Chapter 17: Killer Idol

Two years ago, March 2021

"Yo, Jun Hao!" Bo Wen called. Jun Hao stopped scrubbing the toilet and stood up.

"A new member is waiting for you. Orient him for me." With that, the baldie walked off while snacking on a chocolate bar.

Jun Hao pursed his lips, removing his cleaning gloves.

"It's your job, for fuck's sake! Why does it always have to be me?" he muttered.1

He washed his hands and ensured he looked decent before meeting the new member. He entered the den and saw a few people gambling, drinking, and sparring even in mid-daylight. He looked around until his eyes met an unfamiliar face.

"Are ya the newbie?" he asked. The new face stood and bowed his head.

Eh, this kid looked pretty handsome. What was he doing in a place like this?

"Yes, sir. My name is Lin Zhi. I'll be joining the White Tiger gang from today."

"How old are ya, kid?" Jun Hao asked, sitting on the beat-up couch and pulling out a cigarette. He then patted the spot next to him. Lin Zhi reluctantly sat.

"I was born in 2000, sir," Lin Zhi responded.

"You're pretty young," Jun Hao stated. "Only 21, right? What are ya doing in a place like this?"

But then again, Jun Hao entered the gang around the same age, probably even earlier. 

"The Boss offered to make me a drug dealer," he said. "I want to save up some money so I can go to Korea."

"Korea?" Jun Hao raised his eyebrows. "What are you going to do there?"4

"I can't disclose that, sir. But I have already told the boss about my plans. He had agreed to keep me here until I had enough money for that."

Jun Hao felt quite bitter. A newbie was already given the position of being a drug dealer when he wasn't even part of the gang. However, he had been stuck being an errand boy for the past six years! He would have made more money by now if he was a drug dealer.

He sighed and stood up from the couch, placing the cigarette butt on the ashtray.

"Fine, I'll show ya around. Make sure to listen closely so I don't have to repeat myself, alright?"

***

One Year Ago, January 2022

"Congratulations, big brother!" Lin Zhi exclaimed, giving Jun Hao a cheap bottle of vodka as a gift.

"What a cheapskate you are," Jun Hao teased. "I finally got promoted, but this is all you're going to give me?"

"You know I'm saving up for something, brother. Cut me some slack. I'm sure you'll be able to afford a more expensive bottle now that you're one of the boss' right-hand men. You can finally disobey Bo Wen's orders."

Jun Hao rolled his eyes. "That baldie's still stubborn. I'm sure he'll make me clean his toilet even if I'm at a higher position now."

"Well, at least you won't clean other people's toilets now! I'm proud of you, bro. Don't forget me, alright?"

Jun Hao ruffled the younger's hair. "How could I forget the kid who gave me so many headaches?"

He chuckled. "Don't worry, brother. I'll be out of your hair soon. The money I need to move is slowly piling up."

"Ah, right. You're going to Korea, am I right? You still haven't told me what you would be doing there."

"You'll know when I get there, brother," he smiled. "I'll make sure that you'll definitely know."7

"Is your money still not enough?" Jun Hao asked. "You've been dealing with drugs for about a year now. I'm sure you've saved up some pennies."

"I have enough for a ticket," he said. "But I'm just a dealer, brother. I'm not the drug lord. My savings are not enough for a house just yet. You know how crazy housing prices are in Korea right now."

"When are you going then?" Jun Hao asked.

"The boss asked me to do something," he cryptically responded. "Once I do that, I think I might finally be able to go."

***

One year ago, June 2022

"Bo Wen," Jun Hao exclaimed as his bald-headed friend of eight years gazed into his eyes. There was a hint of guilt in his gaze, but it didn't take away the fact that he was betraying Jun Hao right now.

"Ah, your good friends are here. Aren't you happy?" the boss exclaimed. "They'd be able to witness your death, at least!"

"Why are you doing this?" Jun Hao screamed. "If it's for the briefcase, then just take it! Why do you have to kill me off?"

"As I said, I don't like how you're shaping up, Jun Hao," the boss calmly said. "You will become a very, very strong man. I don't need a man who's stronger than me. That'd be dumb for me to do."5

"I served you like a fucking slave!" Jun Hao spat. "I did nothing but obey your orders when I was an errand boy. And now that my pay is delayed, you're fucking killing me? After everything I've done for this gang?"

"Always remember, Jun Hao. You're not special. You're replaceable. You do not have any friends in this place. It's your fault for believing so."2

Jun Hao's jaw clenched. He then felt a cold metal press against his temple. He looked up and saw another familiar face illuminated by the light.

Lin Zhi.

Jun Hao chuckled like a madman. Oh, he must be really stupid. Jun Hao knew that the gang wasn't a place to make friends, but was it really his fault for caring for the people he worked with everyday?

Bo Wen, he treated him like a real friend.

Lin Zhi, he already thought of him as a little brother.

"I'm sorry, brother," Lin Zhi mouthed before placing his finger on the trigger, pressing the gateway to Jun Hao's death.12

Bang.