"Six... seven... eight,"
The twelve boys gathered around the table in the meeting room, anxiously waiting for the CEO to finish tallying up their votes. A minute ago, they had anonymously written their choice for the new leader on tiny slips of paper.
"Nine... ten... eleven..." The CEO looked up. "And this makes twelve," he finished, placing the last slip separate from the rest.
"Congratulations, Heeseung. You won with an overwhelming majority." He gestured to the pile of eleven.
Heeseung's mouth fell open.
"Really? Oh, um, thank you." He tilted his head forward, slightly bowing. "I'll do my best."
Heeseung wasn't sure what to say. He thought Soobin would've won for sure.
"Aye, congrats, mate," Jake beamed, leaning over the table for a fistbump.
Taehyun patted Heeseung on the back as the others politely clapped, all smiling.
"Wait, who came in second?" Ni-ki asked, pointing at the lonely slip.
The CEO ignored him, shifting through a pile of folders.
After a dreadfully long minute of awkward silence, he handed Heeseung a packet. "Finalize the decisions on this checklist. Drop it off at my office when you're finished."
He straightened his tie, picked up his briefcase, and left the room without another word.
"Ni-ki! You can't just ask that!" Sunoo scolded, gently slapping the younger boy's arm as soon as they were alone.
Huening Kai leaned over the table and whispered something into Ni-ki's ear, causing the latter to snicker.
"He said we act like Soobin hyung and Yeonjun hyung," Ni-ki grinned. "Desperately in love, but hopeless at romance."
Sunoo rolled his eyes. "In your dreams."
Yeonjun grabbed Kai by the collar of his shirt and dragged him back to his chair.
"Um, anyway, it was Jay," Heeseung answered, lightly blushing. He walked over to the head of the table and raised the slip to show everyone. "My vote."
His eyes drifted past Taehyun to Sunghoon, scanning him for a reaction. There was none.
Jay glanced around, surprised. He didn't let it show, but Heeseung could tell he was ecstatic.
"Ah, I'm honored to have received your vote, Heeseung hyung." Jay stood up, pressed his hands together, and bowed.
The entire room erupted into laughter.
"Hyung, we're not in I-Land anymore," Jungwon giggled.
Sunghoon grabbed a red-faced Jay's arm and forced him to sit.
"You do this to yourself, you know," he snorted.
"Okay. First order of business," Heeseung announced after they had all settled down. He read off the packet. "Group name. Any suggestions?"
Beomgyu raised his hand.
"Any serious suggestions?" Heeseung corrected himself.
Taehyun lowered Beomgyu's hand.
"How about 'Double Knot?'" Kai suggested. "Since this is like our second chance, it'll show that we're not taking any risks leaving things up to fate. Just like when we double-knot our shoelaces before going on stage?"
"Sounds... complicated," Soobin advised, leaning back in his chair.
"But it was a smart idea," he quickly added, patting Kai's arm.
