flicker of flame|| KTH X JJK

11."Fractured Hearts"

Lena stared at the tickets and her passport lying on the table. Her tear-swollen eyes reflected the turmoil within. "Do you still want to be here?" she asked herself, her voice barely above a whisper.

The night passed in agonizing silence, broken only by the muffled sounds of her sobs. The weight of Vyn's words echoed painfully in every corner of the room, suffocating her.

Morning arrived, but the atmosphere in the room remained heavy. The table was soaked with the countless tears she'd shed. Lena didn't even know when she'd fallen asleep, her face now puffy and drawn. The doorbell rang, pulling her from the depths of her sorrow. She quickly wiped her face and called out, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Luke," came the reply. She hurried to wash her face and then unlocked the door.

Luke entered, carrying breakfast. His eyes swept over the room, noticing the dent in the wall, evidence of the previous night's turmoil. His gaze then landed on the table, still wet, and he realized it was from tears. When he looked back at Lena, he saw her puffy face and the exhaustion etched into her features. Concern filled his eyes as he cupped her face gently. "What happened to you? Why do you look like this?"

But even as she looked at him, the words Vyn had spoken kept ringing in her ears, like a haunting echo she couldn't escape. She shook her head, dismissing his concern. "Nothing," she muttered, her voice unconvincing. "How is Vyn?"

"He's okay," Luke replied softly, though his concern didn't wane. "He hasn't woken up yet, so I came here. I couldn't sleep without knowing what happened yesterday."

As he turned, something caught his eye. He noticed the passport and tickets on the table and froze, shock and confusion clouding his expression as he looked back at Lena, seeking answers.

"Are you...?" Luke began, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Lena quickly cut him off. "I need to figure out what's happening in India," she said, her tone resolute. "I'll come back soon. Please convey this to Vyn-ssi. Maybe knowing that will make him feel a little better. I hope so."

She sighed softly, then added, "And make sure he has something for the hangover. You... you're the only one who's been with him for all these years, and I want you to be with him from now on too. Don't get upset about what he did last night. He's sad and depressed, Luke. Try to calm him down. You know what to do."

Lena offered a faint smile as she sat down at the dining table with him. Luke could see the determination in her eyes, even as they remained clouded with the remnants of her sorrow. He nodded, understanding the weight of her request, and silently vowed to be there for Vyn, just as Lena was asking him to be.

Luke looked at Lena with concern. "Lena, we need to focus on Vyn and Fathima's situation, but I'm also really worried about you. You have to take care of yourself too," he said gently, reaching out to hold her hand.

Before she could respond, their attention was drawn to the TV. The screen displayed the last track of the "Forever Yours" album, and an announcement followed- the final tour of the album would be in the U.S.

Lena blinked in surprise, then turned to Luke. "Congratulations, Luke," she said softly, trying to muster some enthusiasm. "But why would they announce this now? It feels... different."

Luke sighed, slumping his head slightly. "Yeah, it does. But I guess after this, we'll just be normal people again, right?"

They both sat in silence for a moment, the weight of everything hanging in the air between them. The excitement of the announcement was dampened by the reality of their personal struggles, leaving them feeling more uncertain than ever.