The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ✔️

Chapter 14.

Mirae's P.O.V

It had been three days since that night in Chan's room, and everything had changed. I didn't know how or why, but he was treating me like a stranger now. No, worse than a stranger—like I didn't even exist outside of the chores he gave me.

I sighed, wiping my hands on my apron after finishing up in the kitchen. Today had been the same as yesterday, and the day before that. Just tasks. Task after task. Nothing more. He barely looked at me, and if he did, it was quick, like he couldn't wait to turn his eyes elsewhere.

"Hey, Mirae," Chan's voice called from behind me, startling me from my thoughts. I spun around, hopeful for a second that maybe things were back to normal. But the second I saw his face—cold, detached—I knew I was wrong.

"Can you organize the practice schedules for next week?" he said, eyes flicking up briefly before landing back on the clipboard in his hands. "And after that, the sound equipment needs to be checked for tomorrow's recording."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing a smile. "Sure, I can do that."

He gave a curt nod, already halfway out of the room before pausing. "Oh, and the dorm rooms need to be stocked for next week. Make sure that's done too."

I nodded again, feeling that same familiar sting in my chest. Three tasks. He'd never been this distant with me before, not since I first started. It was like I'd been pushed back to square one—just the assistant, nothing more.

He walked away without another word, and I stood there for a moment, staring after him, the air heavy with unspoken tension. I didn't understand what I'd done wrong. What had changed? Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?

---

Later that evening, after I'd completed everything on Chan's list, I found myself lingering near the living room. The boys were all there, lounging on the couches, their laughter filling the space like it always did. But today, I didn't feel like joining in.

"Noona?" Seungmin's voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see him watching me, concern etched across his face. "Are you okay? You've been a bit... off lately."

I hesitated, not wanting to burden them with my problems. "I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

"You sure?" Han asked, sitting up straight now. "Because Chan's been acting super weird around you. Like... robot-mode weird."

My heart sank, the weight of the truth I'd been trying to ignore pressing down even harder. "I don't know what's going on. He's just been... distant. Giving me more tasks than usual, avoiding me, that kind of thing."

The boys exchanged glances, and it was clear they'd all noticed.

"That doesn't sound like him," Lee Know said, frowning. "He usually talks to us if something's bothering him."

Felix, who had been quiet up until now, leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "I'll talk to him."

"No, Felix," I quickly interjected, shaking my head. "We have that SKZ Code shoot in two days. I don't want to make things more awkward than they already are. Maybe he's just stressed with the new album."

"Maybe, but after that we have to talk to him. He's our hyung after all" Jeongin said and everyone nodded.

I really hope from the bottom of my heart that things get back to how it was. I know that he don't trust me fully and so does the rest of the members. But, I don't want to be alone again.

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A/N:

It was a short chapter to write but it was worth it.

Hope you are loving the story as much as me.