COLLIDING GAZES (REPLAY)

HANEUL took his suitcase from his father, who had just lifted it out of the car's trunk. He glanced at the name tag attached to his suitcase, recalling how the PD had instructed them to attach it during the contract signing. So, there it was.

Not wanting to trouble Uncle Hyunwoo, Robin quickly reached into the trunk and grabbed his own luggage before anyone could offer to help.

Hyunwoo smiled when he saw that. Although Robin seemed like a very easygoing kid, he was quite thoughtful in his actions, always mindful of the small ways he could show consideration for others. It was a subtle gesture, but it spoke volumes about his character.

He was relieved that someone like Robin was friends with his son. Knowing that Haneul would have Robin by his side during the survival program gave him comfort. Together, they could provide each other with the moral support and encouragement needed to face the challenges ahead.

"Both of you, always eat on time and don't neglect your health. No matter how busy you get, remember that taking care of yourselves comes first," Eunji reminded them. Then, turning to her son, she added, "And don't forget to call whenever you get the chance, okay?"

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll try to call every day," Haneul promised.

Although cellphones were not allowed, if he remembered correctly, Boys Odyssey had a phone booth area on the ship where contestants could make calls for up to an hour each day.

"Oppa, Robin oppa, I'll tell all my classmates to vote for you once the voting starts. I'll even do my best to promote you to everyone at my school," Haeun declared enthusiastically.

Robin chuckled, clearly amused. "Then I'll be counting on you, Haeun."

Haneul playfully ruffled his sister's hair. "Try not to give Mom and Dad too much trouble while I'm away, okay?"

Haeun tried to dodge his hand, then pouted. "What are you talking about, oppa? I'm always on my best behavior."

Haneul just shook his head with a smile. Then he noticed that the parking lot at the Jeil ENM Center was beginning to fill up. He recalled seeing a sign earlier when they entered, reminding the contestants' cars for Vnet's new survival program to vacate the parking area within 10 minutes.

Which made sense. With 100 contestants, even if only half were driven here by their family, the parking lot would quickly become congested, especially with the staff's vehicles already taking up space.

"Mom, Dad, Robin hyung and I will go ahead now," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. As much as he wanted to prolong their goodbye, he knew they eventually had to part. It was better to do it now before emotions overwhelmed him and he started to second-guess his decision.

His parents, along with his sister, looked visibly reluctant, clearly not wanting him to leave. But in the end, they nodded in understanding. His mother and father each gave him and Robin a tight hug, offering last-minute advice as they did so. Haeun, meanwhile, simply gave them a spirited 'fighting' gesture to cheer them on.

After that, he and Robin, pulling their luggage behind them, made their way to the staff member who was clearly there to guide the contestants arriving in the parking lot.

"Excuse me, we're contestants of Vnet's new survival program. Can you tell us where we should go next?" Haneul asked.

The staff member looked up and didn't have much of a reaction after seeing Haneul's face without a mask. Aside from the slight widening of the eyes, there was nothing else. It seemed that wearing a non-prescription glasses was truly the right decision.

"There are arrows posted around, so please just follow those to find your way."

Haneul nodded and thanked the staff. Before following the arrows, he and Robin took one last glance back at where his family stood. They were still there, watching them closely. The two waved one final time before turning and moving forward.

Other contestants were heading in the same direction, so even without strictly following the arrows, they simply followed the group ahead and still managed to reach their destination.

They arrived at another parking area, but this one had only four large buses parked. A sign instructed them to choose any bus they wanted to ride. Lines had already begun to form at each bus.

Haneul and Robin exchanged a glance before deciding to choose the bus with the shortest line, which was the one on the far right. Before joining the queue, they first handed their luggage to the staff responsible for collecting and organizing the contestants' luggages in the luggage compartment.

After about five minutes, they were able to board the bus. As soon as they stepped inside, a staff member was there, ready to verify the identity of each contestant. After showing their IDs and waiting for the staff to check something on his tablet, they were finally able to choose their seats.

As Haneul turned to walk, his gaze collided with a pair of very familiar gray eyes.