SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

5. Fractured Facades

As Jennie steps into the recording studio, the weight of the day presses down on her, matching the gray skies outside. The heavy clouds seem to mirror her inner world—murky, tangled, and unsettled. Though she greets the familiar faces of her team with a soft smile and nods at their warm greetings, her heart feels hollow. The studio has always been her sanctuary, a place where the demands of fame and the wounds of her personal life could fall away, if only for a few hours. Today, however, even the studio's comforting, ambient hum feels just a bit out of sync, like a melody played on a slightly out-of-tune instrument.

She tries to focus, to anchor herself in the familiar sights and sounds. She listens to the soundboard crackle, watches the mugs of coffee shift between hands, the low murmur of voices layering in the background like a soft soundtrack. Usually, she feels a grounding warmth in these little things, but today there's a restlessness inside her that won't settle. She catches herself glancing at the phone in her hand, remembering the last message she received from Taehyung. The echoes of his voice and his words play over and over in her mind, no matter how hard she tries to silence them. His words had been clipped, hurtful—a stark reminder of the unresolved tension still hanging between them.

As she steps into the booth, the studio lights seem brighter, harsher, intensifying the disquiet in her chest. She closes her eyes, trying to steady herself, to shut out the turmoil, and instead focus on the song. Singing has always been her release, a place she could pour out her emotions without words. But today, her own voice feels foreign. As she hits a high note, her tone wobbles—just barely, but she hears it. To anyone else, it might be nothing. But Jennie hears the vulnerability in her own voice, the slight quiver that reveals the emotions she tries so hard to conceal.

A rush of embarrassment floods her, though no one comments on the crack in her voice. She feels exposed, her fragility laid bare, and it makes her feel powerless. Taehyung's hurtful words, the constant media scrutiny, Y/N—it all feels like a heavy cloak she can't shrug off. Her team, perhaps sensing her discomfort, tries to keep things light as they work through the session, but Jennie finds herself barely able to keep up appearances.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the session wraps. She forces a polite smile, offering small thanks to her team, though her heart feels as heavy as ever. She exits the booth, pulling out her phone as if on autopilot, needing something to anchor her, a distraction from her own thoughts. A new text from her manager flashes on the screen: "Prepare for another outing with Y/N. Details to follow."

Her stomach drops, a mix of emotions flooding her all at once. Another outing with Y/N? She sighs, closing her eyes for a moment as she processes the news. There's a flicker of curiosity, a small part of her that wonders what their next outing will bring. She doesn't even know why she feels this strange curiosity, or why Y/N has started occupying space in her mind. But just as quickly, she feels frustration—resentment even—at being forced into another public appearance, another facade.

Why does this arrangement feel so complicated? she wonders, her thoughts spiraling inwards. She remembers their last interaction—the awkward silence. The lingering tension between them, Taehyung's reaction, the weight of the media's endless scrutiny—it all hangs over her like a storm she can't escape.

Jennie closes her eyes for a brief moment, leaning against the cool wall outside the booth. Her vulnerability feels raw, too close to the surface, and it makes her want to retreat, to hide away from the world. She longs for simplicity, for a day without masks, without complications. For just a moment, she lets herself imagine what it would feel like to let her guard down completely, to allow herself to feel everything, to voice her hurts and fears. But she knows that's not possible, not in her world. Vulnerability is a luxury she can't afford.