Internal Affairs | Lee Haechan

The board meeting

"I don't get you Jia...you're just going to do a full 180 on your life? You're still young-"

"Hwa-"

"No, you listen to me! This is a horrible idea. You could end up completely hating your whole life if you keep going on like this" Hwayoung sighed, setting the glass of wine down on the kitchen table as she joined Jia at her table.

After the argument with her mom about how she was wasting her life, in her mid 20s, not having a stable income or relationship and going backwards in life, she was completely sick and tired of everything.

"Do you even love Jeno?" She asked and Jia found it hard to answer this question, staring back at her best friend who always wanted the best for her

"I see a future with him, he's mature and wants the same things as me—"

"I asked if you love him" Hwayoung corrected with a sigh and Jia sipped on the red wine that stung her tongue a little bit

"Does love matter in the end? Do you expect me to just give up my job and wait around for Haechan to confess his feelings for me?" Jia asked

"So now we're blaming Haechan for that? You left yourself—"

"No of course not. I had no other choice but to quit" Jia argued

"That's not the Jia I know. Why are you being so negative recently?"

"Because I'm just tired! I'm just fucking tired" Jia said, finally breaking down into tears, allowing herself to wallow in her feelings just this one.

"My parents depend on me...They keep telling me I need to help pay off the house and I need to set a good example for Dejun. Don't you get it? This is what I'm used to. I'm used to just getting up everyday and working my ass off, I'm used to dating successful guys that just need a partner for tax purposes, I'm used to-"

"Boring shit." Hwayoung chuckled and Jia smiled, sniffing a little

"I saw the way you looked at Haechan...you haven't looked at anyone like that in years" Hwa said, rubbing her back lightly

"I think I'm in love with him" Jia sniffed

"You think?!" Hwayoung shouted with a laugh and Jia dug her face into her hands

"But you're still going to choose Jeno?" Hwa asked, not agreeing with her best friend's intentions

"When I'm with Haechan he makes me feel alive...we were sneaking around and acting like kids...I'm scared that if its all normal he's just...going to get bored and not want it anymore. That's why Jeno makes more sense, he just wants the same things I want. It's like choosing between what I want and what I need" Jia sighed, finishing her glass of wine before turning to Hwayoung

"You won't know what Haechan wants until you ask him, don't you think it's worth that much?" She asked

"I can't bring myself to. I just need to be rational" Jia decided with a sigh

"Ignoring your feelings isn't rational Jia...but you're my best friend so I'll support your stupid decisions regardless" Hwayoung said, taking the empty glasses and placing it into the sink. The night was eventually cut short, the two heading to bed early since Jia had the board meeting tomorrow morning anyway.

Jeno picked her up the next day, and the two conversed normally as if yesterday's conversation never even happened, she didn't prefer it but she had more important things on her mind, Haechan for example.

"I'm just going to stop by my office first" Jeno said as he entered into the elevator with her and she nodded, getting a little nervous as she stepped back into the building that held such hostile memories for her. Jeno got off a floor earlier than hers as she headed straight up to the conference room.

"Oh, Jiayi!" A man's voice exclaimed and she turned to look at the old man who was extremely fond of her in a grey suit heading towards her. She shook his hand immediately and bowed to him out of respect

"Good morning sir, how's are the kids doing?" She asked, remembering their last conversation being left off about his daughter studying for the CSAT

"Oh great! Little Yuna got into SNU and Yosang is enlisting later this year, I told him it's better off to do it early than delay it" The man said and she nodded

"We missed you at the charity gala this year" She said and he nodded

"The business in Hong Kong has just been taking off recently—"

The rest of his words mumbled out a bit in her head as she saw Haechan step out of the elevator, accompanied by his father and grandfather. His eyes met hers in an instant, his lips shooting a reassuring smile her way, but eventually wiping it off as he remembered the strict orders he had been given to not interact with her

"Can all the board members follow me into the conference room please?" The chairman of the meeting asked, getting all parties to enter the room, each taking their assigned seats.

"Jia"

"Sir"

The small nods of acknowledgment were exchanged between the Haechan's dad, the CEO who was giving up his position in this meeting, and Jia. Even though their previous conversation was a sour one, the two had to remain as professional as possible.

"This meeting is strictly regarding the issue of the election of a new CEO, the candidates being put forward are Lee Haechan, son of Lee Hyunsook, and Xiao Jiayi, regional manager of the Seoul branch. We will hold a confidential vote where the majority vote will be the outcome. If anyone would like to add anything to the agenda before we continue towards the vote please do so now" the chairman spoke and the room filled with silence, not an uneasy one, but Jia took it upon herself to break it.

"Actually before we proceed, I'd like to say something"