If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 70

Chapter 70

Thirty minutes later, the triplets grew restless. "We will call appa, samchon," Leon said.

They ran upstairs, bursting into his room. Soonyoung scooped them up, laughter spilling out as he tickled them.

"Appa, aniya! Come. Palli! Let's go downstairs," Faline urged.

"We can play here. Appa misses you guys," he said, holding them close.

But Leon's voice was firm. "Appa! We have to go downstairs and play there. Now, appa! Palli!"

Leo added, "Close your eyes, too. You need to see something."

Soonyoung chuckled. "Fine. But I'll close my eyes later when we're downstairs, okay?"

He didn't know what awaited him.

The triplets' voices rang out in unison, their little hands tugging at Soonyoung's arms as they guided him forward.

"Appa! No peeking!" Faline scolded, her tiny palm pressed firmly over his eyes like a vigilant guard.

Soonyoung chuckled, surrendering to their determination. He knew better than to resist — if he did, they'd only grow louder, more insistent, their playful anger transforming into a storm. So he let them lead him, each child clutching his hands tightly, their steps quick and excited.

"Appa, open your eyes after thee," Leon instructed, his voice trembling with anticipation.

The three began to count, their voices rising in rhythm.

"Hana."
"Dul."
"Set."

And then —

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SOONYOUNG‑AH!"

The backyard erupted. Party poppers burst, showering the air with confetti. Laughter and cheers collided into one joyous wave.

Soonyoung froze. His feet rooted to the ground, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes darted across the crowd, taking in familiar faces — his brothers, his friends, his family. The warmth of their smiles, the sparkle of their eyes, the love that radiated from every corner of the gathering.

But then his gaze landed on one particular figure.

Aaliyah.

Her presence hit him like a tidal wave like he didn't just met her last night. The world seemed to blur around her, the noise fading into a distant hum. She stood there, her short hair catching the glow of the garden lights, her expression a mixture of hesitation and quiet strength.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

Soonyoung's chest tightened, memories flooding back — laughter shared in late‑night practices, whispered promises, the ache of their parting. He had imagined this moment countless times, but never like this. Never with confetti in the air and his children tugging at his sleeves.

The triplets squealed, oblivious to the tension. "Appa! Surprise!"

But Soonyoung's eyes never left hers.

And Aaliyah, though tired and overwhelmed, held his gaze.

It was as if the universe had conspired to bring them here, to this exact moment, forcing them to face what had been left unsaid.

The backyard pulsed with color and sound. Confetti drifted down like sparks, catching the glow of string lights strung overhead. The triplets squealed with delight, darting between legs and tugging at sleeves, their laughter rising above the music.

Tables lined the edges of the yard, covered in bright cloths and laden with food — steaming trays of japchae, fried chicken, sizzling steaks, pastas, bowls of rice, and plates of fruit glistening under the lanterns. In one corner, glasses clinked as friends gathered around the drinks table, chatter spilling into bursts of laughter.