Serendipity {PARK JIMIN FAN FICTION}

Four

  Aria sat quietly at the edge of the table as she listened to the roaring laughter and scattered conversations around the table. Piper's friends and family were huddled around the table, and though the sight of strangers made her uneasy, she kept her feelings of discomfort to herself. Her eyes kept shifting between Taehyung and Piper, looking to them for reassurance that she was safe. Looking around the dimly lit room, she made eye contact with Jin on the other side of the table, who gave her a small smile. She looked away as he was pulled back into a conversation with his friends.

"I told Jin to visit you at work," Piper nudged Aria's arm.

"Yeah, he did."

"He said you looked stressed," Piper fixed the watch on her arm, raising her eyebrows. "How've you been doing? How's work?"

Piper's apparent concern brought a small smile to Aria's face. She realized just how much her life has lacked the presence of actual human contact. She couldn't even remember the last time someone asked how she was doing.

"I'm okay," she looked down. "I've just been spending my time at the shop."

"That's good," Piper nodded. "What else have you been up to?"

Silence invaded the space between them as Aria fiddled with the hem of her coat.

"Just work."

"Aria," Piper scolded softly. Aria expected this reaction, especially from Piper.

"Have you been writing, at least?"

"No."

Her sister-in-law sighed, reaching out for Aria's arm.

"Aria, I know it's hard, but you can't just go to work and go home everyday," Piper paused for a drink of water. "Go out. Find something to do. It'll be good for you," she encouraged. Aria stayed silent, knowing that Piper was right.

"You can even come visit us," Piper suggested, looking at Aria from the corner of her eye. "We can go out like we used to when you still lived with us," she nudged Aria.

"We used to go walk in the park all the time. Do you remember? We would just sit and feed the cute ducks," Piper reminisced. Aria smiled at the memories of her time with the married couple.

"I remember," she nodded. "It's a shame I had to leave."

Piper was silent for a while before replying. "You didn't have to leave."

Their conversation was interrupted by Taehyung standing up from his seat next to Piper and clinking his glass.

"I'd like to make a toast," he started. He turned his body to face Piper and flashed a dazzling white smile. "To my beautiful wife..."

Taehyung's voice became background noise as Aria's mind continued to wander. Her eyes explored the space, encountering the happy smiles of Piper's guests, people in surrounding tables hungrily slurping the food before them. Outside, the snow had come to a halt, only a few snowflakes flurrying back and forth across the window. It was then that a bright red sign caught her attention. A building across the street was beaming with light in contrast to the rest of the dark street.

Phoenix Studios

Through the window, she could see the silhouettes of people dancing. Groups of people entered the building, carrying large duffel bags and dressed in casual streetwear. The sight twisted Aria's heart in a strange way, making it beat faster in her chest. Her fingers received a familiar yet distant rush that she hadn't felt in years. She could feel the memory of dance crying out for her like a seductive whisper in her ear. She had passed by this very building many times on her way to work before, but she had never paid it any attention. Piper's words of encouragement from earlier in the night were replaying in her head before the table erupted in laughter from something Taehyung said.

"... just wanted to let you know that I love you. To Piper," Taehyung boomed. He rose his glass, and Aria rose her's just as Taehyung finished his toast. She clapped along with everyone else as Taehyung settled into his seat. She tapped Piper's shoulder after the pair gave each other a short kiss.

"Do you remember when I used to dance?"

Piper's eyes widened as she finished drinking some wine. "Are you kidding me?" Piper shook her husband's arm to get his attention. "Miss Aria just asked me if I remember her dancing," she shared.

"Are you kidding me?" Taehyung repeated. Piper laughed at her husband's response, and Aria smiled.

"Of course we remember. Aria, you were such a good dancer." Piper beamed.

"I don't remember it much. It feels like that part of my life happened so long ago..." she thought out loud. "I didn't think I'd miss it until now," she bit her cheek. She turned her head to look at the window, Taehyung and Piper following her gaze.

"It looks like they're having so much fun," she said longingly. "But I probably suck now. I wouldn't be able to keep up," she whined.

"Just do it!" Piper squealed. "Start dancing again! You never know what's waiting for you there if you don't try it. You don't suck. At least try." Piper consoled. Aria could feel herself starting to shake with excitement, excitement that Piper's enthusiasm was amplifying. She couldn't help but smile as her mind filled with memories of dance, and how much she loved the feeling of dancing. She craved it.

She took one last look at the bright red sign flashing above the studio, then at the silhouettes of dancers moving to the beat of the music behind the tinted windows. The words almost jumped out of her mouth.

"I'll do it."