The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ✔️

Chapter 3.

Mirae's P.O.V

I stood in the small kitchen of the Stray Kids dorm, the scent of overcooked rice wafting through the air. I glanced at the clock, the minutes dragging painfully as I mentally rehearsed my tasks. Today marked my seventh day as the housekeeper and assistant. But now, an overwhelming knot twisted in my stomach.

Bang Chan, the leader, had been polite but distant but I always feel his eyes on me wherever I go or do something. He didn't make me feel unwelcome outright, but his body language spoke volumes, he was focused, busy with the other members, and seemed to wish I wasn't there. The other members, too, barely acknowledged my presence. They would snicker among themselves and roll their eyes when I offered to help, turning away from my food as if it was poison.

"Just give it time," I told myself, forcing a smile as I set the table for dinner. But each meal felt like a reminder of my isolation. No one wanted to engage with me, and my heart sank with every passing day. It had been a week, and I was beginning to doubt my decision to take this role.

Despite the chilly reception, I pushed myself to try harder. I brought in homemade meals, tidied up the common areas, and tried to make small talk whenever I could. But my efforts were met with silence or disinterest. Each day, I felt a little less confident, wondering if I was simply an annoyance to them, a reminder of their busy schedules.

Then, there was Jeongin. The youngest member seemed to watch me with a hint of curiosity, a small flicker of warmth in his eyes whenever he caught me cleaning or organizing. Whenever I look around when they are around I see him looking at me. He would smile gently, but the others quickly overshadowed that kindness with their indifference. At first I thought that he's being awkward and this made me uncomfortable but then I understood the kindness in his eyes.

Today, I decided to do laundry, hoping that keeping busy might ease my thoughts. As I moved from room to room, I felt like a ghost, silently collecting clothes that represented the lives of the members who barely acknowledged me. My hands trembled as I approached the last room. Bang Chan's.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked lightly before entering, a basket of clothes in my arms. "Bang Chan, I'm just here to-"

"Get out!" His voice boomed, startling me as he stood at the foot of his bed, eyes wide with frustration. "Can't you knock?"

I blinked, stunned. I already knocked I swear.The door slammed shut, leaving me standing in the hallway, the weight of rejection crashing down on me. Tears threatened to spill as I backed away, feeling a familiar ache in my chest.

I thought of my debut days, the excitement and camaraderie I had witnessed from afar. Stray Kids had seemed like a family, a close-knit group that supported one another through thick and thin. I've always wanted to be friends with them back then but I was always alone and scared to talk to them or any other trainees; I was all alone minding my own business until I crossed paths with three girls and we became friends but all of that crashed down by bad people.

Why am I thinking about this now?

But anyways, now I'm still standing outside Chan's door, I felt like an outsider looking in, a mere spectator in a world that was supposed to be welcoming.

I took a moment to collect myself, wiping away the tears that threatened to fall. I reminded myself that I had chosen this path, that I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. But the reality was harsh. The laughter and camaraderie I had imagined were replaced by silence and indifference.

As I turned to head back to the kitchen, I heard a soft voice behind me. "Mirae?" It was Jeongin, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Are you okay?"