COLLIDING GAZES
They're finally here. This was the place where their journey to Boys Odyssey would technically start. Because as soon as they signed the contract, it would make them official contestants of the survival program.
"Let's go?" his mother asked.
Both he and Robin followed his mother inside the building. They navigated through the bustling lobby, unsure of where to go next.
His mother approached the front desk and asked, "Excuse me, we're here for the contract signing of Vnet's new survival program. Could you tell us where to go?"
The receptionist smiled and replied, "Of course. Please take the elevator to the sixth floor and follow the hallway to the right. You'll see signs directing you to a waiting room. Please wait there, and someone will come to assist you with the next steps."
After thanking the receptionist, they headed to the elevator and rode up to the sixth floor. Exiting the elevator, they continued down the hallway, following the signs to the waiting room that the receptionist pointed them to.
When they entered the waiting room, a staff member was seated at a desk near the door. "Hello, are you here for the contract signing?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes," Eunji answered.
The staff member glanced at Haneul and Robin standing behind Eunji, then picked up a tablet from the desk. "Can you please tell me your names and show me some ID?"
Haneul stepped forward. He took out his student ID card from his wallet and put it down on the desk. "My name is Kang Haneul."
The staff member began swiping through the tablet, likely checking the list of people who passed the public audition. She glanced at his ID, then at the tablet, and finally back at him.
"Can you remove your mask, please?"
Haneul removed his mask and put it in his pocket. Since they were already here, he decided there was no need to keep it on.
When the staff saw his face, she was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained her composure, showcasing her professionalism. "It says here that you're 18. May I confirm if this lady is your guardian?"
"Yes, he's my mother," Haneul confirmed.
The staff nodded and then turned to Robin. He followed suit, showing his ID to the staff, who then checked the tablet.
"Okay. Please sit down over there. Someone will come later to call your name. Just follow them to sign the contract."
They followed the staff's instructions and sat down in a few empty seats.
Haneul quickly glanced around. There weren't many people present—just five other young men around his age, along with some of their guardians. This made it clear that those who passed the audition were not all asked to come at the same time, likely to ensure a smoother and more manageable process.
Just as he was about to just look ahead, the door of the waiting room opened and his gaze just landed there. It just happened that the person who just walked in also looked in his direction. A pair of gray eyes met his, holding his gaze for what seemed like an eternity.
Jung Taeyang nodded at him, the action so natural it seemed like they were long-time acquaintances. The other didn't even appear surprised to see him. So Haneul instinctively nodded back. Then Jung Taeyang turned his attention to the staff.
"Oh, it's number one."
Robin's voice pulled Haneul's attention away from Jung Taeyang.
"Number one?" his mother, who was sitting between them, asked.
"It's the guy who just walked in, Aunt Eunji," Robin explained. "He was the first to perform during the audition, so I called him number one."
Eunji looked in the direction Robin indicated. She saw a tall, handsome young man with an indifferent expression. It was obvious at a glance that he was an Alpha. Unlike Robin, who might be mistaken for an Alpha, this young man embodied the very essence of the word 'Alpha,' leaving no room for doubt.
The worry she initially felt when her son decided to join an idol survival program resurfaced. Seeing just one Alpha had already triggered her anxiety. How would she feel when she saw the other Alpha participants? And she was certain there would be more.
She took a deep breath and pushed her worry aside. To ease her mind, she decided to change the topic. However, before she could say anything, someone entered the room from the opposite entrance to where they had come in earlier.
The male staff was holding a tablet just like the female staff by the door.
"Is Kang Haneul-ssi here?" he said.
Haneul raised his hand. "Here."
The staff member glanced in his direction and briefly showed the same stunned reaction as the female staff earlier when she saw Haneul's face but quickly regained his composure as well. "Kang Haneul-ssi and your guardian, please follow me."