Chapter 171: BUSAN DAY-OFF (VII)
HANEUL told them what happened. He explained that Taeyang had gotten a stomachache from what they ate during lunch, and that Soojin had taken him to get medical help. She wanted the group to continue with their plans to Haeundae Beach while she handled the situation. Then, he showed them the money she left for their expenses.
"So, it’s because of the food?" Joonhyuk asked. Then his brow furrowed as he added, "But we all ate the same things."
"Don’t compare your iron stomach to Taeyang’s," Robin joked.
Joonhyuk’s eyebrows lifted slightly. His mouth forming a silent "oh" before nodding. It’s like the expression people make when they think, ’that makes sense’.
Robin’s playful expression faded as his expression turned serious. "Should we really go to the beach without Taeyang?"
Seongwoo nodded in agreement. "It doesn’t feel right going without our leader."
Haneul agreed. Seongwoo was right. It did feel unfair to enjoy the beach without Taeyang. His chest tightened remembering how pained Taeyang had looked. But Soojin had already taken the other. He could only hope that Taeyang’s situation wouldn’t be that serious.
And besides, Taeyang would hate it if they derailed their whole day because of him. This outing was one of their few chances to relax. If they cut the trip short and returned to the ship, Taeyang would only blame himself. The thought of making the other feel guilty made Haneul’s decision clear.
"Let’s go," he said finally. "Taeyang would want us to."
The three fell silent for a moment, then nodded in unison. They all understood exactly what Haneul meant without him having to say more.
***
From Busan Tower, they made their way to Haeundae Beach by bus. They boarded a crowded city bus, squeezing between tourists with beach bags and locals going about their day. The ride was short but bumpy, the vehicle lurching through Busan’s streets while passengers chattered around them.
When they stepped off near the beachfront, the salty ocean breeze greeted them immediately. They followed the stream of people toward the shore, passing colorful shops selling flip-flops and ice cream. With each step, the sound of crashing waves grew louder until finally, the sweeping curve of golden sand and sparkling water opened up before them.
Haneul gazed at the ocean in the distance. He closed his eyes and inhaled the salty breeze, feeling it brush against his face. The fresh air slowly cleared his mind, washing away some of his lingering worry. Even from here, the rhythmic sound of waves reached his ears, a steady background noise that helped calm his thoughts.
When he opened his eyes to the endless blue ahead, some of the tension left his shoulders. He was still concerned about Taeyang, but the tight knot in his chest had loosened. Since everyone else had eaten the same food as Taeyang and felt fine, it likely wasn’t food poisoning. That meant it was probably just a mild stomachache. That thought made it easier for him to breathe.
"We’re at Haeundae Beach now," Robin said to the camera, slowly sweeping it across the shoreline before angling it back toward the group. "We’re going to look around the area. We’ll probably pick up some snacks too if we see anything good."
After handing the camera to Joonhyuk, Robin let him and Seongwoo take over filming as they walked ahead. He slowed his pace instead, falling into step beside Haneul.
"You okay?" Robin asked, keeping his voice low to make sure the others wouldn’t overhear them.
Haneul glanced at Robin and offered him a weak smile. "Yes, I’m okay," he said. "I was just worried about Taeyang, so I might have seemed a little out of it."
Robin raised his brow. "Yeah, I can tell."
Haneul almost stopped walking when he heard Robin’s words. Or rather, the tone he’d used. It wasn’t mocking or dismissive, but the kind of tone someone uses when they’re humoring you. Like when people say "if you say so" but with warmth, like they’re letting you keep your little lie even though they see right through it.
He decided not to comment. Whatever Robin was thinking, he couldn’t entertain it. How could he when he didn’t even know what he truly felt himself? There was no time to examine his feelings closely, anyway. He wasn’t here to have some romantic entanglement with someone. He was here to debut and win.
Haneul released a heavy sigh. He’d been having this same mental conversation on repeat all day. It was exhausting and frustrating. How many times had he circled back to these thoughts already? Like a scratched CD stuck replaying the same segment. He stared at the ground.
But the fact that he even recognized this as romantic entanglement said everything. He was aware. Painfully aware. And still, his brain refused to admit it. Maybe that denial was for the best.
At least for the time being.
Haneul lifted his head and forced a smile at Robin. "We should catch up to Joonhyuk hyung and Seongwoo hyung," he said, nodding toward where the others were walking ahead. "They’re getting too far ahead of us."
Robin studied him for a brief moment before giving a slow nod. He seemed willing to drop the subject, at least for now.
Haneul felt relieved at that. Together, he and Robin walked to catch up with Joonhyuk and Seongwoo.
The four of them spent the next hour exploring the beach, taking turns filming the scenery and each other. They recorded the waves crashing, kids building sandcastles, and they even took silly selfies with the ocean behind them. When their feet grew tired from walking on sand, they agreed to find a nearby cafe to rest.
Just as they were about to leave the beach, Soojin appeared. They didn’t know how she found them so easily. Haneul could only guess that the phone the staff gave them had some kind of tracking app or something.
"Taeyang’s fine," she said as she approached. "It’s just a stomachache. He wanted to return with me, but PD Song told him to rest on the ship."
Haneul closed his eyes for a second, the tightness in his chest finally unwinding. His hands, which had been clenched at his sides from the moment he saw Soojin, finally relaxed.
"It’s great that it’s only a stomachache," Robin said.
"Yeah. Definitely better than food poisoning," Joonhyuk agreed.
Seongwoo nodded. "We should bring him some snacks."
"Then let’s eat fast," Haneul said, smiling genuinely now.
With that, they walked to a nearby café and found a table. The place was small but cozy. They ordered hotteok, bingsu, and cold drinks like iced coffee and soda. The food came quickly, and they started eating while chatting. As they ate, they took out the phone they used to record and watched the videos they had taken throughout the day.
They laughed at the funny parts, pointing at the screen and smiling. The mood was light and cheerful. After they finished eating and drinking, they cleaned up their table, paid the bill, and left the café. The sun was starting to go down, painting the sky with soft colors. Together, they headed back to the ship in a much lighter mood.
And that was how their Busan day off came to a quiet end.