Joe Yabuki stood in front of the Antiques Shopping Center.
The building was full of small shops but most of the metal shutters were pulled down.
He checked the address one more time to make sure he was in the right place.
He was about to walk inside when he saw two men coming toward him.
It was Kim Geon-woo and Hong Woo-jin.
They were talking and laughing until they spotted Joe standing there.
"Mr. Yabuki."
Woo-jin stopped walking and waved.
Joe gave them a short nod. "Hello."
"What brings you to this neck of the woods?"
Woo-jin had a curious look on his face.
"Work."
"No way." Woo-jin grinned and poked Geon-woo in the arm. "What a coincidence. We are here for the same thing."
Geon-woo nodded along but did not say much.
The three of them stood by the entrance for a second. It felt a little awkward.
"Well, let's head in then."
Woo-jin pointed toward the doors.
"Alright."
The two younger men walked in first and Joe followed a few steps behind.
Woo-jin looked over his shoulder after a minute and saw Joe was still there.
"Are you following us, Mr. Yabuki?"
Joe shook his head and kept his hands in his pockets. "No. I got here before you did."
Woo-jin thought about that and then laughed. "I guess you did."
They walked deep into the center until they reached a bookstore.
Geon-woo and Woo-jin stopped at the glass door. They started fixing their collars and smoothing down their hair to look sharp.
Joe did not wait. He walked right past them and pushed the door open.
Woo-jin leaned over to Geon-woo and whispered.
"Is he going for the same job as us?"
Geon-woo watched Joe walk inside. "Looks like it."
Woo-jin let out a long sigh and followed them in.
President Choi Tae-ho was waiting for them in the middle of the shop. He sat in his wheelchair behind a heavy wooden table.
"I see you all found the place alright."
The President smiled at them.
Joe and Geon-woo bowed their heads at the same time.
"Yes, sir."
Woo-jin bowed too but stayed back a bit.
"President, I used that money you gave me." Geon-woo stepped forward. "I paid off my family's debts this morning."
He bowed again, lower this time.
"Thank you so much. I really mean it."
President Choi waved a hand in the air. "I know you will work hard for it."
"I will give it everything I have."
Joe watched Geon-woo. He wondered why the kid got paid before the work even started.
"Is something on your mind, Joe?"
The President was looking right at him.
Joe looked at the floor and then back at the old man. "I didn't know we could get an advance. We haven't even met the person we are protecting yet."
President Choi nodded and kept his smile. "That is true. I am paying the bills, but Hyeon-ju has to like you. You still have to pass her interview."
Woo-jin stepped up and cleared his throat.
"Good morning, sir. I am Hong Woo-jin. I helped Mr. Moon with some stuff before. Geon-woo and I were in the Marines together."
President Choi gave a small nod. He already knew who Woo-jin was.
He had only planned on hiring two guards. He did not want to overwhelm Hyeon-ju with a crowd of men.
Woo-jin knew how the world worked. He could see the old man hesitating.
He knew that with Joe and Geon-woo already there, he was the odd man out.
"It killed me to watch Geon-woo struggle while I had nothing to give."
Woo-jin spoke with a lot of energy.
"I am so glad he met someone like you. But I can be useful too. I have done this work before and I know the ropes."
He looked the President in the eye.
"I can help Geon-woo get used to the job faster. That helps you in the long run."
Woo-jin took a deep breath and stood up straight.
"I want to help him. Please let me work with him, sir."
The bookstore went silent.
Geon-woo looked at the President with a hopeful expression.
Joe just stood there and waited for the answer.
The President tapped his fingers on the table for a long time.
"Sure. Why not?"
Geon-woo and Woo-jin shouted in unison.
"Thank you!"
They both bowed so fast their heads almost hit their knees.
The President laughed and pointed to the chairs.
"Sit down. Have some tea."
He pushed three cups across the table. They all took a seat and started to drink.
"Hyeon-ju does not really want bodyguards." The President looked at them over his cup. "But I think you three can handle her."
"What happens if she doesn't hire me, sir?"
Geon-woo looked worried.
President Choi stopped smiling. "Then you have to give back the money I gave you."
Geon-woo's face fell. "But I already spent it all on the loan. And I am not a very good talker, Mr. Choi."
Woo-jin poked him in the ribs to make him shut up.
"Sir, if I get her to hire both of us, do I get a paycheck too?"
The President chuckled at the question. He was going to pay him anyway.
"Yes. You will get paid."
Geon-woo looked at his friend and grinned. "Nice."
Joe did not say a word during the whole conversation.
The President watched him for a second and then turned back to the others.
"Alright. I have a massage appointment to get to."
Geon-woo stood up. "Yes, sir."
"Have a good time, sir."
Woo-jin stood up too.
The President started to turn his chair toward the door. He stopped suddenly and reached into his coat.
He pulled out a thick stack of cash.
"Take this. Go get something to eat."
Geon-woo took the money with both hands. "Thank you, sir."
"You really take care of your people."
Woo-jin beamed.
President Choi looked at the two younger men. "You two stay together. Do not let anything split you up."
Geon-woo nodded fast. "Yes."
Woo-jin grabbed Geon-woo's shoulder and bowed.
"We will, sir!"
The President gave them a final nod and rolled himself out of the shop.
The three of them were left alone with the books.
Woo-jin looked at the money and started laughing.
Geon-woo let out a long breath and slumped his shoulders.
Joe turned around and started walking for the exit.
"Hey, Mr. Yabuki. Where are you going?"
Woo-jin called out to him.
"Come eat with us. There is plenty of money for everyone."
Joe stopped and looked back at them.
"No thanks."
"Don't be like that."
Woo-jin walked over and caught up to him.
"We are all on the same team now. Let's go eat."
Geon-woo walked over too. "Come on, Mr. Yabuki."
Joe stayed quiet for a moment and then gave a small nod.
"Okay. Thank you."
Woo-jin slapped him on the back. "That is the spirit. I know a great place!"
They walked out of the store together.
The sun was very bright outside. Joe squinted and held his hand over his eyes.
'The same team.'
He watched the two of them walking ahead of him. They were already talking about what to order.
Joe put his hands in his pockets.
He could feel his fingers shaking against his legs.
He did not try to stop them this time.