If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 61

Chapter 61

The kitchen was alive with warmth, the kind that came not only from the simmering pots and pans but from the chatter of voices, the laughter of children echoing faintly from the living room, and the occasional clatter of utensils against ceramic. The scent of garlic sautéing in olive oil mingled with the tang of tomato sauce, filling the air with a homely comfort that made the house feel like a sanctuary.

April leaned against the counter, her arms folded, eyes flicking toward the doorway where the triplets darted past in a blur of giggles and squeals. "The triplets are really getting big," she whispered, her tone carrying both awe and disbelief.

Yanika, who was carefully slicing bell peppers, glanced up. Her gaze softened as she followed April's line of sight. The children were chasing each other, their laughter rising above the hum of conversation. "I know," she replied, her voice low but tinged with affection.

April's brows furrowed, her tactless curiosity bubbling to the surface. "But how? Soonyoung loved Aaliyah too much. It was so hard for him to even move on from her, even when she left him so coldly, like they didn't have anything. And the kids... they weren't hers?"

Yanika froze mid-slice, her knife hovering above the cutting board. She shot April a sharp look, a silent plea for discretion. April blinked, confused, not catching the signal.

"What?!" she asked, her voice rising slightly.

Yanika's eyes darted toward Wren and Ruby, who were both within earshot. She gave April another subtle signal, a tilt of her head, a warning glance.

April's mouth fell open as realization dawned. "I'm sorry, Wren. I just don't understand," she said, her words tumbling out awkwardly.

Wren Willow, who had been stirring a pot of soup, bit her lip. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the wooden spoon. "Well, we were mad too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe Aaliyah had a reason for leaving him."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. Wren knew more than she let on. Deep inside, she carried the weight of Aaliyah's secret, the reason that had driven her to vanish, to cut ties so abruptly.

Ruby, standing at the stove with her trademark resting expression, stirred the pasta with deliberate motions. "We are definitely mad," she said flatly. "She went off-grid years ago. It seems like she didn't want to be seen by anyone."

April tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Sounds like the one I know," she muttered cryptically.

Yanika's eyes narrowed. She knew exactly what April meant, but she chose not to press. Instead, she spoke with quiet wisdom. "If that's the case, then we should be more careful. We should wait for her to come back, if she even wants to. You know, when someone is ready to return, they'll do it without hesitation. Let her breathe."

The girls nodded, the weight of Yanika's words settling over them.

"I just hope she's okay," Yanika added softly. "I hope she had someone to rely on during her breather."

Ruby and Wren exchanged a glance, guilt flickering in their eyes. They knew their friend had been lonesome, wandering through shadows without the comfort of companionship.

April, ever the one to stir the pot, spoke again. "I hope she does come back. But what if she comes back with Soonyoung's baby?"

The thought struck her suddenly, and she gasped, clutching her chest. "Ugh. That would really be a messed-up thing."

The girls fell silent, the scenario sinking into their minds. What if she did?

Seungkwan, who had wandered into the kitchen, overheard the tail end of the conversation. He chuckled, shaking his head. "Then she'll come back with Soonyoung's baby and find out that Soonyoung hyung already has triplets?" He laughed, the sound breaking the tension.

"Girls, you and your wild imaginations," Seungcheol added as he stepped in, checking on his wife.

The group laughed awkwardly, the heaviness dissipating for a moment as they returned to their tasks.

But beneath the laughter, unease lingered. Each woman carried her own version of Aaliyah's story, fragments of memory that painted her as both victim and deserter.

Yanika and April remembered the nights when Aaliyah, their high school friend, would sit on the porch, her eyes distant, her hands clutching a mug of tea she never drank. She had always seemed torn, as though her heart was caught between staying and fleeing.

Wren recalled the last conversation they had before Aaliyah disappeared. "Sometimes love isn't enough," Aaliyah had whispered, her voice trembling. "Sometimes it suffocates." Wren had wanted to ask more, but Aaliyah had walked away, leaving only silence.

Ruby's memories were sharper, tinged with anger. She remembered Soonyoung's devastation, the way he had crumbled when Aaliyah left. Ruby had sworn never to forgive her for the pain she caused. Yet now, years later, guilt gnawed at her.

April, though tactless, had always admired Aaliyah's strength. But she couldn't reconcile the image of the woman who had once been the center of Soonyoung's world with the ghost who vanished without explanation.

The triplets were a constant reminder of resilience. Their laughter filled the house, their energy boundless. Each child carried traces of Soonyoung's features — the curve of his smile, the spark in his eyes.

Yanika often wondered how Soonyoung managed to rebuild his life, to embrace fatherhood despite the scars of abandonment. The children were proof that he had found a way forward, even if the path had been paved with heartbreak.

April's words echoed in their minds. What if she comes back with his baby?

The thought was both terrifying and tantalizing. It would unravel everything — the fragile peace, the new beginnings, the acceptance they had fought to build.

Wren's heart clenched. She knew the truth, the secret Aaliyah had confided in her. If Aaliyah did return, it wouldn't just be with a baby. It would be with revelations that could shatter them all.

Seungkwan's laughter had been lighthearted, but it masked his own unease. He had seen Soonyoung's pain firsthand, had watched him struggle to be both father and friend.

Seungcheol, protective as always, had dismissed the girls' speculation. But deep down, he feared the same scenario. He knew how fragile happiness could be, how easily the past could resurface.

As the evening wore on, the kitchen buzzed with activity. Plates were set, glasses filled, and the aroma of pasta and soup filled the air. The children's laughter blended with the adults' chatter, creating a symphony of life.

Yet beneath the surface, the whispers lingered. The name Aaliyah hung in the air like a ghost, a reminder of unfinished stories and unanswered questions.

Yanika glanced at her friends, her heart heavy. "Let's just hope," she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else, "that when she does come back, we'll be ready."

The others nodded, their faces shadowed by uncertainty.

And somewhere, far away, Aaliyah breathed in the silence of her solitude, unaware that her return was already being imagined, feared, and longed for.