Back when I was still working at a company, I used to imagine this sometimes.
The fantasy of winning first prize in the lottery and going to the bank to collect the winnings.
"Wow, is that guy a first-prize winner?"
"I'm so jealous. When will I ever win first prize?"
"Look how confident his walk is. First-prize winners really are different!"
People gazing up at the great first-prize winner with admiration.
"Would you like to sign up for our insurance? Right now, it's only ten million won a month!"
"This is a special fund available exclusively to first-prize lottery winners."
"Please donate to the children's foundation! With just one hundred million won, you can save a hundred children!"
People pressuring you to donate or invest.
"I can't pay my child's hospital bills. Please help me."
"What, just because you won first prize, you think you're all that?"
Begging, or people picking fights for no reason at all.
"If it's okay with you, please contact me."
"Private consultations are fine too."
Even bank clerks subtly making a pass at you…
I'd imagined the bank filled with people like that. That was why I thought I'd have to hide the fact that I was a winner at all costs.
But when I actually got there, it wasn't like that at all.
The bank was quiet and businesslike. It wasn't much different from the company I used to work at.
I took a number and sat down to wait. Nearby, I noticed several people waiting with tense expressions.
Are they all lottery winners too?
Probably. Especially the young man sitting over there—his leg was shaking nonstop. Judging by how emotionally unstable he looked, he was almost certainly a winner.
Hmm. That's probably how most winners act—nervous and restless. Compared to him, I was relatively calm.
Soon, it seemed to be his turn. The leg-shaking man stood up and headed to the counter, his companions following close behind.
When he reached the counter, he shouted loudly at the bank clerk.
"I'm here to collect my lottery winnings! First prize!"
His voice was loud enough for not only the clerk, but everyone around to hear. Naturally, all the waiting customers turned to look at him.
So he really was a winner. Still, there was no need to shout like that. His dopamine must have been exploding.
He looked to be, at most, in his mid-twenties. Small build, extremely impatient demeanor.
Winning the lottery and turning his life around at such a young age—it made sense that he'd be excited. He probably wanted to show it off too.
Still, making such a scene didn't seem like a good idea.
Either way, it was none of my business. I decided to ignore him and quietly wait for my own turn.
But the noise only grew louder.
"What do you mean?! Check it properly! You're saying it's not a winner?!"
The young man was making a commotion. Apparently, there was something wrong with his lottery ticket.
Oh? Things were getting interesting. I found myself listening more closely.
"I'm sorry, but the ticket you've presented is fake."
"That's impossible! I checked it myself yesterday!"
Compared to the man's agitation, the bank clerk responded without even batting an eye.
"It looks like one of those fake tickets that have been circulating online lately. We've had several people bring them in by mistake. Perhaps someone around you played a prank on you? Does anyone come to mind?"
"No! I told you, I checked it myself!"
While the man jumped up and down in anger, the clerk remained almost frighteningly calm. She must have dealt with cases like this many times before.
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do. Please take it back and verify it again."
"You're lying! You switched it, didn't you?!"
How happy he must have been, thinking he'd won first prize.
To come all the way here to collect the money, only to be told it was fake—anyone would feel like the sky was falling.
But no matter how much he insisted, the bank couldn't just exchange a fake ticket.
Whether it was a prank or a scam, it was something he'd have to resolve himself.
"I'm sorry, but please leave now. Next, customer number 211."
"No! Check it one more time, I'm begging you!"
Number 211.
Unfortunately, that was me.
Even as I stepped up to the counter, the man showed no sign of backing down. His companions just stood there, watching blankly.
"Just check it one more time, please! Please!"
He'd gone past anger—he was practically crying as he begged the clerk.
I slipped in beside him and handed over my ticket.
"I'm here to collect my lottery winnings."
"Yes. Congratulations on your win. I'll first verify the draw number and purchase location."
"Hey! It's my turn! What do you think you're doing, cutting in?!"
The clerk ignored him through clenched teeth, while the man who'd been fooled by the fake ticket screamed in rage.
Watching this unfold right in front of me, I couldn't just stand by.
"Why don't you calm down a bit?"
The man looked up at me—and froze.
As if by magic, the shouting stopped.
"W-What… who are you, old man?"
His voice had dropped, clearly flustered.
I'd worried he might lash out blindly, but thankfully, it seemed he still had a shred of reason left.
I spoke calmly, trying not to provoke him.
"In situations like this, it's better not to cause a scene. Forging lottery tickets is a crime—document forgery can carry up to five years in prison. This clerk is trying to let it slide quietly."
"P-Prison?!"
"It'd be better to just leave, wouldn't it? If the police get involved, it'll become a criminal case."
Just then, a man who looked like a security guard was finally strolling over.
…Seriously. When someone causes a disturbance, shouldn't you deal with it a bit faster?
Why wait until another customer steps in?
"I didn't do anything wrong! I brought a winning ticket, and she switched it!"
