The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ✔️

Chapter 11.

Mirae's P.O.V

I stood at the dorm's doorframe, brushing my hair back into a ponytail. "Cars are ready outside, guys! Time to go!" I called out, loud enough for the boys to hear.

Groans and grumbles floated from inside as they slowly stirred, stretching like lazy cats unwilling to leave their cozy nests. One by one, they started to gather by the door, dragging their feet but with playful smiles on their faces.

Felix slung an arm around Seungmin, grinning. "You ready to kill this, dude?"

Seungmin smirked. "I was born ready."

I chuckled to myself, watching the banter unfold between them. As we stepped outside, Hyunjin turned towards me with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You're really coming with us today, right? No sneaking out halfway through?"

Rolling my eyes, I smirked. "I promise. Someone's gotta keep you guys in check."

The air filled with their light laughter, and just like that, we piled into the cars. As I sat back, I glanced out the window, a small smile tugging at my lips. It felt good to be part of their world, even just as a shadow on the sidelines.

---

When we arrived at the company, I led the boys through the familiar hallways to the floor with the recording studio. My feet carried me effortlessly, as if they still remembered every step from my trainee days.

The moment we entered the recording room, the boys scattered, claiming their usual spots. Some of them flopped onto the big, soft sofas, while Chan, Changbin, and Han—3RACHA—immediately slid into the chairs by the console, ready to guide the others through their recordings.

I plopped down onto the sofa next to Jeongin and Hyunjin, both of them giving me warm, lazy smiles. Across from us, the rest of the boys sprawled on the other couch, chatting as they prepared mentally for their turns.

The session started, and I watched, completely captivated. One by one, the boys entered the recording booth, their voices pouring through the speakers. Each voice was unique, but they blended together so perfectly, like threads in an intricate tapestry.

Listening to them, a strange, bittersweet ache settled in my chest. I remembered my own days in this room—standing behind that same microphone, taking endless vocal lessons, hoping one day I'd be the one recording an album. It was a dream I'd let go of long ago, but sitting here, watching them live it, stirred something inside me.

I leaned back against the plush cushions, closing my eyes for a moment. Their angelic voices surrounded me like a lullaby, soft and soothing. Before I knew it, sleep crept in and pulled me under.

---

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dim and eerily quiet. For a second, I panicked, disoriented by the silence. I sat up, looking around, and realized I was alone—except for one person.

Chan was still there, seated at the console with his headphones on, completely lost in his work. The dim light from the monitor cast a soft glow over his features, making him look almost... peaceful.

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stood and walked over to him, taking the seat beside him—Han's chair from earlier.

As I settled in, Chan noticed me and gave a soft chuckle. "Oh, you're awake."

I stifled a yawn. "I didn't even realize I fell asleep. Sorry about that."

Chan smiled warmly. "It's fine. You looked peaceful. I didn't want to wake you."

I glanced around. "Where are the others?"

"They went to the cafeteria to eat," he answered, tilting his head towards the door.

I frowned. "Why didn't you go with them?"

He cleared his throat, avoiding my eyes. "Had some work to finish... so I skipped."

I crossed my arms, narrowing my gaze at him. "Skipping meals isn't healthy, you know."

He let out a soft chuckle but didn't argue, his attention drifting back to the monitor as his fingers tapped away at the console.

Curiosity got the better of me. "What are you working on?"

"Just adjusting some things from today's recording," he said, his eyes flicking between the screen and the soundboard.

As we talked, I found myself slipping into a comfortable rhythm, sharing thoughts about the recordings. I mentioned techniques I remembered from my trainee days—how small tweaks in harmonies could make a huge difference, or how certain reverb settings could elevate a song's mood.

Chan looked at me, genuinely impressed. "You know a lot about producing."

I gave a little shrug. "Well, I spent a lot of time here when I assisted other groups back then. I guess some of it stuck."

The conversation flowed naturally, like an unspoken connection between us, and I could feel his interest growing with every word I spoke. Every now and then, he glanced at me with a quiet kind of admiration, and I found myself smiling without meaning to.

Then I noticed how intensely focused he was, his brows furrowed as he adjusted tiny details on the soundboard. A playful idea popped into my head, and before I could stop myself, I reached out and started pressing random buttons.

"Mirae!" Chan gasped, his eyes widening in shock.

"Oops," I said, biting back a mischievous grin.

"Do you even know what you just did?" he asked, trying to sound stern but failing miserably.

"Not a clue," I teased, enjoying the way his expression shifted between exasperation and amusement.

He groaned, shaking his head. "You are SO lucky I can undo that."

I hovered my hand over another button, wiggling my fingers playfully. "What if I press this one?"

Chan lunged forward, laughing. "Don't you dare—!"

In the midst of our playful scuffle, the world seemed to fall away. Laughter bubbled up between us, easy and carefree, until suddenly... it stopped.

Our eyes met.

The space between us shrank to nothing. I could feel his breath against my skin, warm and steady. His brown eyes searched mine with an intensity that sent a flutter through my chest, and for a moment, everything felt suspended in time.

Chan's playful smile softened, and something deeper flickered in his gaze. My heart raced, thudding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

His hand hovered near mine, our fingers brushing ever so slightly. My breath hitched, and for a second, the room seemed to hum with unspoken possibilities, fragile and electrifying.

Then reality crashed back in. I cleared my throat awkwardly, pulling away. "I—I should go find the others," I mumbled, standing so quickly I almost knocked over the chair.

Chan blinked, as if waking from the same spell, and gave me a small, knowing smile. "Right... of course."

"I'll bring you some lunch," I added hastily, avoiding his gaze as I backed toward the door.

"Thanks," he murmured, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

As I slipped out of the room, I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to calm the wild thudding of my heart.

"Get it together," I whispered to myself. "It's nothing. Just focus on your job."

But as I walked down the hallway, Chan's gaze lingered in my mind—warm, gentle, and utterly unforgettable.

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A/N:

Hey everyone!! Wishing you all a very good day. xx