If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 42

Chapter 42: Comfort in the Glow: Soonyoung and Aaliyah's Movie Night

Soonyoung and Aaliyah always find comfort in the face of the screen. Movie nights are their sacred ritual—the dependable thread that knits their reationship tighter with each passing week. When life gets tangled and the outside world feels too loud or too far, the soft flicker of the television and the warmth of shared laughter draw them home again.

"Pizza!" Aaliyah exclaimed, eyes wide with anticipation as the lid of the box revealed a bubbling, golden masterpiece. The aroma filled the small living room, mingling with the electric promise of another night of stories and escape. Soonyoung grinned, balancing the pizza box in one hand and a pile of mismatched blankets in the other.

"What movie were you planning? And you seem excited again?" Soonyoung asked, already suspecting that Aaliyah had something special in mind. There was a spark in her eyes—a mischievous glint that always preceded their most memorable nights.

Aaliyah flashed a happy grin and dashed to the television, fingers nimbly scrolling through the options. She stopped, triumphant, and pointed to the screen. "K-pop Demon Hunters," Soonyoung read aloud, amusement lacing his tone. He raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's something so new."

Their movie nights usually circled around action-packed films—the kind with adrenaline-pumping chases, explosions, and heroes who always found a way out. But tonight, the choice was an animated adventure, unfamiliar territory for their tradition. Yet the novelty only added to the anticipation, and the room felt charged with the thrill of the unexpected.

As the opening credits rolled, Soonyoung and Aaliyah settled in, pizza slices in hand and laughter at the ready. The animated world unfolded in vivid color—a whirlwind of magical pop stars, spectral villains, and choreography that made even sitting on the couch feel like an event. They watched intently, swept up in the story, sharing gasps and giggles, pointing out the clever references and the dazzling visuals.

Between bites of pizza and sips of soda, conversation drifted in and out of the space between scenes. They debated their favorite characters and speculated about plot twists, building their own mythology around the film. The outside world faded away, replaced by the comfort of shared company and the glow of the screen.

When the credits finally danced across the television, Aaliyah let out a satisfied sigh, stretching her arms overhead. "That was actually amazing. I think we found a new favorite."

But as the last note of the soundtrack faded, Soonyoung lingered, his gaze still fixed on the credits. "You know," he mused, reaching for another slice, "I feel like the movie needs another season. It was way too short for Rumi and Jinu. Their story's just getting started, and I want more." There was a hint of longing in his voice—a wish for the animated world to keep spinning, for the two main characters to dance and stumble through more adventures.

Aaliyah grinned, catching his enthusiasm. "Maybe they'll announce a sequel. Rumi and Jinu definitely deserve it." The hope hung between them, gentle as the lamp's glow, as if just believing it could make it so.

Aaliyah hugged a pillow to her chest, thoughtful. "You know, sometimes I think some things are meant to meet—even if they're not meant to stay together forever. Like Rumi and Jinu, or maybe even like certain moments in our lives. They cross paths for a reason, light up the story, and maybe that's enough."

Soonyoung considered this, nodding slowly. "Maybe that's true," he agreed, his voice soft. "Some stories burn bright and brief, but we remember them just the same."

Aaliyah hugged the pillow a little tighter, her smile tinged with a bittersweet edge. "Yeah," she said quietly, "it's sad, but... it is what it is, right? Sometimes the best stories don't last forever, and maybe that's what makes them special." She glanced over at Soonyoung, eyes shining with a gentle acceptance. "We just hold onto the good parts, and let them be enough."

Soonyoung let out a playful groan, shaking his head. "I know you're right, but honestly? I kind of hate sad stories." He managed a grin, trying to lighten the mood. "You know me—I'm all about happy endings, or at least a good laugh before the credits roll. Life's hard enough without the extra dose of heartbreak."

He nudged her gently with his shoulder, a spark of his usual cheer returning to his eyes. "That's why I'm glad we can always make these nights fun, no matter what. If a story's going to be sad, I'd rather go through it with you."

Aaliyah smiled at that declaration; a warmth blossomed in her chest, quiet and bright. She felt so happy hearing it from Soonyoung, the sincerity in his words weaving around her like a comforting blanket. "Me too," she replied, her voice soft but sure. "If there's anyone I'd want to share a bittersweet story with, it's you."

She reached over, tapping his wrist with gentle affection, the moment humming with an easy, unspoken gratitude. Around them, the room seemed softer, the flickering screen painting the walls with afterimages of their laughter and sighs. For a few heartbeats, neither spoke, simply content to share the gentle hush that settled in their cozy corner of the world—two people, side by side, savoring the good parts together.

The next morning, sunlight nudged its way between the curtains, painting quiet gold across Aaliyah's sheets. She woke up with that gentle contentment still lingering—a softness that clung to her like the scent of popcorn from the night before. Blinking sleep from her eyes, she reached for her phone, thumb hovering over the screen with a smile blooming before she'd even fully woken up.

To My Pervy Idol Star: Good morning ☀️ hope you made it home okay! Don't forget to eat before your schedule today, idol star ✨

She hit send, imagining Soonyoung's grin on the other end, maybe still bleary-eyed but already gearing up for the busy day ahead. There was a comfort in the small rituals they'd built—a text, a lingering thought—threads that stretched between their mornings, no matter how hurried.

Aaliyah set her phone down, her heart a little lighter. Their movie night had ended, but the warmth of it lingered, carrying her into the day with quiet joy. It felt good, she realized, to have someone to wish well, even from a distance—a reminder that some stories, even the brief ones, left behind the sweetest echoes.

Aaliyah stretched, the familiar ache of anticipation already threading through her arms and legs. She moved through her morning routine with practiced precision: coffee brewing, music humming softly in the background, her mind ticking through the endless list of tasks ahead. Today was no ordinary workday—it was a marathon. She would need every bit of energy and focus she could summon, as if she were fueling not just herself, but three hungry children clamoring for more.

Her planner was crammed, every hour accounted for, her schedule running full blast until three in the morning. One of the idol groups had called her in for a last-minute music video shoot, needing her eyes and expertise on set to refine the choreography as the cameras rolled. Being a dance director meant more than just teaching steps—it meant overseeing the pulse of the entire performance, making sure every beat, every movement, every fleeting glance was captured with intention.

She packed her bag with snacks and extra water, knowing there'd be little time to pause. The weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders, but it was a weight she wore with a certain pride. She was needed—her guidance, her creativity, her steady hand. As she pulled on her favorite jacket, she glanced at the phone again, Soonyoung's imagined smile urging her forward.

With a final swipe of lip balm and a determined breath, Aaliyah stepped out the door, ready to meet the whirlwind of the day. The city was waking with her, streets humming with promise and purpose. It would be a long haul, but she'd face it with the same tenacity she brought to every challenge—heart full, spirit unbroken, chasing the magic that lived in music and movement. And tonight, when the lights finally faded and the songs were done, she knew she'd carry the memory of these small, shining moments—another story, brief and bright, to treasure.