SHADOWS OF TRUTH (JENNIE KIM FANFICTION)

39. Final Show

The soft light of early morning filtered through the hotel curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Y/N stirred in her bed, the faint hum of the city waking her as she blinked against the sun. The day had arrived—the final LA show, the culmination of weeks on tour.

She rolled onto her side, staring at her phone on the nightstand. Part of her wanted to reach for it, but the other part was paralyzed, as though acknowledging the day would make everything more real.

The decision she had been avoiding pressed against her chest like a lead weight. Her career or Jennie. A life in the spotlight or the quiet honesty of love.

With a resigned sigh, she grabbed her phone and unlocked it. A dozen notifications greeted her—fan tweets, reminders from her manager, and a text from Jennie.

Jennie:
"See you tonight. I can't wait to watch you shine."

The words were simple, but they struck something deep within Y/N. She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Jennie's message wash over her for a moment before reality came crashing back.

Her thumb hovered over the keyboard. She wanted to say something, anything, to express the storm raging inside her. But no words came. Instead, she settled for a quick reply.

Y/N:
"Can't wait either. See you soon."

Her heart ached as she sent it, the weight of unspoken words pressing heavily on her chest.

A knock at the door snapped Y/N out of her thoughts.

"Y/N, time to go!" Yunjin's voice called from the hallway.

"Coming!" Y/N replied, grabbing her hoodie and throwing it on.

The ride to the arena was a blur of movement and noise. Chaewon and Sakura chatted animatedly in the van, their energy buzzing despite the early hour. Yunjin scrolled through her phone, occasionally showing Kazuha funny memes to keep the mood light.

Y/N sat quietly by the window, her headphones in, but no music played. Her mind was elsewhere—flipping between memories of the tour, the roar of the fans, and the softness of Jennie's voice the last time they spoke.

As they pulled up to the venue, the enormity of the arena loomed ahead. Fans had already gathered outside, their cheers audible even through the van's closed doors. Signs with Y/N's name dotted the crowd, glittering in the morning light.

The inside of the arena buzzed with activity. Crew members scurried across the stage, setting up equipment, adjusting lighting rigs, and running sound checks.

"Alright, girls!" their choreographer called as the group filed onto the stage. "Let's run through the opening set first. Full energy—pretend this is the real thing."

Y/N took her position, the familiar strains of the opening song filling the vast space. She moved on autopilot, her body executing the choreography flawlessly even as her mind wandered. The decision she'd been avoiding loomed larger with every step, every beat.

During her solo rehearsal, the spotlight found her, bathing her in a soft glow as she moved to the center of the stage. Her voice echoed through the arena, raw and powerful, filling the empty seats with emotion.

When the final note faded, the crew erupted into applause. "That was incredible, Y/N," the choreographer said, clapping. "If you bring that tonight, the fans won't know what hit them."

Y/N nodded, offering a small smile, but her heart felt heavy.

After rehearsals, the group changed into more casual outfits for a pre-show fan engagement. The atmosphere outside was electric, with fans cheering and waving as the girls stepped onto the temporary stage set up in front of the arena.