Falling for the Omega Idol-Chapter 121: THOSE WHO DESERVED IT

HANEUL narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Park Mirae walk away, his back retreating to another table, where he greeted the other contestants with a practiced smile. Haneul quickly schooled his expression, smoothing out any trace of irritation or suspicion. If a camera happened to catch even a flicker of negativity on his face after that seemingly ’friendly’ exchange, it could easily be twisted into something far more dramatic in the editing room.

The last thing he needed was to give the program staff fodder for a manufactured rivalry. No, it was better to let everyone think the interaction hadn’t fazed him at all. After all, in this world of cameras and curated narratives, perception was everything.

"What was that about?" Haru muttered beside him, his tone a mix of confusion and irritation. He leaned closer to Haneul, his voice low but edged with frustration. "Did he seriously just try to stir something up out of nowhere?"

Haru’s brows furrowed, his usual playful demeanor momentarily replaced by genuine annoyance. It was clear he hadn’t missed the subtle jab in Park Mirae’s words, even if it had been wrapped in a veneer of concern.

Haneul offered a small, reassuring smile and leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Don’t let it show that you’re annoyed. People like that thrive on reactions. The less you give them, the less they can twist things. Just ignore it—they’re not worth the trouble."

Besides, it was clear that he was the one Park Mirae had set his sights on, so Haru likely wouldn’t have to deal with the other’s antics much. Park Mirae probably saw him as some kind of rival—maybe because they were both Omegas. Haneul wouldn’t be surprised if the other had already decided that the show would only have room for one token Omega, and he’d claimed that role for himself. Seeing Haneul’s face must have thrown a wrench into that plan, sparking a sense of threat. After all, in a competition where every advantage mattered, Park Mirae wouldn’t take kindly to someone who might steal the spotlight he’d already reserved for himself.

Which, in Haneul’s opinion, was a pretty foolish mindset. If the current PD of the show was as professional as he seemed, he wouldn’t prioritize scenes based on someone’s secondary gender. He’d choose what was compelling—what would captivate the audience. So, if Park Mirae kept up his antics, he wouldn’t have to worry about fading into the background; the show would naturally highlight his behavior, and not in a flattering way. Haneul just had to ensure that whenever their paths crossed, Park Mirae would be the one who came off looking like the villain, not him.

After all, as he’d reminded himself earlier, this was all a battle of perception. And in that battle, Haneul intended to stay steps ahead.

***

Aboard the massive ship that served as the filming location for Boys Odyssey, PD Song Kyungho sat in the control room, a compact but high-tech space tucked away in the vessel’s interior. The room was alive with the hum of equipment, its walls lined with monitors streaming live feeds from every corner of the ship.

Kyungho leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp and analytical as he reviewed the clips sent in by the camera directors. What he was watching now were the recordings from the morning—specifically, the contestants filming the show’s theme song. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his chair as he absorbed every detail, already envisioning how these moments would play out in the final edit.

His eyes darted across the monitors, dissecting every frame. He was in the process of deciding who would earn those precious few seconds of focus—the moments that could make or break a contestant’s trajectory in the competition.

On one screen, Jung Taeyang, the current rank one, commanded attention as if he were headlining his own concert. His stage presence was magnetic, his every move dripping with confidence, making it nearly impossible to look away. Nearby, Baek Eunwoo, ranked second, delivered a performance so polished and precise it was almost clinical, each gesture calculated to perfection. Robin Leroux, the French contestant, exuded effortless charm, his smile and charisma lighting up the screen.

Among the lower-ranked contestants, Han Seojun stood out with his striking actor-like visuals—a face that seemed tailor-made for the camera, one that audiences would undoubtedly fall for. Park Mirae, with his natural Omega charm, had a way of drawing the eye, his presence soft yet undeniable, while Lee Haru was also impossible to ignore, his dancing sharp and dynamic, each movement showing that his ’dance genius’ moniker was well earned.

But it was Kang Haneul who truly caught Kyungho’s attention. His dancing wasn’t as polished or precise as some of the others, but his face—his face more than made up for it. There was something almost otherworldly about his features, a seductive charm that seemed to pull you in, like a nine-tailed fox from myth. One could overlook every flaw in his performance just by looking at him; his visuals were that powerful.

Kyungho leaned back, his brow furrowed slightly as he considered this. A face like that could be a double-edged sword—it could catapult Haneul to the top, or it could make him a target. He wasn’t sure yet if this would work to Haneul’s advantage or not, but one thing was certain: Kang Haneul was someone the audience wouldn’t be able to forget once they saw it.

He also knew that ignoring Kang Haneul would be a missed opportunity—a waste, even. Kyungho could already envision the buzz Haneul would generate online. That face, that presence—it was the kind of thing that sparked debates, memes, and fan edits across social media. Hot topics like that were pure gold for a show like Boys Odyssey, and Kyungho wasn’t about to let such potential slip through his fingers. After all, anything that could drive up the ratings was worth its weight in screen time.

He just hoped Kang Haneul would prove himself worthy of the screen time Kyungho was prepared to give him. After all, no matter how striking Haneul’s looks were or how much buzz he could generate, Kyungho still believed that only those who truly deserved it should earn a spot in the final debut team.