"Please stop. If you continue, we'll call the police!"
When troublemakers cross a line, it becomes a crime.
Only then did one of the man's companions intervene.
"Ah, sorry about this. We're actually TikTok creators. We were filming a lottery prank video."
"TikTok? An internet broadcast?"
"Yes. I'll calm him down and take him out of here."
"Please do. You're disrupting our business."
"Hey! Let go of me! Let go!"
A prank? No matter how far internet creators go for views, causing trouble for others like this was unacceptable.
"Hey, let's talk outside, okay?"
"Let go! I'm not done yet!"
"I told you, it was just a prank! We're filming everything right now. Wow, this episode's going to blow up!"
Even as his companions restrained him, the man refused to calm down. When they grabbed his clothes, he simply pulled his shirt off.
"Let go of me!"
His scrawny upper body was exposed, along with a half-finished Japanese-style tattoo stretching from his shoulder down his arm.
Ugly. Tsk.
"Filming inside the bank is prohibited! We're really calling the police!"
Only then did the security guard arrive and drag the man away. Perhaps because he was so thin, he was taken out easily.
"Ah… I'm very sorry."
The clerk bowed her head apologetically.
It was a rare sight, but not an enjoyable one.
"Does this kind of thing happen often?"
"Not often, but occasionally. Every time it does, it gets loud and troublesome."
Apparently, these lottery prank videos had become popular lately—using fake tickets and filming people's reactions. The prank was considered "complete" once the ticket was exposed as fake at the bank.
Which meant the bank bore all the inconvenience.
Honestly, I couldn't understand what kids these days were thinking.
For the first time, I understood how older generations felt when they complained about young people.
"The bank has it rough too."
"Exactly."
That explained why the other employees had looked so indifferent earlier.
These disturbances happened regularly, and even if they called the police, punishment was difficult—so they just chased them out half-heartedly.
"Alright. Once again, congratulations on your win. I'll check your ticket now."
At last, I received a proper verification.
"Yes, it's confirmed. Please take the elevator over there to the third floor. Another staff member will assist you upstairs."
"Thank you."
"If you have any other concerns or need consultation, please contact me here."
She wrote something down and handed it to me.
It was her business card.
On the back, she'd written something.
'You can contact me after work too :)'
…So that's what she wrote.
I gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Yes. Thank you."
She returned a bright smile—hard to believe she'd just dealt with a lunatic moments earlier.
One of my pre-bank fantasies had actually come true: a female employee subtly handing over her contact information.
Though I would never contact her.
Of all the things I'd imagined, the least likely scenario had become reality. Life really was unpredictable.
Collecting the winnings took far longer than expected.
The investment specialist relentlessly recommended products, and I broke a sweat turning them all down.
"No, thank you. I'm a full-time investor, so I'll manage my funds myself."
The staff member looked deeply disappointed.
In truth, I was closer to being unemployed than a full-time investor—but for now, that explanation would do. I just wanted to finish and leave.
By the time I finally exited the bank, two hours had passed.
Winning first prize, yet feeling more annoyed than excited—maybe I was the only person like this.
On the drive home, I received the message I'd been waiting for.
'Director Kang Suhyeok, we've finished discussing things with the staff. When can we meet?'
It was from CEO Cha Yoonjung.
Perfect timing. The funds were secured; all that was left was to sign the contract.
I set up a meeting with her for that very evening.
Meanwhile.
Somewhere in the world of internet broadcasting, a video was quietly gaining traction.
"Please, just check it one more time! Please!"
On the channel of a TikToker known for posting provocative content, a video showed someone believing a fake first-prize ticket was real and going all the way to the bank.
Naturally, everyone except the broadcaster was heavily blurred.
But the voices were left intact, and even through the mosaic, silhouettes were still visible.
—Someone stop this clown, please.
—Hahaha this is insane, he's crying!
—I'm embarrassed just watching this…
—Isn't this going a bit too far? The streamer should really show some restraint.
—If he'd pushed a bit more, they might've changed it to first prize lol. Let's go again tomorrow!
—Why is the embarrassment always ours to bear…
Most comments focused on the streamer's antics.
But some viewers noticed a man who appeared only briefly—and was blurred.
—That guy next to him looks tall as hell. Like a 20 cm difference.
—That's just because the streamer's short.
—Still, he looks like he's around 190 cm.
—That voice was insane. Super sexy.
—When he scolded the streamer, my heart skipped a beat… I wish he'd whisper in my ear too.
Gradually, attention shifted from the streamer to that mysterious man.
—Bet he's super handsome too. His looks are breaking through the mosaic.
—Wait… if he was there…
—Does that mean he actually won the lottery?
—?!
—????
—This world is so unfair.
—If you're that handsome, don't buy lottery tickets, man.
—Someone bring me bleach…
Unintentionally plunging many people into despair—
Kang Suhyeok was quietly becoming a topic of conversation online, under the nickname:
"The Mosaic Lottery Guy."