SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

20. Heavy Luggage

The restaurant hummed with quiet conversations, the low clink of cutlery and glassware adding to the ambiance. Y/N sat at the table near the corner, her posture stiff and her fingers loosely wrapped around the stem of a water glass. The presence of their managers seated a few tables away only added to the oppressive tension.

When Jennie entered, her heart immediately sank at the sight of Y/N. She looked beautiful, of course, but there was an air of detachment around her, her jaw tight, her gaze hard.

Y/N's eyes flicked up when Jennie approached but didn't linger. "You're on time," she said curtly, gesturing for Jennie to sit.

Jennie hesitated, then slid into the seat opposite her. She smoothed the skirt of her dress, the awkward silence stretching as she tried to think of something to say.

The waiter approached, offering a polite smile. "Would you like to start with drinks?"

"Gin Tonic," Y/N said, her voice sharp and automatic.

Jennie glanced at the menu, though she didn't need to. "A glass of red wine, please."

The waiter nodded, retreating. The silence between them grew heavier, the distance palpable despite their physical proximity.

Jennie clasped her hands in her lap, glancing toward Y/N, who was staring at the menu as though it were the most fascinating thing in the room. The tension settled like a weight in Jennie's chest.

When the drinks arrived, the waiter lingered briefly, offering a polite smile as he placed their glasses on the table. "Are you ready to order?" he asked, his tone cheerful and oblivious to the charged atmosphere.

Y/N didn't bother looking up from her menu. "Grilled salmon, please," she said, her voice clipped, efficient, and devoid of warmth.

Jennie hesitated, glancing between her menu and Y/N, who sat stiffly across from her. "Uh, I'll have the pasta primavera," she murmured, her voice quieter but heavy with tension.

"Excellent choices," the waiter replied before retreating, leaving them alone once more.

Jennie reached for her glass of wine, her fingers trembling slightly as she took a sip. The rich red liquid offered no comfort, the tartness only adding to the knot forming in her stomach.

Y/N, meanwhile, swirled the gin tonic in her glass, the ice clinking softly. She took a deliberate sip, her eyes focused somewhere beyond Jennie's shoulder, as if she were trying to will herself anywhere but here.

The silence between them grew unbearable, pressing down on Jennie like a weight. She set her glass down with a soft clink and finally spoke. "How was the party?" she asked, her voice cautious, almost hesitant.

Y/N's eyes flicked toward her, narrowing slightly as if assessing her question. "It was a party," she replied flatly, taking another slow sip of her drink.

Jennie flinched inwardly at the coldness in her tone. She twisted the napkin in her lap, her palms suddenly clammy. "Who was there?" she ventured, trying to keep her voice steady.

Y/N's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a bitter smile forming before disappearing. "People," she said shortly, her eyes drifting back to the amber liquid in her glass.

The nonchalance in her response only deepened the ache in Jennie's chest. "Karina?" she pressed, her voice soft but weighted with an unspoken question.

Y/N's grip on the glass tightened imperceptibly, her fingers going white at the knuckles. Her gaze didn't waver as she answered. "Yeah, Karina was there." Her voice was calm, too calm, but Jennie could hear the sharp edge beneath it.