SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

28. Broken Whispers

The waiting room was bathed in the harsh, sterile glow of fluorescent lights, a sharp contrast to the heaviness that weighed on everyone inside. The night air outside was cool and calm, but inside the hospital walls, tension simmered like an unspoken conversation.

Y/N sat stiffly in a corner chair, her hands clasped tightly around her phone as though it were her lifeline. Notifications buzzed relentlessly on the screen, but she couldn't bring herself to open them. Instead, she glanced at Lisa and Jisoo, who were hunched over Jisoo's phone, scrolling through the official statement from YG Entertainment. Their expressions were stony, offering no comfort.

YG's tweet read:

"We regret to confirm that Jennie Kim has been hospitalized due to severe exhaustion. She is currently stable and receiving medical attention. We ask for your understanding and support during this time. —YG Entertainment."

The tweet had already garnered thousands of replies and retweets, with fans expressing their shock, concern, and unwavering love for Jennie.

Lisa let out a sharp breath, passing the phone back to Jisoo. "Stable," she muttered, the word falling flat. "At least they said she's stable."

Rosie, sitting closest to Y/N, leaned over and nudged her lightly. "You okay?"

Y/N blinked, dragging her gaze away from her phone. "I don't know," she murmured. "It doesn't feel real."

"Her fans are going wild," Lisa interjected, her voice tinged with bitterness. "#StayStrongJennie is trending, but half of them are blaming us for not looking out for her better."

Jisoo sighed, rubbing her temples. "This isn't about the fans right now. It's about Jennie."

Y/N clenched her jaw, the guilt gnawing at her insides. She hadn't even realized she was holding her breath until Rosie reached over, her warm hand resting on Y/N's knee.

"She's strong," Rosie said softly. "She's going to be okay."

The minutes ticked by in agonizing silence. Each tick of the waiting room clock felt like a mockery, dragging time while they sat helpless. The sound of approaching footsteps pulled everyone's attention to the doorway, where a middle-aged doctor in scrubs entered, his expression serious but not grim.

"Jennie Kim?" he asked, his voice calm yet authoritative.

All at once, they rose to their feet, a collective wave of anticipation and fear washing over the room. Y/N's heart hammered in her chest as the doctor began to speak.

"Jennie's condition has stabilized," he said, his tone measured but reassuring. "She was experiencing severe exhaustion and dehydration, which exacerbated her appendicitis. Fortunately, we caught it in time and performed the necessary surgery. She's in recovery now and sleeping."

Relief washed over the group like a tidal wave. Rosie's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes brimming with tears. Jisoo and Lisa exchanged a quiet, tense look before sitting down heavily, their postures slumping as though the weight of the world had finally lifted.

Y/N, however, remained frozen. The doctor's words echoed in her ears, but her body refused to move. It was Rosie who broke through her paralysis, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"She's going to be okay," Rosie whispered, her voice trembling with relief.

Y/N let out a shaky breath, her hands gripping Rosie's back like a lifeline. Tears pricked at her eyes, threatening to spill over as the tension that had been coiled in her chest finally began to unwind.

The doctor continued, addressing Jennie's mother. "She'll need plenty of rest over the next few weeks, and we'll monitor her closely during her recovery. For now, it's important to let her sleep and regain her strength."