If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 52

Chapter 52

"With Aaliyah"

The silence that followed was deafening. Aaliyah's heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

Then, Dino broke it with a grin. "I knew it. I knew it would happen!" he exclaimed, laughing.

Seungkwan gasped dramatically. "You kept it from us for a year? Yah, hyung!"

Vernon smirked. "Makes sense. You two were always... different."

Seungcheol leaned back, his expression unreadable at first, before a small smile tugged at his lips. "Soonyoung-ah, you should have told us sooner. But... I'm glad you did now."

Relief washed over Aaliyah, her shoulders sagging as the tension drained. Ruby squeezed her hand under the table, Wren giving her a reassuring nod.

The boys erupted into chatter again, teasing Soonyoung, congratulating Aaliyah, and making jokes about how they had suspected all along. The atmosphere shifted from tense to celebratory, and for the first time that day, Aaliyah felt truly at ease.

As the evening deepened, laughter echoed through the villa. The grills sizzled, music played softly, and the stars began to peek through the sky. Aaliyah sat beside Soonyoung, her hand in his, surrounded by friends who had become family.

Her nervousness had been real, overwhelming even. But now, it felt like a distant memory. The sanctuary wasn't just the villa—it was the people around her, the bonds they shared, and the courage to finally embrace the truth.

For Aaliyah, this was more than a gathering. It was the beginning of something new, something honest. And as Soonyoung leaned closer, whispering, "See? I told you," she couldn't help but smile.

The8 tilted his head, his sharp gaze cutting through the laughter. He had been quiet until now, observing with that calm, thoughtful air that always made people feel like he saw more than he let on. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady but curious.

"Since when?"

The chatter stilled again, though this time it wasn't tense—it was expectant. Everyone turned toward Aaliyah and Soonyoung, grins spreading across their faces.

Soonyoung rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. "Uh... well..."

Aaliyah felt her cheeks heat up. She squeezed his hand tighter, as if grounding herself. "It's been... about a year," she admitted softly.

A chorus of reactions followed.

"A year?! But how?" Seungkwan practically shrieked, clutching his chest like he'd been betrayed. "You mean I've been living in ignorance this whole time?"

Dino laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink. "I told you guys! I said they were acting suspicious!"

Vernon leaned forward, smirking. "Suspicious? More like obvious. I mean, come on. The way they looked at each other? It wasn't subtle."

Ruby giggled, nudging Aaliyah. "We tried to keep it low-key, but apparently we failed."

Wren added with a grin, "Or maybe you succeeded too well. They only suspected, not confirmed."

Seungcheol raised a hand, silencing the playful chaos. His smile was gentle now, his tone carrying the weight of leadership but also affection. "Alright. Since The8 asked, let's make this official. An interview."

The boys erupted in agreement, clapping their hands, some even chanting "Interview! Interview!" like it was a game show.

Aaliyah groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh no..."