Falling for the Omega Idol

Chapter 241: LET THEM NOTICE

ROBIN raised an eyebrow at Haneul’s reaction. He glanced at the pink blush spreading across the other’s cheeks, then at Taeyang, who was watching Haneul with the kind of look that belonged on a love-struck teenager. Which, Robin figured, he was. Well, he’s definitely a teenager, and very obviously love-struck.

He didn’t know what had gone down between them, but something had definitely happened during that beach trip. Before that, there had been this weird push and pull between them. Now that awkward tension was gone. They talked to each other like it was the most natural thing. Whatever conversation they’d had, it must have been long and serious. There was no way they’d just ended up like this without one.

Well, as curious as he was, he wasn’t the type to pry into other people’s business just to get gossip. The only reason he’d stick his nose in was if Taeyang ended up hurting Haneul. And judging by the way Taeyang looked at his friend, that didn’t seem likely.

Taeyang cleared his throat as he set his tray down and took the seat next to Haneul. "By the way, you both did well during rehearsal earlier."

Robin scoffed, a teasing grin on his face. "Is this your way of being nice? Because last I checked, your team was the one that did the best."

Taeyang shrugged. "I can still praise your teams even if I think mine did better."

Robin widened his eyes like he couldn’t believe what he just heard. "You arrogant jerk," he said, but there was no real heat behind it.

Haneul laughed, watching the two of them go back and forth. "But Robin hyung, your team really did well. I liked your choreography, it was cute and fun." Then he turned to Taeyang with an amused smile. "And as you obviously already know, your team was the best."

He noticed the tips of Taeyang’s ears, the ones he could see from where he sat, were turning red. Cute.

Taeyang scratched his cheek, looking a little flustered. "I was just joking around with Robin earlier."

"Ha! Now it’s just a joke?" Robin shot back. "Careful, Taeyang. People might notice how biased you are."

"Let them notice," Taeyang mumbled under his breath, too quiet for the other two to catch it.

"But back to the performance," Robin said, turning to Haneul. "You looked really sexy dancing earlier. I’m serious. If I was an Alpha, I’d probably go crazy right there if you looked at me while moving like that."

Taeyang nearly choked on his drink. He managed to stop himself from spitting it out, but the effort made him cough loudly. Robin’s words immediately conjured the image of Haneul dancing earlier, specifically the choreography he’d seen him practice once before with Haru. Back then, Taeyang had almost gotten a nosebleed just watching; he’d spent the rest of that practice staring at the floor to keep from embarrassing himself in front of Haneul.

And it was even worse seeing him dance today. Because this time, Haneul had the matching expression to go with the moves. Taeyang felt things he definitely shouldn’t be feeling while watching someone perform. Well, Haneul wasn’t just anyone to him, so maybe that made it different. Still, when did his self-control get this bad? He’d never reacted this strongly to anything before. Not even when he went through puberty in his past life.

He couldn’t imagine how much worse it would be tomorrow when Haneul had his full stage makeup on. The effect would be... catastrophic. Taeyang just hoped his team would perform first. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about dancing while dealing with a hard on.

Then he felt a gentle hand patting his back, followed by Haneul’s voice asking, "Are you okay, Taeyang-ah?"

Taeyang felt warmth in his chest when Haneul called him in such a familiar way. He was about to answer when Robin cut in, his tone dripping with playful mockery. "Maybe he’s imagining something dirty."

Taeyang glared at the other. "I most definitely was not."

It was a big fat lie, of course, but there was no reason for Haneul to know that.

***

Robin sat down on Haneul’s bed as soon as they stepped inside the cabin. They’d come straight here after finishing lunch. There weren’t any cameras inside the cabins, which was the only reason they could talk freely here. Taeyang couldn’t join them, though. The hallway cameras would catch him walking into Haneul’s room, and that wouldn’t look good for either of them. From the look on Taeyang’s face before they left, the guy was clearly frustrated about it. Robin found it pretty funny, honestly.

"So, what’s going on with your team?" Robin asked after a moment. "And does it have anything to do with that Alpha who can’t keep his eyes off you?"

He’d noticed how that Alpha, the one ranked fourth in the last elimination who was now in Haneul’s team, kept glancing in their direction throughout lunch. He was sure Taeyang had noticed too. That was probably why he’d looked so annoyed when the guy sat down near their table. Thankfully, they were almost done eating by then, so they didn’t stay much longer.

Haneul let out a sigh. "I don’t know if I’m just imagining things or if it’s actually that bad, but..."

Then he told Robin everything. From the moment he walked into the practice room on the first day to the way Jeon Hyunsik kept finding excuses to get close to him, and how he’d been trying to avoid him ever since.

The more Robin listened, the deeper the crease between his brows became. What the hell was this? Wasn’t that just straight up harassment?

"You’re not imagining things, Haneul," Robin said. "That perverted Alpha definitely has a thing for you."

Haneul winced hearing it said out loud like that.

"Has any of the staff stepped in?" Robin asked.

Haneul shook his head. "He hasn’t really done anything that’s clearly out of line."

Robin scoffed. "Only because Baek Eunwoo seems to do his damnedest to get in his way."

Haneul let out a small laugh. "That he did."