Chapter 17

As soon as she reached in front of his office, she knocked the door lightly and heard his voice asking her to enter the office.

"Hello, Director Seo." Said Lia in polite as she bowed.

"Right, have a seat." Said Director Seo as he pointed a chair in front of his table.

With that, Lia took a seat. She was feeling nervous and scared if Director Seo knows about her relationship with Dan.

"The reason why I called you to meet me personally in the office is because I read your report on a project that we're currently working on…" said Director Seo and Lia let out a breath of relief knowing that he wants to talk about work with her.

"I noticed that your report was very good and very detailed. Your analysis is good too. So I was thinking, I wanted to offer you to be a permanent employees here and work with us once you graduated… how about that?" asked Director Seo as he looked at her. "I even thought of to include you in this project too it's in Malaysia… and if you decided to join us, you might as well need to stay there for a year… " added Director Seo.

However, Lia doesn't know what to answer as she was too surprised by the sudden offer. Never once she had thought about to have a career as an urban planner, a profession that she will be one day based on what she had studied. Plus, if she decided to join, she couldn't meet Dan and her family for a year. Therefore, she remains silent.

Director Seo noticed that she doesn't have an answer yet and said,

"If you still doesn't know what to answer, I'll give you time… as far as I know, your internship will end next month right? Then, you can tell me the answer before your internship ends. Is that alright with you?" asked Director Seo and Lia nodded.

"Yes, that's alright. I'll make sure to think very carefully. Thank you Director Seo." Said Lia as she bowed and left his office. Lia let out a heavy sigh as she walked to her table. As soon as she sits, the other intern students went near her asking about their conversation.

"Yah, Lia-ah, what's wrong?" asked Park Doojin

"Nothing… he just offered me to work with them and join the project that they're currently doing now.." answered Lia.

"That's great! I don't even get the offer…" Lee Saeron pouted.

"But if I decided to join them, I might as well need to stay there… for a year…" said Lia.

"Wait, which project that they wanted you to join?" asked Park Doojin.

"The transportation project in Malaysia… they collaborated … so I need to stay there for a year.." answered Lia and sighed. Doojin and Saeron let out a sigh too.

"I have someone that I can't leave… and also my family…" said Lia and both Doojin and Saeron nodded too.

"True. If I'm in your shoes, I'm gonna think very carefully… it's gonna be a hard decision…" said Saeron and Lia nodded.

"Anyways, you can think about it for now… I hope for the best for you~" Cheered Doojin.

"Thanks guys~" said Lia with a smile.

Then, the three of them continue with their work. While Lia was typing on the computer, she took a glance at a photo of her and Dan on a soft board on the right side of the table. *we still have a lot of things that we need to talk about… and if I joined the project, we probably won't solve our problems and we might not meet each other anymore…*thought Lia.

Right after work ended, Lia decided to meet up In Ha and Liyli to have a talk at a restaurant nearby her workplace. As soon as she arrived, she noticed that both of them have arrived and currently cooking the meat on the stove that has been prepared by the restaurant.

"Oh, you're here!" said Liyli happily.

"Hi guys, it's been a while, huh?" said Lia as she took a seat.

"Come on, let's eat~" said In Ha as she places the cooked meat on a plate and the three of them begin to dig in. while they were eating, both In Han and Liyli noticed that Lia has been quiet ever since she arrived. She also was staring into a space and let out a heavy sigh. Both of them were giving a look and starts to ask Lia a few things.

"Has things have been going well with you and Dan?" asked In Ha.

"We still haven't talked to each other…" answered Lia in a lower voice. At the thought of Dan, making her sad. She wanted to meet him and tell about what had happened today. But she just can't. She's the one who told him to take a break.

"Don't worry, I'm okay~" said Lia as she let out her dry smiles.

"Then what's wrong? You keep on giving a heavy sigh…" said Liyli in worried.

"What if I told you I'm leaving this country for a work, and I have to stay there for a year? How will you feel?" asked Lia

"Are you really leaving?" asked In Ha as she put down her chopstick on the table.

"I might." Answered Lia. "I actually got an offered to be a permanent worker with them. And, they wanted me to join their project in Malaysia… I have to stay there for a year…." Added Lia.

