The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ✔️

Chapter 13.

Chan's P.O.V

The dorm felt as alive as ever—laughter bouncing off the walls, the clatter of dishes from the kitchen, and the boys' teasing filling the air. I could hear Han and Seungmin cracking jokes from the living room and Felix hyping up Mirae's cooking. But tonight, instead of joining them, I stayed in my room, needing a little time to breathe.

It wasn't that I didn't love being around them—Mirae included. Maybe especially Mirae. That was the problem. Ever since today's moment in the studio, something had been gnawing at me, and I couldn't figure out what it was. I kept thinking about the way she'd looked at me and how my heart felt like it was on the verge of escaping my chest.

So I stayed here, hoping a hot shower would clear my head. It didn't.

I stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around my waist, another in my hand as I tried to dry my hair. I sighed, rolling my shoulders and thinking about the mountain of work waiting for me. But that wasn't what kept me restless—it was Mirae.

Just then, the door creaked open behind me.

"Chan! Guess who's—"

Her voice broke the silence, catching me completely off guard. I turned slightly, the towel still clutched in my hand, as she stumbled into the room.

"Mirae?" I said, blinking in disbelief.

She gasped, her eyes going wide as her feet tangled beneath her, and before I could process what was happening, she tripped forward.

I reacted on instinct.

In a heartbeat, I reached out and caught her by the waist, pulling her upright before she could hit the ground. The sudden closeness threw me off balance—not physically, but mentally. She was right there. So close.

Our noses brushed, the tiniest contact, but it felt like a spark shot through me.

Her eyes locked with mine, wide and full of surprise, and suddenly, the air between us felt heavy—like we'd crossed some invisible line neither of us knew existed until now.

I swallowed hard, struggling to find my breath.

Her waist was soft under my hands, and I could feel the slight tremble in her frame, the same nervous energy that was now flooding my veins. Time seemed to slow, and every detail became sharp—the curve of her lips, the faint scent of her shampoo, the way her chest rose and fell as if her heart was racing just as fast as mine.

"Mirae..." I whispered, not even sure what I wanted to say. Her name just slipped out, like a lifeline I was reaching for.

And then I realized— I didn't want to let go.

For a moment, I thought she might lean closer, and maybe I would've closed the distance between us. But then, just as quickly as the moment had started, it shattered.

She pulled away with a sharp inhale, her cheeks flushed. "I—I didn't mean to—sorry, I—"

I dropped my hands, suddenly unsure of what to do with them. My heart was still racing, but I couldn't say anything—I could only stare, caught between confusion and something that felt dangerously close to longing.

Before I could stop her, she spun on her heel and rushed out of the room, leaving the door swinging shut behind her.

---

I stood there, frozen in place, the towel still in my hand and my heart thundering in my chest.

What the hell just happened?

I sat down heavily on the edge of my bed, rubbing the back of my neck as if that would do anything to calm me down. My skin still buzzed from where I'd held her, and the memory of her wide-eyed expression, her warmth, wouldn't leave my mind.

I exhaled slowly, dropping my head into my hands. I wasn't the type to get flustered, but Mirae had completely thrown me off tonight.

It wasn't just the surprise of her walking in—it was the way I'd felt in that split second when we were so close. Like I didn't mind. No... more than that. Like I wanted it.

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away, but it lingered stubbornly, gnawing at me.

I'd never thought about Mirae like this before.

The way her body fit perfectly against mine, the way her gaze held mine as if she was seeing something no one else ever had—it felt dangerous. Like stepping onto thin ice, knowing it could crack beneath me at any moment.

But instead of backing away, part of me wanted to test how far we could go.

I groaned, dropping back against the pillows, the weight of the moment sinking in.

Why was my heart still racing? Why did I feel like I'd lost something when she walked out of the room?

This was Mirae. She was supposed to be our assistant and house/dorm keeper; That's it.

But tonight, with her standing so close, it felt like she was something more. Or at least, like she could be.

I ran a hand through my damp hair, sighing.

This was bad. Really bad.

And yet, all I could think about was the way her breath had hitched when our noses touched.

Whatever this is, it has to be stopped and some things must change.

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A/N:

More events and drama are coming so stay tuned.

Have a great day you all. xx