SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

21. Falling Out of Reach

The plane touched down at Heathrow Airport with a soft thud, the cabin lights flickering on as the crew prepared for disembarkation. Y/N stirred slightly in her seat, having spent the last few hours alternating between restless naps and staring out the window into the vast darkness. As the seatbelt sign clicked off, the cabin filled with the sounds of passengers stretching, shuffling to grab their belongings, and murmured chatter about their plans in the city.

London. The start of the European leg of the tour. Y/N should have felt exhilarated. She was finally stepping into a global stage she had only dreamed about before debuting. And yet, as she looked out the window at the overcast sky, all she could feel was a dull ache in her chest—a quiet heaviness that had been growing ever since she and Jennie had parted ways.

The LE SSERAFIM girls were quick to gather their things, the excitement buzzing in the air around them palpable. Yunjin was the first to grab her carry-on, chatting animatedly with Chaewon about their plans to visit a famous bakery in Covent Garden.

"Apparently, they have the best croissants outside of Paris," Yunjin said, her voice carrying over the din.

Chaewon laughed. "Sounds like a challenge. We'll see if it lives up to the hype."

Kazuha leaned over from her seat across the aisle, her eyes lighting up. "Do they have matcha lattes?"

Y/N, seated near the window, stayed silent, scrolling absently through her phone. Her carry-on remained untouched in the overhead compartment. She wasn't in a hurry to leave the plane, nor did she feel any urgency to join the conversation.

As they stepped off the plane, the terminal was a blur of bright lights, hurried travelers, and the steady hum of announcements echoing over the intercom. Y/N kept her head low, her baseball cap shielding her face from curious glances. Even here, thousands of miles from Seoul, she could feel the weight of recognition. Fans had likely tracked their flight, and it wouldn't be long before photos and videos of them began flooding social media.

The team ushered them toward a private lounge, away from the bustling main concourse. The security detail hovered nearby, their presence both comforting and stifling. Y/N trailed behind the group, her phone buzzing intermittently with notifications she ignored.

Finally, as they settled into the lounge, she sat down in a corner chair, her fingers hesitating before unlocking her phone. Jennie's text stared back at her, simple yet heavy with unspoken emotions.

She had seen the message back on the plane. At the time, she hadn't known what to say, and now, hours later, she still didn't. A part of her wanted to reply with something casual, a neutral acknowledgment. Another part of her, the one still nursing the wounds of their last conversation, wanted to leave it unread.

"You okay, Y/N?" Yunjin plopped down beside her, her ever-curious gaze scanning Y/N's face.

Y/N locked her phone and forced a small smile. "Yeah, just tired."

"Tired or avoiding someone?" Yunjin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Jet lag," Y/N said, her tone clipped as she deflected the question.

Yunjin didn't look convinced but didn't push further. Instead, she slung an arm over Y/N's shoulders. "C'mon, let's take a selfie. Something cute for the fans to wake up to."

Y/N obliged, plastering on a grin as Yunjin angled her phone for the perfect shot. The flash clicked, and Yunjin studied the photo for a moment before nudging Y/N playfully. "Not bad, but you're definitely off your selfie game. We'll have to work on that."

Y/N chuckled weakly, glad for the distraction but still unable to shake the unease creeping up her spine.

The team eventually ushered them out of the lounge and into sleek black vans waiting just outside the terminal. London's crisp air hit Y/N as she stepped outside, the city alive with its usual hum of activity. The gray clouds overhead and the cool breeze carried a sense of familiarity—it wasn't unlike Seoul on a cloudy day, but there was something distinctly London about the atmosphere.