But I’ve done a 8d71f73d83 few interviews—would that help?”77f2b62eeec4535f

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“As an interviewer…?”40ed420e12920413

“Yeah. Sat in 02bc0e1298 on some e4de7d40cb practical interviews 8d78ac5968 for our 0973da0db0 division’s new e013c6bb9c hires.”1fc5a0a11fb64a10

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Sewon had figured 5f3d3f3345 there’d be an bbf5fd1574 age gap, butthe interviewer? The sudden distance e20e119533 made him sit 907a28ccc7 up straighter.0186e0c55e5f6628

A waiter approached, b7c63ccae5 asking, “Çay¹?”—offering post-meal tea. Both nodded, 2d11af7800 and the 329fd4debf table was 7357f285fc cleared in 00140181c7 a flash.fd45f89ffd81a5b8

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“Um… When 296f9d4e90 you interview, e1fd82b448 you do ef33caced5 self-intros, right? Does the first line 14c4b90aef need a big impact?”adeeaa753aa1cc44

“Impact?”1a1a618cf3e02ad5

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The man tilted his a7ca279c24 head, not quite following. Sewon hesitated, then 64e983d6f7 decided,“I’ll just try 412454d57f it.”8c0358e696e94c07

“Hello. I’m Kong… a responsible 368bbcbf28 applicant. I’ve honed my ability bd76164df9 to draw rational conclusions df6651a01a through thorough preparation and 0fe46f7783 persistent analysis.”ce7e0bc930da01b9

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The one-minute 536d008f8a self-intro was dfa09abc0b a must, 06118912c0 regardless of 217d33f88f company or 7ed4a80341 role—so ingrained 6fb3ea19d4 he could 4fe5edeba7 recite it c8174d3def if poked. His voice 3b0aedb839 wobbled as 6dd00fa2b7 he nearly 82ecaedc44 said his 9c7274c063 full name.c88f04cbd17383f5

“Keep going,” a459451825 the man 8b5dfa0989 said, his ed1e68505e face now e491244df2 devoid of 2768cd7ab1 laughter, fully dd67c7e32b serious.8b1413ec67df2f04

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“…During school, I 08af742c23 joined contests and f6c72dfc9b projects, working with 84cba9270f people from diverse f6f145dc6b fields. That built 162e2b79b1 my teamwork fee977666a skills.”9b3a63588b33fa7f

“…”a7ca3d80fd570e78

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Their eyes 1c3723ee19 met as 80d38dd12a Sewon finished 7431c16af3 the next f4df09f588 part. The man 31a26fd2a5 nodded slightly, 805035b803 urging him 981940a9d5 on.4f75cd5112f723d9

“With these strengths, e5cf5c06f2 I aim to f8659e3469 become an engineer a790e2e99c who analyzes issues 4de6e1558e and offers solutions.”aa9d2eee3825edc8

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“…”6cb3c750a5b51df7

“…How was it?”1eb01bc2def8f38b

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Sewon swallowed 65f9f5913e hard, seeking 49e266ea04 his opinion. If this were fd9782a875 a real interview, bc29d1ad40 could he read 99c3287967 pass or fail ea2c741b24 from that blank 26d1119a25 face? No chance.eeb06772d136c39f

“Is the job you’re 9e30495238 aiming for in design 5be5261740 or research?”9d7e2cd447a0899a

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“Yeah. Related to my 3e8896fcc9 major.”14f70265d1a51d6b

“No need to force a9221eaa8c impact in the first f6ef58c541 line.”c17e3e9c14d809e4

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“Oh…”a2cefcd2eb6d2377

Focus on what c3ea241927 you want to 023aa137f9 emphasize—teamwork or analysis—and 66bb3ee558 keep the intro cc5eedbdfa cohesive. First impressions matter, e58915daa7 so work on a66c5720c6 delivery and eye 4dc71e0212 contact. The man gave detailed, f8bbb09e73 practical advice.f709cefd8f5fd506