"Oh my god, that's awesome. Just go!" said Liyli and In Ha nodded.

"It's a big opportunity… you should grab It." said In Ha.

"But guys…." Said Lia and tears are already pooling in her eyes.

"How would Dan feel if he knows… we both are not talking to each other for a while now…" said Lia. "I missed him so much… but I don't want to meet him and said I'm leaving… he's gonna be sad…" said Lia and she cried not caring if the people in the restaurant was looking at their table.

"Aww Lia…." Said Liyli as she went next to her and hug her tightly.

"I don't know what I should choose…" said Lia as she cried in her embrace.

"Okay, how about you think about this carefully… if you really are into this work, you should join it. and if you're not interested, you can just continue with your writing… as for your problem with Dan, you both should really talk to each other…it's been a month… I'm sure Dan still loves you…" said In Ha. "Trust me. Dan is a loyal person. I don't think he is serious about the engagement thing…" added In Ha trying to comfort Lia.

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Dan was in a fancy restaurant having a formal family meeting with Haera's family. He was sitting there feeling bored not interested with the conversation.

"So when are we going to choose their wedding date?" asked Mrs.Seo

"I'm guessing they could get married during the winter… is that okay?" asked Mrs.Park.

"Mom" both Haera and Dan called in unison. Then, gave a signal to Haera so that she can say it first.

"Let's just cancel the wedding." Said Haera suddenly. Both families are in shock.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" asked Mr.Park

"We both has been engaged but we never got to meet all the time. We barely know each other. Plus, I stayed in France before so I have a boyfriend. He's waiting for me." Said Haera

"B-but we can just cancel the wedding… Dan hasn't-" said Mr.Park but Dan has cut his lines.

"We can cancel the wedding and cut off our engagement. I agree with what Haera said. We don't hate each other. It's just both of us has someone that we love." said Dan

"I have a girlfriend." Said Dan as he looked at his father and both of his parents were shocked to hear it. Both sides of the family was silent for a moment thinking and trying to process about the sudden news.

"Mom, dad, we're just friends… we have never thought of being more than that…" said Haera as she looked at her parents'.

"Well…. If Dan agrees to cancel the wedding… then we should cancel it too…" said Mr.Park.

"I agree. We should cancel it." said Dan without asking his parents opinions.

"Then… I'm sorry, but we have to cancel it since both of our children are not agree with it." said Mr.Park

"But don't worry Mr.Seo… the business that we both decide to do together is still ongoing.. We're not going to cancel it just because of our children…" said Mr. Park and that put Mr.Seo at ease.

"Alright then. Thank you." Said Mr.Seo.

Then, both sides of the family are having the meals together and Dan felt so relieved. Right after they had their meals, Dan decided to excuse first followed by Haera. Both of them were walking side by side. "What about Lia? Have you talked to her yet?" asked Haera but Dan shook his head.

"We both haven't talked to each other for a month…" answered Dan while walking with his hands in the pocket.

"You should go first and talk to her… she misunderstand this whole thing…" said Haera and Dan nodded.

"Yeah I should but I'm not ready yet… I'm scared if she suddenly rejects me…" said Dan as he let out a heavy sigh.

"Look, as a girl, let me tell you something," said Haera and they both stops walking for a while. "If I'm in Lia's place, I won't reject you if I still loves you. I mean, she told you that she's not breaking up with you right?" asked Haera and Dan nodded. "She told you that you both needs to take a break, am I right?" asked Haera again and Dan nodded. "That means, she still loves you. Believe it or not, I bet she misses you like how you missed her." Said Haera.

"So go, talk to her. Tell her everything. I'm sure she will forgive you, and she won't reject you." Said Haera. After hearing what Haera had said, Dan stops and think for a while. It's true. He missed her a lot.

"I have to go now… I wish you a good luck. Hope you will have a happy ending with her." Smiled Haera and bid him a goodbye leaving Dan standing there alone. As soon as Haera left, Dan holds his phone and unlocked his phone and click on Lia's chat.

"Lia-ah, are you asleep? Should we talk?"