Internal Affairs | Lee Haechan

We can never be friends

"Is that what you want?" Haechan asked, fighting his brain that was urging him to pull away. He felt her shake her head against his neck, followed by a series of sniffles as the two stood there, embracing each other's warmths

"Then what do you want?" Haechan asked again, just above a whisper, his whole body hoping that she would say 'you' and this would all be over and done with, but it's never been that easy for him whenever it came to Jia.

"It doesn't matter what I want anymore...I can't do this anymore Haechan" She said, pulling away from the hug, looking up to the ceiling and trying to push her tears back

"Jia please don't cry" he pleaded, knowing that it would only make it harder for him. The last thing he wanted to do was make her more upset.

"I'm sorry...it's for the best" she sniffed, shaking her head a little as she looked back into his eyes, the eyes that held so much care for her like he said they did, yet she wished it was more than that. But Haechan had always been to slow with his realisations.

"It's okay" Haechan sighed, reaching out to her arms to pull her back into a hug, a more secure one this time knowing it'll be the last one.

"It is?" She choked out, trying her best to not make a mess on his shoulder as she dug her head into him, not taking any sort of comfort he was giving for granted.

"Yeah it is. We have to stop whenever one of us calls it quits remember? Its one of the rules" He said with a sigh, rubbing her back comfortingly to let her know it was okay. He just wanted her to be happy, regardless of how he felt.

"Since when did your dumbass play by the rules" She asked, scoffing a little and he chuckled lightly. She couldn't bring herself to admit it but she knew she secretly wished this was another time Haechan dismissed her wishes

"So this is it huh?" Haechan asked, his sigh falling deep into her ear making her shudder almost at the tickles it gave her

"Yeah...I guess we go back to being enemies?" She chuckled dryly, remembering the conversation they had from what seemed like just yesterday.

"Yeah" he said, pulling away from the hug, this time more surely, taking a step back from her

"We can't be friends?" She asked with a sad smile and he returned one back, lightly shaking his head and she nodded, allowing him the emotional space he needed. The distant footsteps could be heard along the metal staircase, Mark poking his head in to see the two standing there looking back at him expectantly

"Jia, Jeno's waiting for you upstairs" Mark said and she nodded, realising it was almost time to go. Mark made his way back up the stairs, giving the two some more time together in private

"You and Jeno...how's that going?" He asked, trying not to sound bitter and she sighed, pulling her sleeves down further to cover her hands, crossing her arms over her chest

"It's okay" she responded

"Are you okay?" He asked, narrowing his eyes a little as he emphasised her feelings. She shrugged her shoulders lightly, not too sure if she was even allowed to follow her feelings in this situation

"I'll be okay" She said, nodding her head, looking back into his eyes and he nodded, a small smile on his lips

"Then that's all that matters" Haechan said

"What about you?" She asked watching him take another step back, creating a bigger distance between them

"What about me?" Haechan smiled, a reassuring one to tell her he was okay, yet it wasn't too convincing. But before she could say anymore, he turned on his heel and made his way up the metal stairs leaving her alone in the cold warehouse. It wasn't long before she made her way up again, seeing Mark waiting for her with a sympathetic smile as he held one of the boxes containing personal items from her office.

"He said he has a meeting in HQ later today" Mark said, referring to Jeno's meeting where he would most likely be promoted to the CFO position

"I should probably go see him" She said, grabbing the box from Mark and he nodded

"We'll keep in touch right?" Mark asked and she smiled

"Of course...I can't imagine not having you around Lee" She said with a chuckle, and he returned a small smile, bidding her goodbye as she walked towards the elevator, bringing her up to the lobby of the building.

"Hey" Jeno greeted with a smile, offering to take her box off her hands and she thanked him

"Hey" she said, looking at him suited up in his usual all black attire, yet this time his hair was gelled more than usual and his face was a bit more tense

"Relax, you're going to get the job" She reassured, patting his back, knowing how hard he'd worked all this time just to climb up the corporate ladder.

"I know...I guess I just always imagined working with you and not some stuck up nepo baby" Jeno sighed, as they walked towards his car

"Come on, he's not that bad" She chuckled

"Yeah, you would know" Jeno said, a little passive aggressively which she wasn't a big fan of right now

"What's that meant to mean...I'm trying to move past it here, why are you being like this?" She sighed and he shook his head

"Let's not do this now" Jeno mumbled

"Well then don't start something you can't finish" she said, rolling her eyes a little making him clench his jaw at her pettiness.

The drive to her house was tense, neither of them speaking to each other further before Jeno was dropping her off and on his way back to HQ, leaving her alone to tell her parents that she had finally decided to quit.