Jung Ho, now lounging more relaxed in his chair, looked at his friends with a grin.
"Friends, do you remember when our team was just forming?"
Haru Lin, playing with his glass, glanced at Ming You.
"We all remember. But as for Ming You…"
"How about we tell him more about us, huh?" suggested Lu Shen with drunken enthusiasm, having fully recovered from his stupor and gesturing so wildly he almost spilled his drink.
"That's a good idea, I'd like to hear it," Ming You leaned back in his chair, his posture expressing a readiness to receive information.
"Hey, hey, let me start then!" volunteered Lu Shen, slamming his fist on the table.
"Well, go on," prompted Haru Lin, exchanging a knowing smile with the others.
Lu Shen frowned, collecting his thoughts:
"Remember that dude with dreadlocks who acted all niggers? His name was… Kang Dae Su. Anyway, after he left... Ming You, you could say, is our salvation."
His voice held genuine, drunken sincerity. Hong Ren, who had been silent until now and merely observing the proceedings, added with a light, nostalgic smirk:
"Yeah, but then he transferred to another school, to a stronger team."
"That's right!" Jung Ho slammed his glass onto the table with force, returning to the present. "About two months ago, when I ran into him after school and we decided to play on the old court... He single-handedly wiped the floor with all four of us! It was as if we had never trained at all."
Haru Lin gave a bitter laugh, looking at the bottom of his glass:
"No wonder he acted all niggers. His speed and dribbling... It was unreal playing with him."
"But you know what, Ming You?" Lu Shen turned to him, his eyes shining with alcohol and surging emotions. "We're not mad at him. Well, maybe only for the first couple of weeks. The guy just wanted to win. For real. We understand that."
Hong Ren nodded, his face for the first time that evening expressing not just focus, but something resembling sadness.
"Yes. He was arrogant and selfish... but he was a genius. And he taught us the most important thing — that talent alone isn't enough. You need a real team. One that won't fall apart at the first opportunity."
Ming You watched them, his face remained an impassive mask, but a spark of something remotely resembling understanding flashed in his eyes for a moment.
"Hm, a perfect moment for manipulation," ran through his head. "When feelings are laid bare, there's nothing more convincing than supporting your 'comrades' and subjugating them even further. Heh."
He raised his glass again, and his voice sounded warm and encouraging, a perfect opposite to his inner cold calculation:
"Then let's drink. To old comrades and to new victories."
This time, their "Cheers!" wasn't as loud, but much more conscious. The next pause dragged on, and Ming You, breaking the ensuing sentimentality, said with a light, almost soundless smirk:
"Friends, perhaps we should move on to girls now?"
The effect was instantaneous. His entire team fell into a stupor, and Lu Shen, whose consciousness was already hanging by a thread, passed out again, his head dropping helplessly onto the table.
"Ah, you're the only non-virgin here, judging by how calm you are around girls like these," Jung Ho looked at Ming You with unconcealed envy, studying his impassive face.
Ming You didn't bother with a reply. Instead, he turned to the girls waiting nearby and said bluntly:
"Hey, bitc... beauties, could you take my friends to separate rooms?"
One of the girls giggled sarcastically:
"Are we getting our first virgins? Funny, hee-hee."
Hearing this, the remaining conscious team members squirmed. Haru Lin and Jung Ho exchanged glances with panic in their eyes.
"Uh, Ming You, what should we do?" whispered Haru Lin in embarrassment.
"Imagine you're throwing the ball into the basket from the closest range. Now, go and have fun," his tone was surprisingly practical. Then he addressed the girls, and a note of mockery sounded in his voice: "And you, girls, be gentle with them."
"Ah, I'm scared!" moaned Lu Shen, who was already being lifted by the arm by one of the girls. His legs were giving way, but he obediently shuffled after her, desperately glancing back at his comrades.
At that moment, Tae Sagi approached Ming You's table. In his powerful hand was a tray with two shot glasses of clear, strong-smelling liquid. His face was split by a wide, but utterly fake, grin.
"Shall we have a drink? I see you're experienced in this matter."
Ming You glanced at the tray, then at his own almost-finished cocktail.
"I won't refuse, but I still have my own drink. Or are you going to drink two glasses at once?"
