The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ?

Mirae's P.O.V

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I fidgeted with my hands, excitement bubbling in my chest. My heart raced with every tick of the clock, and I glanced at the mirror one last time. The yellow dress Halmeoni had left for me hugged me perfectly, simple yet elegant. The sunlight streaming through the window made the color glow even more.

When I heard the knock on my door, I bolted to my feet. "Coming!" I called out, practically skipping toward the door. Before opening it, I gave myself one final look in the mirror, smoothing the fabric of the dress and fixing my hair.

As I opened the door, my breath hitched. Chan stood there, casually dressed in his baggy shorts and oversized flannel, yet somehow looking effortlessly handsome. His messy hair fell perfectly across his forehead, and his sneakers added to his relaxed charm.

"You always look handsome in anything you wear," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

But Chan wasn’t listening. His eyes were fixed on me, wide and filled with awe. It took me a moment to realize he hadn’t said a word because he was too busy staring.

"What?" I asked, suddenly self-conscious. I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. "I know this dress is old. It’s not even mine, but—"

Before I could finish, he stepped closer, gently taking my hands in his. "A literal sunshine," he said, his voice soft and filled with admiration.

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I looked down, unable to hold his intense gaze. "Stop it," I mumbled, but I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face.

He tilted his head, his smile growing wider. "I’m serious, Mirae. You look… breathtaking. It doesn’t matter if the dress is old. It’s perfect because you’re wearing it."

"Chan," I whispered, biting my lip to stop myself from grinning like an idiot. "You’re really good at this, huh? Making me blush like crazy."

He chuckled, the sound warm and comforting. "Well, you make it easy."

I shook my head, laughing softly, and squeezed his hands. "You’re too much sometimes."

"And you love it," he teased, winking playfully.

I couldn’t argue with that. "Let’s go before you make me any more embarrassed."

He took my hand in his and led me downstairs, where the sound of plates clinking and chairs scraping against the floor signaled the boys hard at work. As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I spotted Halmeoni sitting at one of the tables, giving directions to Changbin, Hyunjin, and Jeongin, who were bustling around the restaurant.

Halmeoni’s eyes lit up when she saw us. She gasped, her hands flying to her chest. "Mirae, my dear! Look at you! You look so beautiful!"

I blushed deeply, ducking my head. "Thank you, Halmeoni."

Her compliment drew the attention of the boys. Changbin looked over first, freezing mid-step. "Whoa," he said, his eyes widening. "Noona, you look amazing!"

"Chan-hyung, how did you get so lucky?" Hyunjin teased, earning a laugh from Jeongin, who clapped Chan on the back.

"Seriously, noona, you two look perfect together," Jeongin added with a grin.

Their words made my heart swell, and I couldn’t help but smile shyly. "Thank you, guys. That means a lot."

Halmeoni stood and walked over to us, holding a basket in her hands. She handed it to Chan with a knowing smile.

"What’s this?" Chan asked, peeking inside.

"A basket full of food and a blanket," Halmeoni replied. "Just a few things you’ll need for your date."