The City of Seoul || Bang Chan ✓

✧.* Chapter 31 *.✧

The day was spent wrapped up in blankets on the couch. Danbi laid on Chan's chest after he had held her through countless breakdowns, his arms still wrapped around the female's petite frame, stroking her back mindlessly to comfort her and take her mind off the grief.

And he was successful. The world around them faded into the background. Under the plush blanket, they watched nostalgic videos of SHINee. The pair chuckled from time to time, and Danbi pointed at moments that sparked joyful memories. Her younger self appeared in a few videos with her face hidden by stickers. Chan watched it with a fond expression.

Danbi had felt a surge within her after the conversation in the morning - a desire to let him in, to share those cherished memories of Jonghyun, and to let him experience the joy that came his the late Idol's vibrant smile.

"I would have loved to meet him properly," Chan whispered, eyes on the emotional woman in his arms. He gently stroked her head for comfort. 

"Properly?," Danbi whipped her tears and met his gaze. He smiled and nodded.

"While being a trainee I had the chance to be a background dancer for them a handful of times," Chan explained, watching her eyebrows rise in surprise. "Yes, but I never dared to walk up to them after rehearsal and talk to any of them. I hoped to ask them - him - for advice once I debuted myself.

Chan decided to stay another night. He prepared dinner, her favorite dish while Danbi stayed cuddled up on the couch and had a short call with her brother and his members. 

As the night wore on, Chan held her closely, their bodies intertwined as they drifted into sleep, reluctant to let go of each other even for a moment. The idol found himself in the same position he had fallen asleep in with her in his arms once the morning sun cast a soft glow into the room. 

He needed to leave soon but took a moment to watch Danbi as she peacefully slept, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths. He also noticed the slight pout. Gently to not wake her up, the Idol rested her head back on the pillow before he slipped out of bed. He would happily stay for another day, even another night with her, if he could.

Dressed in fresh clothes pulled from his backpack, Chan walked back to her bedside and sat beside her to softly wake her. Danbis eyes fluttered open, barely able to cling to her consciousness. 

"Mhm?" The small sound made him smile, and he tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears.

"I need to leave, Bi," Chan murmured. "I will call you later." He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

She nodded with her eyes closed. "Get there safe," she whispered.

✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ:*  *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧

The following days were a blur of editing and meetings as the end of the year loomed ever closer. Danbi found herself entrenched in work, the final content needing to be edited and scheduled for upcoming uploads.

"Danbi, can you help me?" Her brother's voice broke her concentration on the script she was reading, and she turned to find him walking out of his dressing room. The siblings were backstage for one of the Christmas Eve live shows. She was here with one of her colleagues to film some short interviews with the performing Idols after the broadcast ended.

Minho, dressed in a tailored black suit, fidgeted with his necktie, which he then held out towards her while a stylist worked meticulously to perfect his hair. He pouted with pleading eyes. Danbi handed him her script before stepping closer and neatly tying the knot. Their father had shown her how to do it after she had watched him many times and asked. With a proud smile blooming on her face, she stepped aside for the stylists to work on the last details of her brother's makeup.

"Thank you, Bi," he smiled, the dimples in his cheeks deepening as he received his moderation cards. With less than five minutes until showtime, he wanted to review his speeches one last time.

"I will see u later, Minho," she squeezed her brother's hand encouragingly before weaving her way through a maze of staff, managers, idols, and backup dancers to find her waiting colleague near the stage exit.

As she navigated the backstage area, she greeted the Idols with a smile and bow. A familiar voice calling her name made her gaze snap up to meet that of her favorite fourth-generation group. Fitting the Christmas theme of the broadcast, they were dressed in cozy outfits in soft grey tones.

"Merry Christmas," she grinned, approaching them.

"Merry Christmas, Bi!" The group responded cheerfully. Her eyes were drawn to the leader, who flashed a shy smile, his dimples deepening, though he cast his gaze down to the floor, looking at his shoes. It made her chuckle.

"We'll see each other later!" she winked and made a camera hand sign before rushing to her colleague.

The area behind the stage buzzed with staff and Idols escorted to their places to open the live broadcast with a song. Danbi found her place with her colleague near a wall where they were still able to see one of the huge screens showing the performance.

A few of the Idols that had met her over the past months waved and bowed after spotting her. With a huge smile, the young female returned the gesture. Moments like these made her grateful for the opportunity that was presented to her and that she took it. She slowly grew comfortable with being in the spotlight.