The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ?

Mirae's P.O.V

The hallway felt colder than it should have, or maybe that was just the chill running down my spine from the moment I'd left the recording room. My heart hadn't stopped racing, no matter how much I told myself to focus. I kept replaying Chan's gaze—soft, searching, and entirely too close. What was that?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Nothing. It was nothing. Just a fleeting moment. Yet, the flutter in my chest refused to settle, betraying me. I needed a distraction.

I found the boys in the cafeteria, loud as ever, their chatter filling the room with life. Jeongin was laughing at something Hyunjin said, while Felix was animatedly explaining something to Seungmin with wild hand gestures. Seeing them like this made me smile. This was where I belonged—amidst the noise, the joy, and their endless energy.

"Ah, Mirae! You made it!" Han called out, waving me over with a grin. "I thought Chan locked you up in the studio or something."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Nope, I just woke up from the deepest nap of my life."

"Chan didn't come with you?" Seungmin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He's still working," I replied, trying not to think too hard about the way Chan had looked at me. "I came to grab him some lunch."

"Of course he's still working," Changbin muttered, rolling his eyes. "That guy never knows when to take a break."

"Tell him if he doesn't come eat, we'll carry him here ourselves," Felix said with a grin, handing me a tray of food piled high with Chan's favorites.

I smiled. "Got it. I'll try and save you the trouble."

As I turned to leave, Hyunjin called after me, "Make sure he eats everything! No excuses!"

I waved back at them, my heart feeling lighter just from being around them. This was familiar ground—lighthearted teasing, caring in the form of playful scolding. This was my safe space.

But as I made my way back to the recording room, my thoughts drifted to Chan again. The moment we'd shared was small, insignificant even... but it felt different. And that scared me.

---

When I stepped back into the studio, Chan was exactly where I'd left him—headphones on, fingers tapping at the keyboard. His focus was unwavering, as if the outside world didn't exist. For a moment, I stood there watching him, wondering how someone could work so tirelessly without ever burning out.

Clearing my throat, I approached the console and set the tray of food down beside him. "Lunch delivery," I announced lightly.

Chan glanced up, pulling his headphones off. A smile curled at the corners of his lips. "You really brought me lunch?"

"Someone's gotta make sure you don't starve," I said, crossing my arms playfully. "And the boys threatened to drag you to the cafeteria if you didn't eat."

He chuckled softly, glancing at the food. "Well, I guess I should thank you for saving me from that."

I sat down in the chair beside him, watching as he picked up a pair of chopsticks and began eating. "You really do work too hard, you know."

He gave a small shrug. "It's not really work when you love what you do."

"Yeah, but loving it won't stop your body from burning out."

Chan paused, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "You sound just like them."

"Them?"

"The boys," he said with a fond smile. "They always tell me the same thing. I guess they know me too well."

There was something in the way he said it—an undercurrent of gratitude, of knowing that he wasn't alone in carrying the weight of his responsibilities.

For a moment, silence settled between us, comfortable and easy.

Then, as if sensing my thoughts, Chan leaned back in his chair, turning toward me. "Thanks for staying today with me, Mirae."

I blinked, surprised by the sudden sincerity in his voice. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

He hesitated for a second, as if searching for the right words. "I feel like this... isn't exactly where you imagined yourself. I just... I'm glad you're here. It feels right."

His words hit me unexpectedly, making my heart skip a beat. I swallowed hard, not trusting myself to speak right away.

"It's... different from what I imagined, yeah," I admitted quietly. "But maybe this is where I'm meant to be. With all of you."

Chan smiled—a soft, genuine smile that made warmth bloom in my chest.

And just like that, the tension from earlier faded into something quieter, gentler. A connection that didn't need words to be understood.

---

After he finished eating, we dove back into talking about music. Chan pulled up new demos, eager to hear my thoughts on them. It was easy to lose track of time with him, caught up in melodies and beats, discussing ways to perfect each track.

Hours seemed to slip by unnoticed, and soon enough, the studio felt like its own little world—just me and Chan, surrounded by music and unspoken feelings.

I knew we should leave, knew that staying too long in moments like this could blur the lines between work and something more. But somehow, I didn't want to go. Not yet.

At one point, Chan leaned closer to show me something on the monitor, his shoulder brushing against mine. A shiver ran down my spine at the contact, but I pretended not to notice.

We were so close again, and I could feel the weight of unsaid words hanging in the air between us.

I told myself not to overthink it, not to get caught up in possibilities that didn't exist. But when I glanced at him, and our eyes met for the briefest second, the air shifted.

This was dangerous territory.

I forced myself to smile, breaking the moment before it could turn into something more. "Okay, I think I've stolen enough of your time," I said lightly, standing up. "The boys are probably wondering where I disappeared to."

Chan looked like he wanted to say something, but instead, he just nodded. "Thanks for keeping me company."

"Anytime," I said, giving him a small wave as I headed for the door. "Just finish now. Me and the boys will be waiting for you in the parking lot"

But as I stepped out into the hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling that something between us had shifted—subtly, quietly, but undeniably real.

And despite everything, a part of me didn't want it to shift back.

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Happy Saturdays!!! <3