Falling for the Omega Idol

[ATTENTION all contestants!

You now have the chance to enjoy a free day exploring Busan with your vocal mission teammates. Each group will be provided with microphones, a selfie stick, and a camera to document your adventures. You'll have a staff member joining you to assist with directions, and your group will receive a budget of 500,000 KRW for the day. Please spend it wisely.

Just remember: stay with your group, and make sure to return to the ship by 6 PM sharp. Most importantly, have fun out there!]

That was the announcement that filled the ship as most contestants were having breakfast. The moment they heard it, the dining area buzzed with instant chatter. Some groups burst into excited cheers, already planning their day out. Others looked more hesitant, whispering among themselves about whether they'd rather rest. A few simply stared at their food, too tired or surprised to react much.

Haneul, who was eating with Robin and Haru, felt a flicker of surprise at the announcement. They had been docked here for over three weeks now. He'd assumed that after the vocal mission, the ship would set sail for the next location right away. Instead, they were being given a day off. Well, sort of. It wasn't exactly a full break, since they'd still be filming themselves with a staff member watching over them the whole time.

But this was still better than nothing. At least they got the chance to explore Busan for a day.

"I didn't think they'd actually let us leave the ship," Robin said, still a little dazed by the announcement. Then his face lit up. "This is my first time in Busan. I've wanted to explore since we got here. Now we finally can."

"Me too! Busan is a huge tourist spot. It would be such a waste not to see anything," Haru said, his voice bright with excitement. Then he stopped, as if a thought had just hit him. "But we can't go together." His face fell for just a second before he perked back up. "Oh well. I like my group too, so it's fine!"

Haneul couldn't hold back a laugh as he watched. This kid was seriously funny without even trying.

***

The ten groups gathered on the top deck. The staff assigned to each group handed out mics, selfie sticks, and phones to their respective teams.

The staff responsible for Haneul's group was a young woman in her mid-20s. She was tall, much taller than Haneul. He didn't know if it was his Omega instinct, but somehow he could tell she was an Alpha. It made him think of his sister. He wondered if Haeun would be taller than him in a few years. Since Haeun was a dominant Alpha, that was very likely. The thought that he might have to look up at her one day every time they spoke made him feel complicated.

He shook his head. Why did it even matter? The important thing was that in this life, his little sister would grow up tall and healthy. He would gladly take that over seeing her stuck in a hospital bed, unable to live her life to the fullest.

"I'm Song Soojin. You can call me Soojin noona or just noona," the staff introduced herself. "I'll be guiding your group today. Have you decided where to go first? If not, check the phone we gave you. There's a travel app called ExploreKorea there. It lists all the top attractions, local food spots, and even shows estimated travel times. Just make sure to enter our current location first. The app will suggest the best routes and nearby places from where we are now. Talk it over as a team, pick your destinations, and I'll handle the transportation."

Haneul raised an eyebrow. A travel app? Was this the famous so-called product placement? The thought made him chuckle a little.

Taeyang, holding the phone, tapped it open. The others crowded around him, so they all saw the app Soojin had mentioned. It was impossible to miss. Aside from the camera app, ExploreKorea was the only other thing on the screen.

It seemed the production staff had made sure they couldn't check social media or any sites about the show.

Taeyang tapped the app open. He entered their location, and the screen loaded neatly organized tabs: Attractions, Food & Restaurants, and Activities. Each category listed options with ratings and distances.

The app was surprisingly easy to use. With just a few taps, they could see all their options sorted neatly into categories. No confusing menus or clutter, just straightforward lists of places to visit and eat, complete with helpful details like distance and ratings.

Taeyang looked at his teammates. "Where do you want to go first?"

***

They decided to go first to Gamcheon Culture Village, since it was a popular spot for photos and exploring. They could spend the morning there, then head to BIFF Square for lunch and street food.

To reach Gamcheon Culture Village, Soojin called for two taxis. Since their group had six people, they split up, three in each car. Taeyang, Seongwoo, and Soojin rode together in one taxi. Meanwhile, Haneul, Robin, and Joonhyuk took the other.

The ride to Gamcheon Culture Village took about twenty minutes. When they arrived, everyone stepped out of the taxis while Soojin paid the drivers.

Before them stretched rows of brightly painted houses clinging to the hillside like stacked boxes. The blues, yellows, and pinks of the buildings popped against the clear sky, while murals and quirky sculptures dotted the winding alleys. Tourists milled about, snapping photos of the vibrant scenery.

"You should start filming," Soojin reminded them.

Taeyang wordlessly handed the phone and selfie stick to Robin. His expression made it clear he wouldn't be the one filming. Robin just shook his head and took them. Once they all clipped their mics to their shirts, Robin opened the camera, lifted the selfie stick, and angled it so all five of them fit in the frame.

"Hello everyone!" Robin greeted, waving at the camera. "We're currently at Gamcheon Culture Village."