The restaurant was filled with a soft murmur of conversation, the clinking of silverware, and the gentle hum of ambient music. Jennie sat across from Minwoo at their favorite spot, the dim glow of candles casting a warm, flickering light across their table. Minwoo carried on about his day at work. He talked about a new project he was excited about, and Jennie nodded along, trying to focus, but her mind was a million miles away.
Her phone, resting on the table next to her glass, buzzed with a new notification. She glanced down, intending to ignore it, but the headline that flashed across the screen made her heart skip a beat.
"Rosé and Hyunjae Confirm Relationship—K-pop's Power Couple!"
The words felt like a punch to the gut. Jennie's breath caught as she opened the notification, her thumb scrolling through the flood of news articles, fan reactions, and social media posts. Image after image of Rosé and Hyunjae filled her screen— clearly in love. Rosé's smile, once a source of comfort and inspiration for Jennie, now felt like a ghost haunting her from the past.
Minwoo's voice pulled her back. "Is everything okay?"
Jennie forced a smile, pushing the phone aside as if the distance would help her ignore the sinking feeling in her chest. "Just a little tired. It's been a long day,"
Minwoo reached across the table, gently squeezing her hand. "Maybe we can take a trip this weekend? Just the two of us, to relax."
Jennie nodded, appreciating the suggestion, but her mind was still elsewhere. As they left the restaurant and headed home, the city lights blurring outside the car window, Jennie's thoughts raced. The news of Rosé's relationship had stirred up feelings she thought she had buried long ago. It wasn't just about Rosé being with someone else—it was the reminder of the life Jennie had left behind.
By the time they reached their apartment, Jennie felt a restless energy coursing through her. After saying goodnight to Minwoo and retreating to the quiet of their bedroom, she found herself unable to shake the pull of her old fan account. The account she had abandoned after graduating college and deciding to move on. But tonight, it felt like an old friend beckoning her back.
She hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the app, before finally giving in. With a deep breath, Jennie logged back into her fan account. The familiar layout of the page greeted her, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her. The buzz of activity on the account felt oddly comforting, like stepping into a room filled with familiar faces after a long absence.
The fan community was alive with excitement and speculation about Rosé and Hyunjae. Their posts were filled with congratulatory messages, joyful reactions, and endless discussions about the new power couple in K-pop. Jennie scrolled through the updates, her heart aching as she remembered the thrill of being part of this world. The joy of attending events, the anticipation of every new release, the connection she once felt with Rosé—it all came rushing back, bittersweet and overwhelming.
As she continued scrolling, something caught her eye. Amidst the flurry of posts, she noticed a few unread messages in her inbox. One, in particular, stood out—a recent message from the user @rosieanne, a fan account Jennie had interacted with a few times in the past.
Jennie clicked on the message. It was short and simple:
"Hi! I know it's been a while, and I've been missing your updates. I just wanted to check in and see if you're okay. If you're not into the fan stuff anymore, that's fine, but I'm genuinely concerned about you. Please let me know if you're alright."
Jennie's heart skipped a beat. The message was so unexpected, yet it felt like a lifeline—an acknowledgment of her past self that she hadn't realized she needed. Taking a deep breath, she began typing a response, her fingers moving almost on their own:
"Hi! I'm doing all good! No broken bones or anything hahaha. Thanks for checking in, I just decided to give up the fan stuff for a bit after graduating college and everything. Please still support Rosie for me!!!"
She hit send. The words she had typed felt comforting, like a final farewell to a part of her life she had cherished but needed to move on from. And yet, there was something surreal about it—something that made her question how her life had come to this point, where the lines between her past and present were suddenly so blurred.
Later that night, Jennie lay in bed beside Minwoo, her mind still racing. Jennie tried to quiet her restless mind. The echoes of her old life and the warmth of an old friend's message stayed in her thoughts.
She turned to look at Minwoo, who was already fast asleep beside her. Jennie reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. She loved him, she knew that much...
As she closed her eyes, Jennie knew that while she had chosen a different path—a path that had brought her happiness in its own way—parts of her past would always be a part of her. They would always shape who she was, and who she was becoming. And maybe, just maybe, that wasn't such a bad thing.
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Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU
FanfictionIt's been years since Jennie last attended a concert of her former idol, Rosé. She went to relive her past and have some fun, but everything took a turn when Rosé recognized her in the audience. An Original Story. A Non-Fanfiction Version will also...
