Falling for the Omega Idol-Chapter 103: LEE HARU

JUST like Haneul had expected, Taeyang ended up taking the top spot. When the rankings for 10th to 6th were announced, the contestants weren’t led outside like the earlier groups. Instead, they were asked to wait until the rankings for 5th to 1st were revealed. It wasn’t until all the top spots were announced that the top 10 were finally escorted to the parking lot, following the same process as the others.

Then, the rest of the contestants who didn’t make it to the next round were comforted by the mentors, who offered kind words and encouragement. They reminded them that this wasn’t the end of their journey, but just one step on a much larger path.

While all of that was unfolding, the van Haneul was riding in had been on the road for over 20 minutes. He had been quietly trying to guess their destination, but as soon as the van merged onto the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway, he immediately realized where they were heading.

It could only be the Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal.

This could only mean one thing. They would finally board The Argo.

The Argo was the name of the small cruise ship chosen for the program. While Haneul described it as ’small’, that was hardly accurate—after all, the ship could accommodate up to 100 people with ease.

When he first saw it in his previous world, his immediate thought was, ’Damn, this must be what chaebol money can do.’ At first, he assumed the ship’s grandeur was just for show, its flashy exterior enhanced by clever editing to impress viewers. But as the program went on, it became clear that wasn’t the case. Each of the 60 contestants had their own private cabin, complete with its own bathroom—a level of comfort he hadn’t expected.

Hopefully, that didn’t change this time around.

Anyway, cruising on such a ship was one of the reasons why the ratings for Boys Odyssey were so high. The unique setting added an exciting dynamic to the show, making it stand out from other idol survival programs. It gave the contestants a distinct environment to showcase their talents and growth. The combination of the ship’s atmosphere, intense competition, and drama made the program a must-watch for many.

The van continued its journey along the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway, carrying the 10 contestants. Most of them sat in silence, lost in their thoughts, but a few couldn’t contain their excitement. Among them was Lee Haru, who didn’t hesitate to show his enthusiasm, his energy filling the otherwise quiet space.

Haneul watched as Lee Haru, who was sitting directly in front of him, bounced slightly in his seat, unable to sit still. He kept glancing out the window, occasionally letting out a small, excited comment about the scenery. The other even turned around once to grin at the others, his enthusiasm evident in the way he spoke quickly and gestured with his hands as if trying to get everyone else as pumped as he was.

Anyone watching him could easily tell that he was quite young. It wasn’t just the way he acted—it was also his appearance. His cheeks still had noticeable baby fat, giving him a youthful look. On top of that, his height made it clear he hadn’t finished growing yet.

If Haneul remembered correctly, Lee Haru was the youngest contestant in the show. There were several 17-year-olds in the show, but the other was the youngest among them. Haneul didn’t know this because he had memorized everyone’s birthdays—it was simply a fact the show repeatedly pointed out.

As he watched Lee Haru, Haneul couldn’t help but think back to what had happened to him in his previous world. After making it to the final line-up and debuting, Lee Haru’s once bright and mischievous demeanor gradually faded. As time went on, the cheerful spark in his eyes grew dim, and his smile became rarer. By the time the group disbanded, he had withdrawn entirely from the public eye. Lee Haru quietly retired from the industry and was never seen in public again.

Considering how talented he was at dancing and how passionately he pursued his dream of becoming an idol, what he experienced must have been deeply traumatic for him to abandon it all. It was hard to imagine someone so dedicated and full of potential giving up on their dream unless the pain of continuing was greater than the joy it once brought him.

Haneul couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to Haru after he retired. Many assumed that Lee Haru stayed in Japan and went back to school. After all, he was barely 20 when the group disbanded, and returning to a normal life seemed like the logical choice.

Some speculated that he might have taken over his family’s business or pursued a different career entirely, possibly something unrelated to entertainment. Others believed he might have quietly continued dancing or performing in smaller, private settings, unable to completely let go of the craft he loved. There were even rumors that he had moved somewhere in Europe to start fresh, building a life where no one knew his past as an idol.

Whatever the truth was, it remained a mystery, as Lee Haru never made a public appearance or statement after his retirement.

Haneul shook his head, dismissing the thoughts. Whatever had happened to Lee Haru in that other world wasn’t his concern. This was a different world, a different reality. What happened then didn’t necessarily mean it would happen now. Just look at all the changes that had already happened.

He was about to turn his head to look out the window when Lee Haru suddenly glanced back, and their eyes met. Haru blinked in surprise for a moment before breaking into a wide grin.

"Why are you staring at me, Hyung? Do you think I’m handsome?" Without waiting for Haneul’s reply, he gave a firm nod, as if agreeing with himself. "Yeah, I think I’m pretty handsome, too."

Haneul raised an eyebrow. The way Lee Haru spoke so confidently almost made him believe he’d actually been staring because he thought the other was handsome. But the over-the-top delivery made it clear he was joking, leaving Haneul more amused than anything else.