Friday night.

I was walking home, my feet dragging slightly as I pulled my coat tighter against the cold.

On the sidewalk, I pulled out my phone and dialed.

The call connected.

“Hello?” a voice answered.

“Let’s meet tomorrow afternoon,” I said.

“No job yet, but I’ve got something for you guys.”

“Tell Min Ho to bring drinks. And tell Do Gun to bring something we can eat — something we can cook.”

“Got it,” the voice replied.

Saturday night. Rooftop of Jae Wook’s apartment.

The grill was already sizzling with samgyeopsal and fried chicken.

Do Gun stood by the side, flipping the meat like a man who’s done it his whole life.

Min Ho sat on an old stool beside a large cooler, stuffed with ice, soju, and cans of beer.

One bottle each was already open.

It was one of those rare nights.

No jobs.

No scripts.

No intimidation gigs.

Just me and the three men who used to make my life a nightmare.

Min Ho poured soju into plastic cups, sitting cross-legged like a kid at a picnic.

Do Gun had already downed two bottles. His cheeks were red, eyes glossy.

Jae Wook, as usual, didn’t say a word. Just stared out into the city night, his face unreadable.

We drank.

No bars. No waiters.

Just rooftop rust, grilled spam on foil, and quiet wind.

Then Min Ho broke the silence.

“Hyung…” he muttered, his voice low but clear.

“Thanks. Because of this job... I was able to pay my brother’s tuition.”

I didn’t reply. I just nodded slightly.

Do Gun raised his cup, wobbling a bit.

“My wife still doesn’t know what I do exactly.

But she knows I come home with money.

Enough for rice and meat every night.”

They weren’t praising me.

They were just letting it out.

And honestly?

I didn’t feel like their boss tonight.

Not even close.

Jae Wook finally spoke.

“We used to beat the crap out of you, Min Yee…

Now you're the reason our kids are eating.”

Silence again.

No toast.

Just that strange heaviness in the air.

And I didn’t know if I should feel proud…

…or sad.

We kept drinking.

Soju. Beer. Chips. Spam. Fried chicken.

The kind of meal you eat when you don’t know if tomorrow’s check will clear.

Or if tomorrow will even come.

Then Jae Wook turned to me.

“Thanks, Min Yee.”

I blinked mid-sip.

“Huh? For what?”

He looked at me — eyes calm for once.

“For giving us this job.

Even if it’s just on-call.

Honestly... when I don’t have outside gigs, I just wait for your call.”

“You do?” I asked.

Do Gun raised his bottle.

“Yeah. It’s true.”

Min Ho leaned back, looking at the sky like it owed him something.

“You became our second chance, Min Yee.

Here in Incheon, nobody hires guys like us.

We tried finding honest work.

Real work.

But if your name’s stained, nobody hands you soap.”

I looked down.

“…I didn’t know that. I’m… sorry.”

“Don’t be,” said Jae Wook.

I exhaled, trying to lighten the mood.

“Well… good news then. We’ve got another job next week.”

Do Gun let out a cheer.

“YES! I get to steal more drinking money from my wife!”

I laughed.

“Soju again? Don’t push your liver too far.

If you end up in the hospital, my budget won’t cover your bills.”

Min Ho raised his cup and grinned.

“If that happens, I’ll donate my share to cover him.”

Jae Wook smirked.

“Damn... maybe me too.

So Do Gun — will you stop drowning your liver already?”

We all burst into laughter.

For a moment, it felt warm.

Not the kind of warmth that comes from liquor.

But from the feeling that maybe, just maybe, none of us were truly alone.

Then Jae Wook spoke again.

“You know, Min Yee…

I never imagined the four of us sitting like this.

We used to bully you.

We made your life hell.”

I smiled faintly.

“Yeah... that’s true.

But that was a long time ago.

I’ve let it go.”

He nodded slowly.

“And now you’re the one helping us feed our families.

Giving us hope.

Even when the world doesn’t.”

I didn’t know what to say.

My throat tightened.

“Don’t cry, okay?” Min Ho teased, nudging me with his elbow.

“You’ll ruin the mood.”

We laughed again — harder this time.

Then came the line that made everything stop.

Jae Wook looked at me, serious again.

“You know… it’s almost like we’re friends now.

Do you think that’s possible, Min Yee?”

I nodded.

“Yeah. I think it is.”

Then he said, in the coldest, calmest voice I’ve heard from him yet:

“If ever someone refuses our warning —

if they push back or go against your terms…

I’ll stab that bastard in the gut.

Even if I go to prison for it.

As long as it’s for you, I don’t mind.”

I froze.

Couldn’t speak.

Couldn’t even swallow.

Min Ho raised his bottle and chuckled.

“Then you won’t be alone in prison. I’ll be there too.”

Do Gun lowered his bottle and tapped Jae Wook’s shoulder.

“Yeah. Count me in.”

We sat there — four broken men.

A rooftop.

Some meat.

A few bottles.

And a promise soaked in alcohol and silence.

Not saints.

Not heroes.

Just desperate souls... trying to protect the only thing they could still believe in.

As we chewed through another round of samgyeopsal and chips, Jae Wook asked:

“So… the new series from DreamNest. That thing’s a hit, right?”

I nodded.

“Yeah. It blew up.”

“Has anyone come to you yet? With a lawsuit? A threat?”

I shrugged.

“I doubt it.

The story’s from the Philippines.

They’d have to fly all the way to Incheon to make a claim.”

“About that…”

I pulled out a small envelope.

Inside — a few stacks of cash.

“This is for you guys. A bonus from DreamNest.

We did good with the series.”

Jae Wook looked down.

“I don’t think I can take that.

We didn’t do anything this time.”

“I insist,” I said.

“DreamNest gave it to me, and I want to share it with you.”

Do Gun raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, Jae Wook. We both know we need this.”

Min Ho chimed in.

“Yeah, man. We haven’t had an assignment in weeks.”

Jae Wook finally sighed and took the envelope.

“Alright. We’ll take it.

Next on-call gig? It’s on us.”

“Deal,” I said, raising my bottle.

“So,” Jae Wook asked, “how many episodes is this new show supposed to have?”

“Honestly? I don’t know,” I replied.

“There are only 14 chapters so far.

And the story isn’t finished.”

“That a problem?”

“Not yet.

I’ve got my guys at the office working on the ending.

They’ll pitch it this Monday.”

“Do they need motivation?” Jae Wook grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief.

I burst out laughing.

“Not from you.”

We all laughed with him, the sound echoing into the cold night sky.

That night, we weren’t just ex-bullies and an ex-victim.

We were something else.

Something complicated.

Something messy.

Something... real.

And for one night, that was enough.