The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ?

Mirae's P.O.V

A soft glow filtered into the room as the sun rose, casting gentle light over the space. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the brightness. The first thing I noticed was warmth—Chan's hand wrapped around mine, his fingers interlaced with mine as he slept in the chair beside my bed. He looked peaceful, even in such an uncomfortable position, his breathing steady and calm.

Seeing him like this made my heart swell. He had stayed by my side all night, his presence a silent promise that he would always be there for me. I couldn't help but smile, and I gingerly shifted my hand, not wanting to wake him. But as I moved, his eyes slowly opened, his gaze meeting mine, still hazy with sleep.

"Morning," he mumbled, a small smile appearing as he blinked himself awake.

"Morning, Chan," I replied softly, squeezing his hand. "Did you stay here the whole night?"

He shrugged, trying to play it off. "I couldn't leave you alone, could I?"

I felt my cheeks heat up, but before I could respond, the door swung open, and Felix popped his head in, his face lighting up when he saw us.

"Rise and shine!" he grinned. "Breakfast is almost ready! Mirae, today you're not lifting a single finger. We're handling everything!"

Chan chuckled, releasing my hand as he stood up. "Looks like Felix is serious about that," he said, flashing me a soft smile before heading toward the door. "Come on, you should see what these guys have in store for you."

---

The dorm was buzzing with activity when I walked into the kitchen. Changbin was mixing batter with a look of absolute concentration, while Seungmin monitored the stove, cooking eggs and bacon with precision. Hyunjin and Han were busy setting up a beautiful spread on the table, arranging the dishes with extra flair.

"Good morning, Noona!" Seungmin greeted, flashing a proud smile. "Today, you just sit and enjoy. We're taking care of you."

"Yeah, this is our way of saying thanks," Changbin added, wiping flour off his cheek as he poured the batter onto a hot pan. "And don't worry, we're following the recipe."

I couldn't hold back a laugh as I took a seat at the table. "Are you guys sure about this?"

"Absolutely!" Hyunjin chimed in, winking as he set a plate in front of me. "We're pros at this... well, some of us," he joked, glancing at Han, who was fiddling with a plate.

"Hey, I'm great at this! Just watch," Han shot back, holding up a perfect omelet and setting it on the table with a flourish.

Jeongin came bounding over, proudly holding a glass of orange juice. "For the hero of the day," he said, handing it to me with a grin. "You deserve it."

"Aww, thank you, Jeongin," I said, feeling incredibly touched by all their efforts.

As breakfast continued, the members kept up their playful antics. Hyunjin and Lee Know started a mini-dance battle in the kitchen, twirling and jumping around as they tried to outdo each other, making everyone laugh. Even Seungmin, normally so composed, cracked up as he watched them. Felix leaned close and whispered, "We might not be as good as you at all of this, but we're giving it our best shot."

I felt so loved, seeing each of them go out of their way to make sure I knew how much they appreciated me. They didn't have to do any of this, but they did it because they wanted to, and it meant everything to me.

---

After we finished breakfast, the members insisted on doing the cleanup. I watched in amazement as they organized themselves—Changbin washed the dishes, Felix dried them, and Seungmin and Han tackled the counters.

"See, we're a well-oiled machine!" Changbin announced proudly as he placed a clean plate in the cupboard.

"Yes, but look at this mess!" Seungmin joked, holding up a sponge as he cleaned up a small spill from Han's attempt at flipping pancakes.

Lee Know rolled his eyes, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Good thing you have me to keep you all in line."

The laughter filled the dorm, and I couldn't remember the last time I felt so at ease, surrounded by this kind of warmth. Each of them in their unique way showed just how much they cared, their gestures of gratitude laced with humor, love, and camaraderie.

---

After lunch, as we were all lounging around, the doorbell rang. Jeongin jumped up, saying, "I got it!" He hurried over, and after a moment, I heard a familiar voice that made my heart skip.

"Mirae!" Hyungwon's worried voice echoed through the hallway before he appeared in the living room, looking panicked and out of breath.

Before I could say a word, he rushed over and wrapped me in a tight hug, his arms around me as if he'd never let go. "Are you okay? When I heard what happened, I... I had to come right away." He pulled back slightly, his hands on my shoulders, his eyes scanning my face. "And the members? Are they okay?"

I could see the genuine concern in his eyes, his relief palpable as I reassured him. "We're all okay, Hyungwon. Really. I just... I couldn't let anything happen to them."

He let out a breath, shaking his head. "Of course you couldn't." Then he pulled me into another hug, this time pressing his cheek against my hair as he whispered, "But you can't scare me like that again, alright?"

I chuckled softly, patting his back. "I promise."

When he finally pulled back, he glanced around at the boys, who were watching us with curious expressions.

Felix waved, grinning. "Hey, Hyungwon! Thanks for checking on her!"

Hyungwon flashed him a warm smile. "Of course. She's my best friend. Can't let anything happen to her."

I felt my cheeks flush at his words, but I was quickly distracted by Lee Know, who was smirking. "So, Mirae, you didn't tell us your friend was a knight in shining armor."

Hyungwon rolled his eyes, though he couldn't hide his smile. "I don't know about a knight, but I do care about her a lot," he said, glancing over at me with a soft expression.

---

The rest of the day was filled with laughter and lighthearted moments. The members included Hyungwon in everything—our conversations, games, and snacks. They even roped him into a dance-off in the living room, much to his amusement.

As the evening drew closer, we gathered around the coffee table for a round of card games. Felix and Han quickly turned it into a competition, the two of them exchanging playful jabs and strategizing together.

But as I laughed along with everyone, I couldn't help but steal glances at Chan. He had been subtly watching over me all day, his presence always nearby. Sometimes, his hand would brush against mine when we reached for the same card, and each small touch sent butterflies fluttering through me.

At one point, I caught his gaze, and he offered me a gentle, reassuring smile, one that seemed to tell me he was always there for me. The warmth in his eyes stirred something deep within me, a feeling that was becoming harder and harder to ignore.

As we played on, the dorm felt like home in a way I couldn't quite explain—a place filled with warmth, laughter, and love. Surrounded by my friends, I felt safe, cherished, and most of all, I felt like I belonged.

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