SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

30. Balancing the Scales

The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains of Y/N's apartment, painting the room in hues of soft gold. Y/N lay in bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, mind far from the tranquility surrounding her. The previous night's hospital visit replayed in vivid fragments—Jennie's pale face, her whispered words, and the fragile grip of her hand on Y/N's. It all sat heavy in her chest, like an anchor tethering her to the storm of emotions she couldn't escape.

Letting out a long, shaky sigh, Y/N pushed herself up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Apollo, ever her loyal companion, perked up from his spot near the door, his tail thumping softly against the floor. He padded over, resting his head on her knee, and looked up at her with eyes full of unspoken understanding.

"Morning, buddy," Y/N mumbled, her voice hoarse from sleep. She scratched behind his ears, her thoughts still far away. "Guess it's just you and me today, huh?"

She stood and made her way to the kitchen, Apollo following closely. The routine of brewing coffee brought a small semblance of normalcy. The rich aroma filled the air, but it did little to soothe the tension knotted in her chest. As the coffee machine hummed, Y/N leaned against the counter, crossing her arms and staring at nothing in particular.

Her mind circled back to Jennie. She hadn't wanted to leave the hospital, but Jennie had fallen back into an exhausted sleep, and Y/N didn't want to intrude any longer. Jennie's mom had given her a small, hesitant nod of approval as she left, but that didn't erase the sharp words from before. "Do you even know what she's going through?"

Y/N poured her coffee into a mug, the steam curling up like her swirling thoughts. She took it to the living room, sinking into the couch with Apollo curling up at her feet. The city stretched out before her through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the skyline serene and oblivious to the chaos in her heart.

She cradled the mug in her hands, letting the warmth seep into her fingers. Her eyes wandered over the view, but all she saw was Jennie. The way she had looked at Y/N the night before—so vulnerable, so desperate. It was a stark contrast to the confident, untouchable persona Jennie exuded to the world. Y/N had always been drawn to that duality, but now it scared her.

"I can't keep doing this," Y/N muttered to herself. The words fell flat in the empty room, but saying them aloud made them feel more real.

Her mind wandered to Karina, whose steady presence had been a lifeline amidst the chaos of her emotions. Karina had been there—calm, supportive, and unwavering. And yet, even with all of Karina's kindness, Y/N couldn't stop the way her thoughts drifted back to Jennie.

Y/N leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Her fingers tapped absently against her mug as she thought about Karina. She cared about her, truly. But every time she tried to imagine what a future with Karina might look like, Jennie's face appeared, uninvited and unrelenting. She thought of the way Jennie had whispered her name in the hospital room, the vulnerability in her voice making Y/N's heart ache in a way that nothing else did.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling her out of her thoughts. She reached for it, her stomach twisting slightly when she saw Karina's name on the screen.

Karina: Hey, how's Jennie doing? You okay?

Y/N stared at the message for a long moment, guilt blooming in her chest. Karina didn't have to check in. She didn't have to care. But she did, and it made Y/N's internal conflict even harder to bear.

Y/N: She's stable. Thanks for asking, K. How are you?

The reply felt inadequate, but Y/N didn't know what else to say. She set the phone down and leaned back, letting her head rest against the couch. Apollo climbed up beside her, nuzzling his head against her shoulder.