SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

17. Falling Apart

The LE SSERAFIM tour began in Tokyo with a whirlwind of excitement, continuing in the vibrant city of Beijing, China. The band members had barely touched down when they were swept into back-to-back rehearsals, soundchecks, and meet-and-greets. The adrenaline was high, with each member energized by the overwhelming fan support and flashing cameras. Y/N's heart raced as they stepped onto that second stage, the cheers of thousands surrounding them like a tidal wave. She couldn't resist taking a quick video backstage, beaming as she held up a peace sign, and sent it to Jennie along with the message: "Second show done! Wish you could've been here to see it all 💜" Jennie replied almost instantly, her words full of pride and encouragement.

But as the days ticked by, each new city brought fresh demands, pulling Y/N deeper into the relentless tour cycle. After Beijing, they traveled to Shanghai, then on to Guangzhou, each show bigger and more elaborate than the last. Y/N continued to text Jennie after every performance, brief messages capturing little bursts of excitement: "Shanghai was insane tonight!" or "Could see myself living in Guangzhou, this city is too beautiful." At first, she kept Jennie updated on every little detail, sending videos of the bustling crowds, funny behind-the-scenes clips, and quick selfies with her bandmates.

However, as the days stretched on, fatigue began to creep in. Taiwan and Hong Kong followed, each city blending into the next as Y/N pushed herself through rehearsals and performances. Every moment felt scheduled to the minute, leaving her barely enough time to sleep, let alone keep up the texts and late-night calls. She still made sure to send Jennie something after every show, but the messages grew shorter, gradually losing the spark of her initial excitement. Instead of long, enthusiastic updates, her messages became quick check-ins: "Show went well! Tired but all good 💪." Jennie's responses were always full of warmth, but Y/N could sense the growing distance, a subtle weight pressing down on each reply.

Fans noticed a playful chemistry building on stage between Y/N and Yunjin. What had started as harmless, friendly teasing slowly evolved into a kind of fan-encouraged bond that added to the performances' allure. It started with small moments—a lingering laugh, a shared dance move, a high-five here and there—but quickly grew into something fans latched onto. The ship had practically become its own entity online, with fans editing together clips of their interactions, sharing photos and GIFs with captions like "Y/Njin is real 💕" and "Our favorite duo, can't wait to see more moments!"

Y/N didn't think much of it at first, laughing off the videos and comments, but the playful teasing on stage started to feel like second nature. Each night, as the crowd screamed for them to interact, Y/N found herself getting swept up in the excitement. She'd throw an arm around Yunjin, give her a playful wink, or pull her close for a dramatic pose, all of it part of the performance. But as the trend grew, she noticed Jennie's texts becoming slightly different, shorter, and a bit delayed. Her own exhaustion made it hard to give Jennie the reassurance she sensed was needed, and she felt the growing tension between her devotion to the tour and her connection with Jennie.

Meanwhile, Jennie followed the tour as best as she could from afar. She'd watch clips of Y/N on social media, admiring her intensity on stage, her confidence and charm under the spotlight. But every time she saw a clip of Y/N and Yunjin laughing or standing close, her heart tightened, an unwelcome sting of insecurity creeping in. She missed Y/N, and the frequent texts that had once brightened her day were becoming more sporadic, leaving her feeling a void that Y/N's short messages couldn't fill.

Jennie tried to brush off the feelings, telling herself that Y/N was just doing her job, that the playful interactions with Yunjin were all part of the show. But as the tour moved through Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and then to Vietnam, the loneliness and doubt continued to grow. There were days when she'd sit by her phone, waiting for the familiar notification, only to receive a short message that was polite but distant: "Show was great! Talk soon."