If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 68

Chapter 68

The night pressed gently against Aaliyah's skin, warm but not suffocating, like a familiar embrace she hadn't asked for. From Ruby's veranda, the world seemed softer, the garden below glowing under the careful placement of lights. Roses — not just red, but ivory, blush pink, and even a daring violet — swayed in the faint breeze. Their petals, scattered like forgotten confetti across the stone path, carried a fragrance that clung to her breath.

She whispered, "Bellissima," the word slipping out like a secret, as though the roses themselves had coaxed it from her lips.

Her mind, however, refused to rest. Insomnia had become a quiet companion since her return. Checkups. Follow‑ups. The stern voices of Wren and Ruby reminding her of routines she could not neglect. The studio, her sanctuary and burden, demanded every ounce of her energy. It was easier to drown in schedules than to face the quiet ache that sometimes surfaced in moments like this.

She leaned against the railing, her fingers tracing the cool iron. The stars above were scattered like diamonds, rare in their clarity tonight. The moon hung heavy, luminous, casting silver over the roses. For a moment, she allowed herself to breathe, to simply exist in the beauty Ruby had cultivated.

"Liking the view?" Ruby's voice startled her, soft yet mischievous, like a cat pouncing without claws.

Aaliyah turned, accepting the iced chocolate Ruby offered. The cold glass grounded her, its sweetness cutting through the heaviness of her thoughts. "Thank you," she murmured, leaning against the railing beside her friend.

Ruby's lips curved into a pout. "You haven't had time to even appreciate my garden."

Aaliyah's honesty was simple, almost apologetic. "I didn't have time since I came back. I got too busy and you knew why."

"As expected of a career‑oriented person like you," Ruby teased, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of longing. "But I am glad you went to meet Soonyoung on his birthday."

The name hit Aaliyah like a stone skipping across still water. She nearly choked on her drink. "The triplets..."

Ruby's reaction mirrored hers, a gasp caught halfway. "The triplets did what? You've met them?"

And so the night unfolded — confessions, laughter, and the slow unraveling of truths they had both been too busy to share.

Aaliyah shifted, her gaze returning to the roses. "Cal is my student in ballet. She's adorable. Her brothers, Leon and Leo, I have met a couple of times, and later on became my students. The three were so adorable. I didn't know Soonyoung was their guardian - I mean their dad. They have nannies that come pick them up or their driver..." She paused, trying to read Ruby's face.

Ruby's brows furrowed, her sulk replaced by curiosity. "Then you met them together?"

"Yes. A few days before Soonyoung's birthday at the mall when I was buying some clothes. That was the only time I saw the kids with their dad. I didn't even know it was Soonyoung. I was shocked and ran away after hearing them invite me to his birthday."

Ruby tilted her head, her earrings catching the moonlight. "But you ended up going because?"

"The kids were persistent. They even came to the office, inviting me persistently. I didn't have a choice," Aaliyah said, looking at Ruby innocently.

Ruby's laugh was soft, almost conspiratorial. "You don't seem very shocked to see Soonyoung with the triplets?"

"I don't?" Aaliyah bit her lip, uncertain.

"You didn't seem shocked at all that Soonyoung has kids now."

Aaliyah watched a tiny moth dance near the porch light. "It's been years, Ru. Of course, he'd have a wife by now. A family." She forced a soft smile. "It's right that he moved on."