If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 50

Chapter 50: A Vacation Full of Surprises

Aaliyah never imagined that a simple getaway would turn into a whirlwind of emotions and unexpected encounters. When Ruby Rose suggested the trip, Aaliyah hesitated at first. Her mind was tangled in thoughts about Soonyoung—when their relationship would feel safe enough to share with his friends, and whether she was ready for that kind of exposure. It wasn't that she didn't trust him; she did, deeply. But the idea of stepping into his world, of being seen and judged, made her stomach twist in knots.

Ruby, with her usual spark of brilliance, had chosen a villa tucked away in a secluded corner of paradise. The place was breathtaking—rolling hills kissed by golden sunlight, a serene lake shimmering like liquid glass, and a villa that looked like it had been plucked from a dream. The moment Aaliyah stepped onto the terrace and inhaled the crisp, floral-scented air, she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. For the first time in weeks, she could breathe.
Wren Willow was already sprawled on a sunbed, sunglasses perched on her nose, sipping a chilled drink like she owned the place. "This," Wren declared, gesturing at the view, "is therapy. Forget talking to a stranger in an office. This is how you heal."

Aaliyah laughed, the sound bubbling out of her like champagne. Maybe Wren was right. Maybe this was exactly what she needed—a break from the noise, from the pressure, from the constant second-guessing.

But peace, as Aaliyah would soon learn, was fleeting.

She had forgotten one tiny detail: her location tracker. It wasn't intentional—just one of those things you overlook when you're too busy packing swimsuits and sunscreen. Soonyoung, ever the attentive boyfriend, noticed. And instead of sending a casual text, he decided to show up. With friends. 

It will just be alright since they have been friends. She's their choreographer to begin with. It is not a new thing if she is going to meet any of the members. But it felt different because she knew that behind that friendship, she was hiding something. 

When Aaliyah saw him stride through the villa gates, her heart stopped. For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating yesterday. He looked impossibly good in a simple white tee and ripped jeans, his smile bright enough to rival the sun. Behind him trailed a few familiar faces—friends she'd only seen in passing, laughing and chatting like they belonged there.

"Soonyoung?" Her voice cracked like dry wood. "What... what are you doing here?"
He grinned, that mischievous curve of his lips that always made her weak. "You didn't think you could run away from me, did you?"

Ruby shot Aaliyah a look that screamed I told you so, while Wren muttered something about romantic drama being better than any reality show.

Aaliyah's mind raced. She hadn't planned for this. She hadn't prepared for introductions, for conversations, for the possibility of awkward silences. Her relationship with Soonyoung was still their little secret—a fragile bubble she wasn't ready to pop. And now, here he was, standing in the middle of her sanctuary, bringing with him the very world she'd been trying to escape.

Yesterday was already a mess. But today was another catastrophe.

The evening passed in a blur in villa. They shared drinks yesterday under a canopy of stars, laughter echoing across the terrace. For a while, Aaliyah let herself relax. Maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe she could handle it.

But then came the next day—and with it, chaos.

Someone, in a moment of pure recklessness, spilled the tea in their group chat. One innocent message turned into a flood of notifications. By noon, the entire Seventeen crew knew where Soonyoung was—and where Aaliyah was. And because they were all on break, the idea of a spontaneous trip sounded irresistible.

"They're coming," Soonyoung announced, phone in hand, eyes wide with disbelief. "All of them."
Aaliyah felt the blood drain from her face. "All of them? As in... everyone?"

Ruby groaned. "This villa barely fits us. Where are we supposed to put thirteen more people? In the pool?"

They looked at Ruby in awe. The villa was big enough for more than twenty people. The villa has an extension villa at the back and another villa adjacent to theirs and she was saying that it will not fit them. 

Wren snorted. "Hope they can swim."

Panic set in like a storm. They didn't have enough rooms, enough food, enough anything to host an entire boy band. The kitchen was stocked for three girls, not a small army. Aaliyah paced the living room, her thoughts spiralling. This was supposed to be her escape, her safe space. Now it was turning into a circus.

Soonyoung, bless his heart, tried to fix it. He called his hyungs, asking them to bring supplies—food, drinks, anything to keep the impending chaos from swallowing them whole. His calmness was almost infuriating. How could he be so relaxed when her world was crumbling?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of rose and gold, Aaliyah found herself alone on the balcony. The laughter from inside drifted out like distant music, but she couldn't bring herself to join them. Her chest felt tight, her thoughts heavy.

She heard footsteps behind her and didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"You're quiet," Soonyoung said softly, leaning against the railing beside her.

"I didn't expect this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Any of this."
He reached for her hand, his touch warm and grounding. "I know. And I'm sorry if it feels overwhelming. I just... I wanted to be with you."

Her heart ached at the sincerity in his eyes. How could she be mad at him when all he wanted was to share her world? Maybe that was the problem—she'd been so afraid of blending their lives that she forgot why she loved him in the first place.

"I'm scared," she confessed. "Scared of what they'll think. Scared of losing... this."
Soonyoung squeezed her hand gently. "You won't lose me. Not now, not ever."
And in that moment, under the fading light of day, Aaliyah realized something: maybe it was time to stop hiding. Maybe love wasn't meant to be kept in the shadows.

The next moment was a blur of arrivals—cars pulling up, voices shouting greetings, laughter spilling into every corner of the villa. It was chaos, yes, but it was also... beautiful. The air buzzed with energy, with friendship, with something that felt like family.

Aaliyah stood in the middle of it all, watching as Ruby and Wren exchanged playful banter with Soonyoung's friends, as Soonyoung himself moved through the crowd like sunlight, always finding his way back to her.

For the first time, she didn't feel like an outsider. She felt like she belonged.
And maybe, just maybe, this unexpected vacation wasn't a disaster after all. Maybe it was the start of something new—something bigger, brighter, and infinitely more terrifying than she'd ever imagined.

But as Soonyoung wrapped his arm around her and whispered, "Ready for this?" she found herself smiling.

"Yes," she said. "Ready."