If I Could Dance With You Again

IICDWYA: 73

Chapter 73

Aaliyah Brielle's POV

Wren decided to sleep over at Ruby's house, and somehow the three of us ended up sharing Ruby's room. She had just changed her bed again—this time into a California king. For someone as petite as Ruby, the sight of her with such a massive bed begged for commentary.

"Your bed is way too big for a five-foot-three girl," I teased, shaking my head.

"She needed it for her fantasies," Wren replied so casually that I nearly dropped my toothbrush. Coming from Wren Willow—quiet, gentle, perpetually composed—that sort of remark felt like hearing a cat recite Shakespeare.

Ruby didn't miss a beat. "For a wild girl like me, I need plenty of space," she added with a smug grin.

I blinked several times, still processing their unexpected boldness. "What is wrong with both of you?"

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "What? Cat got your tongue, tall girl? Don't act like you're still a saint." She let out that familiar laugh of hers—the one that always managed to disarm me.

"Was it big?" she added, far too casually.

I choked on nothing but air. "Ruby! You and your mouth!"

Wren, already climbing into the bed, tried and failed to hold back her laughter. Ruby followed her, still grinning.

"What, five-foot-seven girl?" Ruby stared at me with theatrical intensity. "No one here is innocent."

"Bozhe moi," Ruby exclaimed dramatically as I continued glaring at her. She pointed at me. "And look at this five-foot-five girl here—definitely not innocent either!"

"Stop arguing and get in. Yeah, this five-foot-five girl was never innocent. I never claimed I was tho," Wren murmured, pulling the blanket to her chest. That was her version of order.

We finally settled down. Even then, we spent hours talking about nothing and everything until sleep finally claimed us around three in the morning.

We woke up embarrassingly late. Wren had already rerouted her patients to her partner doctor so she could stay on call nearby. Ruby suggested we go somewhere close to the hospital in case Wren needed to rush back.

So, we headed to the beach, grabbed lunch from a small, nondescript restaurant that Ruby somehow adored, and let the sea breeze tangle our thoughts back into place. They both hovered around me more than usual, their attentiveness subtle but unmistakable. And I matched them. I wanted to.

They were happy—genuinely moving into better chapters of their own lives. And I wanted to move forward, too.

The two decided to send me back to my house in the suburbs. They told me to reflect on the things I wanted to do next and what my plans were.

It took me weeks of silence in that house, sorting through the storm in my head. I thought isolation would help me decide, but in the end, I remembered the promise I made—to include them in every struggle, not shut them out.

So I called them. And finally, I sorted what was in my head.

That's how I found myself running to Soonyoung's home, breathless but certain it was time to tell him everything.

"Hi!" I said after knocking.

"Hel-lo!" Soonyoung was clearly startled to see me. "You're panting. Did you run here?"

"Your front yard is too extensive. I had to sprint to your front door," I replied, still catching my breath. "I think I forgot to even tell you—you have a beautiful home."

"Thank you! Come in," he said quickly, almost in panic. "Take a seat."

I bowed and didn't talk, casually checking out the house while he went to the kitchen. I smiled, seeing how beautiful the kids were in the photos.

"Here," he offered, returning with a pitcher of water, juice, and a box of chocolate chips.

"The triplets love Café Neda's chocolate chips," Soonyoung mentioned casually. They were my favorite, too.

"Thanks," I said, sipping the water.

"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced. But I guess it was time for me to tell you everything," I began. "Are you alone?"

"They're at my parents' house. And yes, I'm alone," he confirmed.

"Okay, so what is it you want to tell me?" Soonyoung asked as he sat beside me.

"You shouldn't force yourself if you're not ready," he reminded gently.

"No. I insist. I think it is indeed time," I refuted.

"I lied to you about everything, and I'm sorry for it," I started truthfully. "But I don't regret it. I'm glad I did, because look at what you've become. You're successful and thriving. I'm happy to see you happy."

"I don't understand," Soonyoung said, confused.

"You must have known me as the respected choreographer, but actually, my first job was as a midnight ballerina, Soonyoung-ah."

He looked at me intently, listening without judgment.

"I may not be like others who can be tabled or talked to privately, but I still performed out in public with a mysterious identity. I did it to survive. Ruby saved me from it and gave me a better job," I continued. "I just wanted to be transparent. Because it wasn't a normal job, and people might find it indecent."

Soonyoung held my shoulder. "I don't care about your past. I loved you for who you are."

I bit my lips, guilt pressing down.

"You shouldn't have hidden that. Because in every corner of you, I appreciate. People fighting to survive shouldn't be judged for the jobs they take. When survival is at stake, they'll do whatever they can. I cannot judge you for that. And it's okay for me."

"Thank you," I whispered, eyes watering. I hadn't expected him to say that.

"Besides, I did something bad in my life, too. It broke us apart. I don't even know if you still want me after seeing my kids," Soonyoung admitted, disappointment heavy in his tone.

"I think the kids are adorable. They really look after you. Forcing you into me was funny—they didn't know we were once..." I trailed off, awkwardness thick in the air.

"Yeah. And I owe them a lot for their mom. It's just that I've been delaying it, but I think they deserve to know, or at least meet her. All I know is they were left on my porch on my birthday," Soonyoung explained. "They had bracelets with them—my only clue. I registered them as mine. Later, I even took them for DNA testing because of my friends' demands, and thankfully, confirmed they were mine."

"They are yours for sure," I said softly. He nodded.

"The twin boys, Bren and Bryan, look so much like you. They got your eyes."

There was a pause. He stared at me intently.

"H-how?" Soonyoung stammered, startled, as if realization struck him.

He crumbled, just like the others had when they heard my truth. It hurt to see him break, but strangely... I felt relief, too.

I was grateful I'd finally told him—grateful he finally knew.

Even if it was too much for him.
Even if it left both of us a little shattered.

Because this, too, was part of moving forward.