SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

26. Constraints and Connections

The wheels of the plane screeched against the runway at Incheon Airport, jostling Y/N in her seat. She opened her eyes to the faint hum of the engines powering down, blinking groggily as the flight attendants announced their arrival. Despite the applause from a few passengers—a tradition for safe landings—the energy on the plane was subdued. After weeks of sold-out shows and screaming fans, the exhaustion of the tour had finally caught up to everyone.

Chaewon glanced over from the aisle seat, giving Y/N a soft smile. "Home sweet home, huh?"

Y/N stretched her arms over her head, her body aching from the long flight. "Yeah... something like that." Her voice was flat, lacking any excitement.

The moment LE SSERAFIM stepped off the plane, a wave of noise engulfed them. Fans and photographers filled the arrival terminal, their cheers and camera flashes blending into a chaotic symphony. Security guards moved swiftly, forming a protective wall as the girls made their way through the crowd.

"Welcome back!" a fan shouted, holding up a hand-painted banner.

"You killed it in Europe!" another screamed, her phone held high to capture the moment.

Y/N forced a smile and gave a small wave, though her heart wasn't in it. Normally, the fans' enthusiasm lifted her spirits, but today, it felt overwhelming. The thought of heading straight to a meeting didn't help.

Yunjin leaned in close, her voice barely audible over the noise. "You look like you'd rather be anywhere else right now."

"Good guess," Y/N muttered, clutching her bag tightly.

When they finally reached the exit, a sleek black SUV waited for them. As the girls loaded their luggage, Y/N's manager approached her with a clipboard in hand and a determined look on his face.

"Y/N, you're coming with me," he said firmly, motioning toward another car parked nearby.

"What? Why?"

"The meeting at HYBE, remember? It's important." His tone left no room for argument.

Yunjin, overhearing, raised an eyebrow. "Are you being summoned by the president or something?"

Y/N let out a humorless laugh. "If I'm not back in an hour, send a search party."

Chaewon patted her shoulder as she climbed into the second car. "Good luck."

As the door closed behind her, Y/N leaned back against the seat with a sigh. "This better be worth it," she muttered under her breath.

The ride through Seoul's bustling streets was quiet, save for the occasional vibration of Y/N's phone. She glanced at the screen, half-hoping for a distraction, but it was just a generic notification about tour highlights trending online. She swiped it away and turned her gaze to the window.

The city buzzed with life—commuters rushing to work, vendors setting up stalls, and students hurrying to school. Normally, she'd find comfort in Seoul's familiarity, but today, everything felt muted. The meeting loomed large in her mind, her thoughts spiraling as she tried to guess what it could be about.

"Are you going to tell me anything?" she finally asked her manager, breaking the silence.

He didn't look back. "You'll find out soon enough."

"Cryptic. Great," she muttered, crossing her arms.

The HYBE building stood tall and imposing, its glass façade reflecting the pale morning light. Y/N's stomach churned as the car pulled into the underground parking lot. She stepped out, the echo of her footsteps amplifying her anxiety as she followed her manager to the elevators.