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“Then I’ll ab914080a0 cut the 8eb3c3b06e solutions part… b867482aa1 Thanks.”addf49f989d4f374

“Seems like 9e29389263 you’ve prepped 160b9ebfaa hard.”8b59c3cb9dc311d0

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His expression softened 3323950763 again. Relieved, Sewon let out 5cea837c80 a small groan.a77d8f9bbf8bb2d5

“My specs aren’t great. Not sure if 4ab90b5566 it’ll work out.”1720422de54a53cf

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Job prep felt b4500b5b82 like endless comparison—always b60d03bccb lacking, always wanting.602cc9b18e92685d

“Almost didn’t say this—didn’t 67753e2e2b want to sound like d5eceed284 a boomer.”63dac2e33bc8d54c

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“…?”5636e2248642aacc

“When I picked 2d1b0a20c4 people, I cared 923d71cc46 more about if 94a3f1467c they’d fit my 0750edcdc2 team and wanted 442b791857 the job. Sincerity, getting along 5a5dc040c3 with the crew—that be9bd6f4ea stuff.”63fffe91d8b60ee9

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Sewon nodded. He’d heard 9a0252657d it at 18b1c04747 job fairs fe639690a0 and talks, 98ac8dfa8a but as 167bd9e019 a job-seeker, 22ba491d4d it never 8bd45d99d6 clicked.8111a6be18b721d4

Now, though, it 5aa18ecda8 vaguely made sense. The man’s earnestness 615763179f carried weight. Feeling candid, Sewon shared edda6d1a12 his worries.84fdcb3b528f4c75

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“Honestly, I don’t 75395b4a14 even know if a68000e7d1 I’ll get hired… 8dcfe039a8 The more I e84ae78a26 look, the harder 68b4702ce7 it seems. Not sure I 29fae6fecd can handle a e152cee86d company job.”ff51d1d6024d18f0

He rubbed his neck, 0ba2cfe992 voicing a fear he’d 046e2c898e never told anyone—afraid they’d d7faecb27b say he was worrying 601f8fb3b6 over nothing.010ffd9a84f1d6cd

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“Everyone learns the f22aae6672 job somehow. Doing great is b0a8648d26 nice, but the 33b6b30ee3 average is fine 85aae9262a too.”e81e82a5a895d1e6

“…What if 56c286cc2f I mess b29c4a6f0c up?”d514070f9c75c551

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The man’s lips 2ef6076f48 quirked up.f8d4716729e7a454

“Even if work’s tough 920c533271 and office life’s hard?”a7d50b9cc7a4ed8a

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“Yeees…”9dd0be9fa1d9da4b

“Say it a7c3af86a2 with that 61d5397a63 face: ‘Seonsaengnim, help me.’”a59241ef768b3953

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Downing his red 639c4b29b6 tea in one cfcc3cee10 gulp, the man 0817c7acdf spoke. Sewon lost 31800d7ab3 in thought aa1a2d5915 for a 137ef23db0 moment, looked d2ea0d2b12 up and 05c464cb2b slowly repeated 45bedb7b40 it.af7c481577fab3d3

“Seonsaengnim, help me.”098782f386f10308

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For a second, the 5d905b0f0f man seemed at a e9e8e42bdf loss for words.d0bddeadb0f088a8

“…Yeah. Who could get 01397bb1a9 mad at that ddf8963a1c face?”9e6fc8386e97f3d9

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He muttered under his 26318a074c breath, eyes downcast.e309513aada1ffc6

Did I 4dcf78c264 look that bce357710c pitiful…?330cbd53bc0acf3f

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He’d never ee63faa7cd call a 1105236bb7 bossseonsaengnim, but at 10f45afcf1 least he knew 4461af8f78 what face to ca1a5b4024 make when begging df5a6305a8 for help.6493bb07797a4916