Chapter 3: Behind the Smile

The festival grounds were alive with energy—vibrant lights, music, and the sounds of laughter all around. But for Jennie, everything felt distant, like she was watching life unfold through a foggy glass. Vanessa, bubbling with excitement, was chatting non-stop about the event, her enthusiasm infectious to everyone but Jennie. Sam walked beside them, but his body language was distant—his usual warmth replaced by an unfamiliar chill.

Jennie tried to push away the unease that had been gnawing at her ever since the metro station. She had seen the look on Sam's face when he read her text. He hadn’t even bothered to explain himself or reassure her. That silence had said everything. But she had no choice but to play along. After all, Vanessa was her best friend, and she didn’t want to ruin the night for her.

As they made their way toward the concert area, the crowd thickened. It felt like everyone in the city had come out to enjoy the night, and yet Jennie felt utterly alone. Vanessa had already found a group of people to chat with, leaving Jennie and Sam standing awkwardly on the edge of the crowd.

Sam glanced at Jennie, a weak smile on his lips. “You alright?”

Jennie nodded, though her stomach churned. “Yeah, just… excited for the concert,” she said, her voice betraying her forced enthusiasm.

“Good,” Sam replied. He seemed distracted, looking around at the crowd. “I’ll grab us some drinks, you want anything?”

Jennie wanted to say something—anything—that might bridge the gap that had grown between them. But the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she just shook her head.

“Okay,” Sam said before walking off in the direction of the refreshment stand.

Jennie stood there for a moment, watching him leave, before her gaze fell on Vanessa. She was laughing with a few people from their college, completely immersed in the fun of the evening. Jennie knew that Vanessa hadn’t noticed the tension, or if she did, she was ignoring it.

Jennie pulled her phone out of her pocket, looking at the screen for a few seconds before locking it again. She felt foolish for even caring about what Sam and Vanessa were doing. After all, she had known about their closeness from the beginning, but tonight… tonight something felt different. It was like they were sharing some unspoken bond, and Jennie was being left out.

As the night stretched on, the concert was set to begin, and the crowd surged toward the stage. Jennie followed behind Vanessa and the others, her thoughts drifting as they entered the main area. The energy of the crowd was contagious, but Jennie couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider in her own life.

Just then, Vanessa grabbed her arm. “Jennie, let’s get a spot near the front! It’ll be perfect for pictures,” she said, her eyes wide with excitement.

Jennie forced a smile and followed Vanessa to the front of the crowd, where there was a row of chairs set up for those who wanted to relax during the concert. Vanessa found a pair of chairs close to the stage, and she immediately pulled Jennie to one of them.

“Let’s sit for a while, we’ve been walking for ages,” Vanessa said, plopping down in one of the chairs. Jennie hesitated for a moment but then sat down next to her.

A few moments later, Sam returned with drinks in hand, handing one to Jennie before sitting on the other side of her. He seemed calmer now, but Jennie couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in her chest.

Vanessa, ever the social butterfly, stood up suddenly. “You guys, look at that—there’s a perfect spot on the edge of the stage! It’s calling us!”

Jennie’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t been expecting this, but Vanessa was already dragging Sam with her, excitedly pushing toward the edge. She wanted to protest, wanted to tell them how much it hurt to see them so close, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she followed behind them, like a shadow.

They stopped near a small row of chairs that lined the stage, and Vanessa immediately climbed onto one, pulling Sam with her. “Come on, Jennie! Get up here! This will be hilarious!”

Sam gave Jennie an awkward look but climbed onto the chair next to Vanessa, who was grinning from ear to ear. The two of them stood there, hands on the backs of the chairs, posing in a way that reminded Jennie of a scene from Titanic—the iconic moment with arms spread wide, like they were on top of the world.

Jennie stood frozen, her heart sinking in her chest as she watched them. Their playful interaction was so natural, so carefree. It was as if they shared some secret, some connection that Jennie was not a part of.

And then, as if to make matters worse, Vanessa pulled out her phone. “Okay, time for a picture!” she shouted, her eyes twinkling. “This will be epic.”

Jennie’s breath caught in her throat as she forced a smile, stepping forward to join them. Her hands shook slightly as she reached for her phone. She had to be strong, had to hide what she was really feeling.

Vanessa took a few pictures of Sam and Jennie first, laughing as Sam jokingly posed with a dramatic flair. Then she handed the phone to Sam, who took a few shots of her and Jennie together.

“Perfect! Let’s get one with all of us!” Vanessa said, her voice ringing with excitement.

She handed the phone back to Sam and climbed onto the chair next to him, throwing her arm around his shoulder as they both struck a playful pose. Jennie, standing beside them, could feel her chest tightening as she faked a smile. She stood there for a moment, feeling completely disconnected from the scene in front of her. The warmth that used to fill her whenever she was around Sam had evaporated, leaving only cold emptiness.

Click.

The photo was taken. But something inside Jennie snapped.

Her smile faltered, and before she could control herself, tears welled up in her eyes. She turned away quickly, pressing a hand to her face to hide her emotions. The cool night air didn’t help. The laughter around her seemed distant now—hollow.

She could hear Sam and Vanessa still laughing, still joking around behind her, but she couldn’t bear it anymore. The weight of betrayal was too much to carry. She had tried so hard to be okay with everything, but deep down, she knew that things were never going to be the same.

Jennie didn’t know how long she stood there, her heart breaking with every laugh, with every glance Sam and Vanessa shared. Finally, when the tears became too much to hold in, she turned and slipped quietly into the crowd, out of sight. She needed to escape—to breathe, to collect herself, to somehow find the strength to face the reality that her best friend and her boyfriend were slipping away from her.

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