Falling for the Omega Idol-Chapter 123: BAEK EUNWOO

"I HAVE to say, I’m starting to feel thankful you convinced me to join this show."

Eunwoo’s voice pulled Taeyang’s attention back to the person beside him. To anyone else, the words might have sounded genuine, especially with Eunwoo’s gentle smile, but Taeyang knew him well enough to recognize the sarcasm hidden beneath. That smile was a mask, and the tone was anything but sincere.

"Grateful, huh?" Taeyang replied in a dry tone. "You’re welcome, then."

Eunwoo chuckled softly, the sound smooth but carrying just enough bite to make it clear he wasn’t entirely joking. "Let’s just hope it’s worth it."

Taeyang resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Leaning in slightly, he replied in the same whisper-like tone, "If your dream was really to become a lawyer, feel free to go back to Korea University once you’re eliminated here. But at least being part of this program means you tried. You’ll never have to wonder what could’ve been."

Taeyang had seen it happen before—Eunwoo wondering what could have been if he’d taken a different path. In his previous world, Eunwoo had become a lawyer, and a damn good one at that. But whenever they met, whether for drinks or official business—Eunwoo had ended up as his lawyer, after all—Taeyang would often catch that distant, listless look in his eyes. It was as if Eunwoo was constantly weighing the ’what ifs’ of his life, questioning the choices he’d made.

So, to spare his former friend from that lingering regret, Taeyang had all but dragged Eunwoo to audition.

Eunwoo looked at Taeyang, caught off guard by the response. The two of them were barely acquaintances—just two people who happened to move in the same circles. But perhaps because of their similar circumstances, they had always been cordial to one another. Or at least, that’s what Eunwoo had thought.

So when Taeyang suddenly showed up at his university dorm, telling him to submit an audition application for some idol survival program, Eunwoo thought the other had lost his mind. But he must have been even crazier for actually going along with it. No, it wasn’t that he’d lost his sanity—he just wanted Taeyang to leave him alone. So, reluctantly, he filled out the application, with Taeyang hovering over his shoulder the entire time, as if making sure he wouldn’t back out at the last second.

Eunwoo had assumed that would be the end of it—just a one-time thing, as if Taeyang had some momentary psychotic break and decided to harass him that day. But to his surprise, the other showed up at his dorm again just a few days later, this time insisting they practice the performance they’d need for the audition. It was baffling. Eunwoo hadn’t even agreed to any of this, yet here was Taeyang, acting as though it was a done deal. The whole situation felt surreal, but for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, Eunwoo found himself going along with it, anyway.

Even he found it ridiculous. And yet, here he was—from practicing to auditioning, and now actually participating in the program. It wasn’t easy, being here. And he wasn’t talking about surviving the competition itself. No, the hard part had been getting here in the first place. It wasn’t just about securing an advanced leave from university; it was more about convincing his grandfather to give him permission. That had been its own battle, one filled with arguments, compromises, and a stubborn determination he didn’t even know he had.

But after hearing Taeyang’s response—about trying and not regretting what could have been—Eunwoo realized that maybe this was the reason he’d gone along with the whole craziness in the first place. Deep down, there was a part of him that had always wondered about the life he might have had if he hadn’t given up on being an idol trainee.

Yes, he had been an idol trainee from the age of 12 to 16—until his life took a sharp turn, thrusting him into the world of chaebols and expectations. Since then, he had been trying to live up to the image of the perfect grandson of the Chung family. But the fact that he was here now, made it clear that he hadn’t completely let go of the first dream he’d ever had as a child. It was a part of him that had never fully faded, no matter how much he’d tried to bury it under duty and responsibility.

Who would’ve thought that the one to make him realize that would be Jung Taeyang?

Eunwoo stared at Taeyang, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Maybe I should thank you," he said, the words carrying a hint of sincerity beneath his usual composed tone. "And maybe apologize as well."

Taeyang frowned at the last part. "Why?"

"Well," Eunwoo began, his tone light. "if you went this far just to help me, doesn’t that mean you think of me as a friend? That’s why I have to apologize—because I barely thought of you as one."

Taeyang’s face scrunched up in mild irritation. "I didn’t do it for you," he said bluntly. "I just thought it’d be a waste if someone with your talent didn’t fully utilize it."

Eunwoo let out a dry laugh, already expecting Taeyang to respond like that. freewёbnoνel.com

"By the way, where were you on the first day? I barely saw you. If the two of us hadn’t ranked first and second in the elimination, I almost would’ve thought you’d left the program."

Just as he’d said, Eunwoo had barely seen Taeyang when they arrived at The Hwarang Seoul. Every time he caught a glimpse of the other and tried to approach him, Taeyang seemed to slip away. Of course, Eunwoo didn’t think the other was avoiding him, he’s not that egotistic. If he had a guess, it would be that Taeyang was busy practicing and barely noticed anything around him. That certainly sounded like him.

"I was..." Taeyang’s scrunched-up face darkened as he glanced in a certain direction. "Completely preoccupied."

Eunwoo followed his gaze and raised his brow when he saw the person Taeyang was looking at.

Interesting.