The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ✔️

Chapter 5.

Mirae's P.O.V

The morning after my tearful encounter with Chan, I woke up feeling numb. The weight of last night sat heavily on my chest, pressing against my heart. I didn't want to think about it, but my emotions were a tangled mess, refusing to settle. I didn't have time to unravel them, though. I had a job to do, there was no escaping the routine.

Dragging myself out of bed, I shuffled to the bathroom. The cold water I splashed on my face helped clear the haze in my mind, but it didn't erase the heaviness that lingered beneath my skin. I stared at my reflection for a few moments, searching for some clarity, but found none.

When I finally made it to my closet, I stood there, debating what to wear. It felt trivial, deciding on clothes when my mind was still caught up in last night's storm, but the distraction was necessary. I reached for my black high-waisted trousers, wide-legged and full of pockets. I liked how practical they were, how they made me feel grounded. A white crop top seemed simple enough, and I threw a soft baby blue cardigan over it. I let my short hair fall loose over my shoulders, trying to keep things easy, and applied a bit of nude lip balm. That was it. That was all I could manage today.

As I made my way to the kitchen, I expected the same routine, preparing breakfast, knowing no one would touch it except maybe Jeongin. That was how it usually went, and I had resigned myself to it. But something felt off today, different in a way I couldn't quite place.

When I reached the door, I was greeted by an unfamiliar smell. Something delicious and...inviting? I paused, confused, before slowly stepping outside.

What I saw next made me freeze in my tracks.

The boys. All of them, were gathered around the kitchen table, laughing and talking, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And to my absolute shock, Chan was at the stove, cooking. Chan, of all people. The whole scene was so surreal, I almost wondered if I was dreaming.

I stood there, trying to gather myself, my mind struggling to keep up with what I was seeing. After a deep breath, I managed to find my voice, though it came out softer than I intended. "Good morning."

Immediately, all eyes turned to me. For a split second, I braced myself for awkwardness. After the couple of days before I thought that there'll be tension. But to my surprise, they all smiled and greeted me warmly, "Good morning!" There was no hesitation, no weirdness. Just...warmth.

But there was something else in their eyes, something I wasn't used to. Admiration?

I felt self-conscious, confused about why they were looking at me like that. I glanced down at my outfit, wondering if something was wrong. Before I could figure it out, Hyunjin and Changbin broke the silence in unison, their voices overlapping with unexpected compliments: "You look beautiful."

My face flushed instantly. The sudden rush of heat was almost unbearable, and I could feel my cheeks burning. The others nodded in agreement, and I didn't know where to look. It was overwhelming, this attention. I quickly averted my gaze, staring at the floor as if it could save me from the moment.

Chan, though, didn't turn around. He stayed at the stove, his back to me, completely silent. There was a tension in the air between us that hadn't dissipated. He hadn't even glanced my way since I walked in, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of last night hanging in the space between us.

Lee Know gestured to the empty seat next to him, and I hesitated before walking over. He smiled warmly at me as I sat down. "It's nice to finally meet you properly," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm Lee Know."

I smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease. "Mirae," I said, though it felt strange introducing myself when they already knew who I was.

As soon as I sat down, the conversation around the table picked up again. It was light, easy, like I had always been a part of their world. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel like I was on the outside looking in. I was part of something. This group, the one I had admired from a distance for so long, was finally pulling me into their circle.

Chan finished cooking and placed a plate in front of me before taking the seat beside me. The tension between us hadn't vanished, but it felt...different. Lighter, somehow. I still felt awkward, but it wasn't unbearable. I could sense that something had shifted, though we hadn't said a word to each other.

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Chan's P.O.V

When I heard Mirae's soft voice say "Good morning," something inside me stirred, an undeniable burn in my chest. The sound of her voice instantly brought back memories of last night-the conversation between us, the tension, and how she had stormed out, tears in her eyes. I hadn't been able to shake the image of her running off, her emotions raw and exposed. And yet, for some reason, as I heard the boys laughing and talking to her this morning, I felt something I didn't expect. Warmth. It was satisfying, in a way, to know that she was part of the group, welcomed by the others.

Still, I kept my focus on the breakfast I was making, trying to ground myself in the task. When I finally finished, I placed the last plate in front of her. My heart raced, but I masked it, telling everyone to start eating. "We've got a long day of practice ahead," I reminded them, my voice steady despite the flutter in my chest.

But then I glanced at her-really *looked* at her-and my breath hitched.

Mirae looked...different. Not that she wasn't always pretty, but today, something about her took me by surprise. Her shoulder-length hair, loose and softly wavy, framed her face perfectly. Her cheeks were tinted a soft pink, probably from the compliments from the boys earlier, and her long, natural lashes fluttered above those deep, smiling eyes. Her lips, a delicate shade of nude pink, looked effortlessly beautiful, and the baby blue cardigan she wore highlighted the soft, pale glow of her skin. It was as if I was seeing her for the first time.

I didn't know how long I stared, but it must have been a while because suddenly, Mirae was smiling at me, her eyes sparkling in a way I had never noticed before.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice sweet and sincere, "for giving me a chance."

That smile-it wasn't just on her lips; her eyes were smiling too, warm and bright. For a moment, it was like time stood still, and I couldn't pull myself away from her gaze. She looked...adorable.

What's wrong with me?

Breaking my stare and glancing away.

What is this I'm thinking about?

I didn't dare answer my own question. Instead, I forced myself to look back at her, giving her a soft smile in return.

"No need to thank me," he said, keeping my voice casual even though my heart was still racing.

After breakfast, the group was energized, and the kitchen buzzed with light conversations. Mirae and Changbin volunteered to wash the dishes, and I watched from the table as Changbin, ever the jokester, made a show of flexing his muscles while scrubbing plates. Mirae laughed along, not in the least bit impressed by his antics but clearly enjoying the easy friendship between them.

Glancing at the clock, Mirae clapped her hands, commanding everyone's attention. "It's time, guys! You all have practice, and we need to be on time. The cars are waiting outside." Her voice held authority but was still gentle.

The group stood, gathering their bags and belongings. Mirae informed them that there were two cars waiting. "One car will have Felix, Han, Lee Know, and Jeongin," she began, "and the other will have Chan, Hyunjin, Changbin, and Seungmin."

I, adjusting my cap, looked at her curiously. "And you? Where are you riding?"

She grinned. "In one of the front seats. I'll let you guess which one."

Everyone chuckled, and with that, we all headed outside. The sun was bright, and the cars were waiting, engines humming softly. The boys piled into their designated vehicles, Mirae slipping into the front passenger seat of the car me, Hyunjin, Changbin and Seungmin was in.

As we drove toward JYP, the easy chatter continued. And as I stole one last glance at her, I couldn't help but wonder what exactly had changed between us, and if maybe, just maybe, this shift was something I wanted to explore.

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