"No," Tae Sagi snorted, his eyes narrowing. "But since you're refusing, that means these two glasses are for me, heh."
They raised their shots — Tae Sagi both, one in each hand — downed them in sync, and placed them on the table. Not a single muscle on their faces twitched.
Tae Sagi wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his gaze becoming intent and appraising.
"I've been meaning to ask — how long have you known my family?"
"About three weeks now," he said indifferently. "Is it that important?"
"Ha, so you're not much of a talker, I see," Tae Sagi shook his head, notes of irritation sounding in his voice, which he tried to hide under a mask of bravado.
Ming You, in response, merely remained silent, his stone-cold composure more eloquent than any words.
"Alright, all the best to you, have fun," Tae Sagi waved his hand, pretending to lose interest. "Just right for your age."
With those words, he took one empty glass and one still-full shot from the tray, turned around, and headed towards the table where Sung Wo was sitting.
Ming You remained sitting alone, his calm gaze sweeping across the hall, noting every detail. His solitude didn't last long.
Jin Xi, slightly unsteady after a brief collision with the departing Tae Sagi, approached his table. Her eyes swirled with a mixture of resentment, curiosity, and defiance. She smoothly sank into the chair next to him, bringing her face so close he could feel her breath, thick with alcohol and perfume.
"Hey, maybe you'll tell me why you're spending so much on your friends, while not having fun yourself, huh?" her voice was a hoarse whisper, and her hand was already resting familiarly on his thigh.
Ming You slowly turned his head towards her. His eyes held neither interest nor disgust — only a cold, analytical emptiness.
"Well," he said quietly, and a barely noticeable, hard curve twitched at the corner of his mouth. "Let's have some fun, since you, you slut, insist so much."
Jin Xi averted her gaze for a moment, her lips twisting. "That's hurtful, you know," she exhaled, but then forced a smile, baring her teeth. "But for you, I'll endure it…"
They rose from their seats. Jin Xi, trying to maintain the appearance of control, led him towards the staircase to the second floor, but after climbing a couple of steps, she stopped and spread her hands.
"Oof, looks like all the rooms are taken, there are only four. Your friends are something else," she snorted sarcastically. "Maybe the bathroom then? It's spacious."
Ming You, without changing his expression, merely nodded. "Let's go."
The bathroom door slammed shut with a dull, final sound.
Fifteen minutes later, the same door swung open violently. Ming You stepped out. His clothes were impeccably adjusted, his face wore the same icy calm, but his eyes held a deep, smug satisfaction.
Behind him, in the doorway, a scene was revealed. Jin Xi was crouched on the dirty tiled floor, her back against the wall. Her face was contorted in a grimace of pain and humiliation. Tears streamed down her cheeks from beneath smeared makeup, mixing with a crimson trickle of blood oozing from her split lip. In her hair and on her skin were whitish stains of semen, completing the repulsive image of total devastation.
"Sung Wo," Ming You's voice was even and loud, cutting through the bar noise.
Hearing his name, Sung Wo looked up and froze, his jaw dropping. He stared in horror, first at the unruffled Ming You, then at the disfigured Jin Xi in the bathroom.
"W-what?.." he managed to squeeze out.
"When my friends are finished, call them a taxi," Ming You continued, as if nothing had happened. "I gave you their addresses back when I was still setting them up, heh."
"N-no problem," Sung Wo caught his breath, trying to process what was happening. "What about you? And what about Jin Xi???"
Ming You took a light, almost casual pause before answering.
"Ah… that… don't worry," he turned towards the dim bathroom doorway. "She enjoyed it. Isn't that right, Jin Xi?"
From the bathroom came a muffled, strained sound, something between a moan and a cough.
"…Y-yes… Cough…"
Sung Wo was silent, unable to find words. His gaze darted between Ming You's calm face and the pitiful figure in the bathroom.
"Well, thanks for the fun," Ming You said with a slight nod and, without looking back, headed for the club exit.
The door closed behind him, leaving a oppressive silence in the bar, broken only by Jin Xi's muffled sobs. Sung Wo slowly ran a hand over his face, trying to wipe away the chilling horror that had gripped him.
"Holy fuck…" he whispered into the utter emptiness.