If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 45

Chapter 45

Kwon, Soonyoung

I glanced around the familiar café, sunlight streaming through the windows and catching in the steam rising from our cups. After Aaliyah left, the quiet that settled between us felt precious—almost fragile—because deep down, I knew moments like this were fleeting. With Jeonghan hyung and Seungcheol hyung soon heading off for military service, the laughter and stories we shared over lunch meant more than ever. Our conversations wandered freely.

The topic traced back to what had happened a while ago, resurfacing just when I thought everything had finally died down. But it hadn't. Once Aaliyah was no longer around, the guys seized their chance to bombard me with questions.

Seungkwan was the first to break the silence, raising an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. "So, Soonyoung hyung, was all that really true? You just dropped it like it was nothing."

I could only shrug, my cheeks growing warm. I don't want to answer anything. "I mean... yeah, I guess... I don't know?" I was confused like I didn't know what to answer.

Mingyu leaned over the table, eyes wide with exaggerated disbelief. "No way. Seriously, though, what did Aaliyah ssaem even see in you? You must have some secret we don't know about." He nudged Seungkwan, who was already smirking.

Seungkwan chimed in, "That's what I'm trying to figure out. I've known Soonyoung for years and I'm still looking for his charm. Come on, spill it—did you cast a spell or what?"

Seungcheol laughed, shaking his head. "I swear, if you had some magic move, you need to teach us before we go off to the military. Time's ticking!"

Their questions came at me like a tidal wave—one after another, overlapping and growing more ridiculous with each round.

"Wait, so what exactly did you say to her?" Mingyu pressed, his curiosity relentless.

"Yeah, was it your dancing? Your smile?" Seungkwan added, his voice half-mocking, half-genuine.

"Or maybe it's that weird laugh of yours," Seungcheol said, feigning deep thought. "Girls like a guy with a unique laugh, right?"

I felt surrounded, not uncomfortably, but in that way, you do when friends are determined to lift the weight of awkwardness with their relentless teasing. Their voices overlapped, the questions spinning around me until I just held up my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! I don't even know what to answer first. Maybe she just liked how normal I am. Or maybe she's the only one who sees something in me you all don't."

They burst out laughing, Seungkwan clapping me on the back. "That's the best answer you've given all day, Soonyoung."

Even as the teasing continued, I found myself smiling, grateful for the chaos of their friendship—each joke, each question, another thread in the fabric of these rare, precious moments.

But even with their relentless questions, I didn't confirm anything—or deny it, either. I just kept my silence, letting their jokes ricochet around the table. At one point, Wonwoo spoke up, calm and steady in a way only he could be.

"He'll tell us when he's ready," he said, with a slight nod in my direction, and somehow that was enough to make the others ease off—at least for the moment. Their curiosity never truly faded, but with Wonwoo's quiet support, the conversation shifted, laughter lingering as we found new things to poke fun at.

The air settled, just for a beat, as someone reached for another piece of fried chicken. That's when Dino, always wearing his heart on his sleeve, suddenly let out a long sigh. "You know, I'm really going to miss you guys when you're off in the military," he blurted, cutting through the laughter. The table went quiet for a split second, the new weight of the future nudging its way into our lighthearted teasing.