A BIG FAN

AFTER Haneul walked out of the restroom, he went to another one to do what he came there to do. The thing was, he didn't even remember how he got to that other restroom. When he came to his senses, he was already washing his hands.

He let out a deep sigh. This was all because his mind was still filled with what had happened. And no, it's not just because of accidentally finding a girl who just manifested as an Omega. Most of it was because of seeing Jung Taeyang.

He hadn't expected to see him again so soon after the public audition. Given that Jung Taeyang wasn't one of the original contestants of the survival program in Haneul's previous world, he assumed it would be a long time before their paths crossed again. But they unexpectedly met here.

One might think that he was overreacting. Because why did it matter if he met the other or not? It's not like they knew each other personally in his previous world. But the thing was, he had a special place in his heart for Jung Taeyang. Not Jung Taeyang the person, of course. But Jung Taeyang the singer/musician.

Haneul was not just a casual listener of the other's music. He was a big fan. Buying his albums was the only indulgence he ever allowed himself. Jung Taeyang's music was his sole retreat during the years when he was drowning in loneliness and misery. His songs spoke to him on a deeper level. It's not an exaggeration to say that his music helped him get through life.

One would often hear people say that a certain musician's music saved them. You might think that how could that be possible? But it could indeed happen.

For Haneul, Jung Taeyang's music was more than just songs; they were lifelines. During the darkest times of his life, when loneliness and despair threatened to overwhelm him, Jung Taeyang's melodies and lyrics provided solace and understanding. They resonated with his own experiences, offering a sense of connection and hope that he desperately needed.

But despite being a big fan, Haneul was never able to attend any of Jung Taeyang's concerts. His circumstances simply didn't allow it. It wasn't just the guilt of spending money; he was also too busy working nonstop to find the time to even attend one.

That's one of the reasons why seeing him at the public audition was such a shock to Haneul. It wasn't just the fact that he was in a place he supposedly shouldn't have been. It was mostly because it was the first time he had seen the musician he admired up close.

He even felt disappointed when he realized that there's a chance that Jung Taeyang might not be able to join the survival program. His disappointment mostly stemmed from feeling that it's a shame that such a talented person couldn't join Boys Odyssey because of his family circumstances.

Of course, that was just his assumption, and there might be another reason why he couldn't join. But the fact that Jung Taeyang was not part of Boys Odyssey in Haneul's original world already showed that he would also not be a part of this survival program in this world.

According to Yeomra, most of the events that happened in both worlds were the same. With just a 'tiny' difference. So, there was no reason for him to believe that the events of what happened in Boys Odyssey before the start of official filming would be different.

But then again, Yeomra's definition of 'tiny' was not of human standard. So, maybe, just maybe, there's a chance that Jung Taeyang would end up as a participant in the survival program.

Thinking of that possibility, Haneul couldn't help but be excited. Managing to debut together with the musician he admired would be such a dream. Maybe they could even talk about music once the filming began. Should he try to befriend him?

He shook his head. Why was he suddenly getting ahead of himself? Although he liked Jung Taeyang as a musician, he's not exactly interested in him as a person. Why did it matter whether they could be friends or not? It was the music he liked, not him. It would be enough if he could perform on the same stage as Jung Taeyang.

After he finished washing his hands, Haneul walked out of the restroom. As soon as he did, the phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out and saw that there was a message from Robin.

[Robin (wannabeidol)]: Haneul, I'm already outside the mall. Where are you?

[Haneul (sky410)]: I just went to the restroom, I'm already on my way out. Just stay where you are.

He put back his phone in his pocket and briskly walked towards the entrance of the mall.