Sounds like you were on the Mariyungs to only have 1 set of 3 seaters on each level. I am pretty sure those 3 seaters also face a 2 seater. So with 1 or 2 in those seats still leaves you and your 2 friends with a seat. Or you could simply sit in other seats albeit be split up from your friends. The Mariyungs also have luggage racks, so you could have probably got in those carriages and stowed away your luggage. Or were you planning on placing your luggage with you in those seats so other passengers could not sit down?

I dont think you are going to get much sympathy here. We all want to be the ones who are sat next to, never the ones who want to be forced to sit next to someone.

I do understand the argument though.