If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 20

Chapter 20

Days have turned into weeks; it was Aaliyah's last day with the Seventeen before they practice solely together as a team without her supervision. Their practice was a bit particular, as Aaliyah also wanted to see how much more potential the group could dispel for improvement. That was her goal every day as she attended their practice. She was surprised by their professionalism. It was like a rumor turned into reality. They were very professional, and she was pleased.

Soonyoung didn't miss a day of sending Aaliyah to her car after their three-week session together. He sent Aaliyah to the parking lot or to the nearest bus station, even when she didn't ask him to. It became his habit. As the days passed, they worked together, and he always sent their choreographer home when they finished sessions, especially knowing how tiring they were.

Their closeness became a little closer than usual. The two finally had enough confidence to be friends. It was comfortable. She didn't mind whatever bad things might happen to her now. Furthermore, she somehow liked it now.

"Gomawo!" Aaliyah thanked Soonyoung before she entered her car. She never missed a day of thanking the guy, as she appreciated his effort in getting her safely to her car. The guy had carried her gym bag and put it in the passenger's seat like he used to.

"Take care!" Soonyoung told her before they waved goodbye.

"Annyeong, ssaem!" It was Dino who was with Soonyoung today while sending Aaliyah to her car.

"Annyeong," Aaliyah waved goodbye before heading home. She was all smiles, showing her rare smile at the guys.

"Take care," Soonyoung repeated. Aaliyah bowed and also waved goodbye again. She finally closed the windows, honked, then sped away from the guys.

Soonyoung didn't finish waving until he could no longer see Aaliyah's car. He only stopped when he heard Dino say something that rang so loudly in his ears.

"Hyung, noona joahae?" Dino babbleb.

"Huh?" Soonyoung was taken aback.

"Do you like noona? I mean, ssaem? I know she is gorgeous and talented. I wouldn't actually mind if you answered me yes," Dino expressed his thoughts on his hyung. While it is evident that Soonyoung didn't expect that from his young bro, he maintained his calm.

Do I? he questioned himself in his mind, not knowing it resounded out loud.

"Yeah. You obviously like her. You always send her to her car. Sometimes at the station, or sometimes also sending her home directly if we are done practicing. You know, you always volunteer. Now, you look like one of the hyungs who are in a relationship. That foolish loving look while sending their girlfriends away," Soonyoung was stupefied.

"Then you also secretly attend her lessons, lying to us about your whereabouts. It would be understanding if you really like her," that was the time that it sank into Soonyoung.

"잠깐만 (Jamkkanman)!" he stopped Dino from walking, his voice slurred. "뭐라고 (mworago)? What did you say?" he repeated. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, or maybe he heard everything wrong.

"Hyung, you are not thinking I am still an innocent pup, huh? I happened to see you one time and accidentally followed you. That's how I discovered that you have been busy for the past few days because of something personal, I might say," Dino answered.

Soonyoung panicked the moment he heard Dino say it. He dragged Dino to a café and wanted to talk to him.

Soonyoung

I just sent Aaliyah to her car after our last rehearsal for today. It was a normal thing for me to do. We have been closer than usual, but it was pretty standard for me.

Aaliyah? Really, Soonyoung? Are you close now? - Authornim

I guess, author.

Soonyoung, I felt like you were blushing while saying that - Authornim.

Am I blushing? I suddenly caressed my cheeks. I mean, yes, we are close now. I guess.

And sending her today made me realize that we have been misunderstood by others. Dino just started jabbering things I didn't expect him to say.

"Ani. Let me explain," I dragged him to my car, which was parked nearby, and went to find the farthest Café Neda that I could find. It is the only café that I know I will be talking in. The car ride was a little tense. I could not make myself speak. I could tell Dino was a bit uncomfortable, and he knew something.

I rushed to park the car in an empty slot, even stealing it from another vehicle that honked hard at us. "Hyung! Mwoya!" Dino staggered and held tight to the armrest.

When I finished parking, Dino immediately went out and apologized to the other car. Luckily, there was another slot on the side as well. "Hyung, palli!" Dino nagged me to go out and apologized, too.

I bowed to the other car after it had parked across us. Then we went inside the café. Dino was the one who ordered our drinks while I went to find a place for us to sit. Dino had waited for our drinks, taking them for a while before coming to me.

"Don't look tense, hyung. It is not bad to like someone, especially for someone like you, whom I have never seen date anyone," Dino explained to me while he was putting our drinks down.

"Ani," I was about to explain, but he cut me off.

"Hyung, 괘찬나 (gwaechanna)! It is okay. I wouldn't mind, and if you are not comfortable talking about it yet, I could stop 지금 당장 jigeum dangjang," Dino was assuring me.

I smiled. "Sit. I have to really explain myself, and it is not because I will be denying things." Only then, when Dino sat and restfully looked at me.

"Okay," Dino said.

"I am doing those, I just wanted to do it," I told him. I was nice and extra caring for Aaliyah because I just had the urge to do it.

"It wasn't because of the bad things that happened when we first met. I wasn't taking good care of her right now because I kept hurting her when we first met. I was doing it because I felt like doing it. I don't really have any reason in specific," I explained to Dino, who was looking at me, and I think he was also attentively listening while he was drinking his Iced Americano.

Dino began nodding.

"Do you get what I mean? I enrolled in her class because I find her talented. Her works are amazing, and I am just really curious about how she became a dance choreographer instead of anything else," I told him.

That was somehow a lie, but I am indeed amazed by her talent and her way of dancing. It is just everything about her makes me curious, so I was willing to unravel every bit of her life. And I felt like I was somehow connected to her now, because I cannot really deny that fact, something about her is so familiar that it made me interested in her.

"Your curiosity might kill someone, hyung. Just make sure that you are not hurting yourself or anyone after trying whatever you are doing right now." Dino is growing up so fast. He is maturing so fast that I can tell he will be a good man.

I nodded in agreement.

I also promised. I am just curious, but I am also not imagining myself hurting someone with what I am doing.