The Shadow Of A Trainee | Bang Chan ✔️

Chapter 18.

Mirae's P.O.V

*10 days later*

Something had shifted. I couldn't pinpoint the exact moment, but ever since that day in the SKZ Code location; no scratch that. Ever since the moment happened between us in his room, things hadn't been the same. Chan—who had always been kind and thoughtful after deciding to give a chance, who smiled warmly every time our eyes met—was... different. Colder. Distant.

It started with little things, like asking me to do more errands than usual. At first, I didn't think much of it. I mean, I'm the assistant. It's my job to help. But soon, the requests piled up—cleaning the practice room after every session, reorganizing equipment, fetching items from storage. I barely had time to breathe between tasks. And it wasn't just at the company. At the dorm, it was the same. Laundry, dishes, tidying up every corner of the house, cooking every meal. It was relentless.

I kept telling myself it was just a phase. Maybe Chan was stressed. Maybe there was something going on with the group or the company that I didn't know about. I convinced myself it would pass. But the days dragged on, and it didn't.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead after yet another exhausting day, and it hit me—this wasn't just stress. Chan was trying to make things harder for me. The realization left me feeling hollow inside.

That night, I cooked dinner for everyone. I tried to make something simple but good, stir-fried veggies and rice. I wasn't much of a chef, but I thought I did okay. The boys sat around the table, joking and laughing, their usual banter making the exhaustion feel a little lighter.

But then Chan took a bite, his expression instantly hardening. "This is too salty," he muttered, pushing his plate aside without a second glance.

I froze, the chopsticks trembling in my hand. I didn't know what to say. I'd been so careful with the seasoning, but... maybe he was right. Maybe it was too salty. But that wasn't the point, was it? It wasn't just the food. It was everything.

I nodded silently, gathering his plate to fix it without arguing. He didn't look at me, didn't even acknowledge my presence beyond the criticism. The other boys exchanged glances, clearly confused, but they didn't say anything. Not yet.

The work kept piling on. Every day, it felt like Chan found a new way to push me. I didn't get a moment's rest. I was running from one task to the next, my body and mind both worn down to the bone. He barely even looked at me anymore, except to give me orders or to find something wrong with what I was doing. And when he did speak, it was with a cold, distant tone that cut deeper than I wanted to admit.

I tried to keep my head down. I told myself this was just how it was. Maybe I wasn't doing my job well enough. Maybe I deserved the extra work, the harsh words. But deep down, I knew that wasn't true. This wasn't just about the job anymore.

And the boys noticed.

The boys—they all saw what was happening. Hyunjin especially couldn't hide his frustration. He would glare at Chan whenever he thought I wasn't looking. Felix, sweet as always, would offer to help me with tasks whenever he could, but I'd brush him off, telling him it was fine. I didn't want to cause any trouble. I didn't want to create tension between them and Chan.

But then came that night—the night when things reached their breaking point.

It had been a long day, like every other day recently. I was exhausted, my arms sore from carrying equipment and my legs aching from running up and down the company hallways. The boys were in the living room, and I could hear their voices from the kitchen as I washed the dishes.

I was almost done when I heard the door slam behind me. I turned, startled, to see Hyunjin and Lee Know storming into the kitchen. They were angry, and I had a sinking feeling I knew why.

"Chan, what the hell is going on?" Hyunjin's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. I couldn't see Chan, but I knew he was standing in the doorway, watching. I kept my head down, scrubbing the dishes, pretending I wasn't listening. But my heart was pounding in my chest.

"You've been treating Mirae like crap for days now. What's your problem?"

My breath caught in my throat. They were standing up for me. I should have felt relieved, but instead, I felt anxious. I didn't want them to fight. Not because of me.

I heard Chan's voice, cold and detached. "She's just doing her job."

Doing my job? I swallowed the lump in my throat. Sure, I was an assistant. But what Chan was putting me through—this wasn't just work anymore. It felt personal. But why? What had I done?

Lee Know's voice was heated, laced with frustration. "She's not your servant, Chan! You've been overworking her. She barely gets any sleep, and she hasn't complained once, but we all see it. What's gotten into you?"

I turned the water off, my hands still submerged in soapy water. My heart was racing. I wanted to turn around, to say something—anything—to diffuse the situation. But I couldn't. I didn't know how to explain it. I didn't know why Chan had changed. Why he was suddenly so harsh, so cold.

Felix spoke up next, his tone softer but just as firm. "Chan, we don't understand. Why are you being like this with her? She's done nothing wrong."

I could feel their concern, their anger, all directed at him. And part of me was grateful that they cared enough to speak up for me. But I hated it, too. I hated that it had come to this. I didn't want to be the cause of tension between them. They were a team. A family.

Chan's voice cut through again, sharp and defensive. "It's her job. She's getting paid for this. If she has a problem, she can tell me."

His words stung more than they should have. It wasn't about the money. I didn't care about getting paid. I cared about why he was treating me this way. Why he seemed to hate me all of a sudden.

Seungmin's voice was quiet, but his disappointment was palpable. "She doesn't say anything because she respects you. But you're pushing her too far. She's our friend."

Our friend. My chest tightened at that. They considered me a friend. And Chan... Chan didn't. Not anymore.

I heard Chan's footsteps retreating, his voice colder than ever. "Stay out of it. It's my call."

I stood there, frozen, my hands gripping the edge of the sink as I listened to the door close behind him. The room was silent now, except for the sound of the water dripping from the faucet. The boys murmured softly, but I couldn't make out their words.

I turned around slowly, my heart heavy. They were all looking at me with a mix of frustration and concern.

"It's okay," I said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Really, it's fine. I'm fine."

But the truth was, I wasn't fine. I had no idea why Chan was treating me like this. And it was breaking me apart.

Because no matter how much I tried to pretend, no matter how much I told myself that it didn't matter...

I missed him. 

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A/N:

My heart ached while writing this chapter.

But, anyways I really hope you're enjoying the story so far. Please, don't forget to vote that means a lot to me.

xoxo