—Bang!
The starting gun fired, and the Alphas kicked off the ground in a frenzy. Sand billowed up in thick clouds wherever their feet struck.
The one who surged ahead the instant the signal went off was Yo Han Sung. Even among the large-built Alpha participants, he stood out as the tallest by far. The sight of him striding forward with those long legs was like watching a professional track athlete.
“Get a proper overhead shot with the drone.”
Watching the monitoring feed, Producer Yoo gave the order. Soon, Yo Han’s face filled the entire screen.
As if provoked, the other Alphas accelerated—Jun Shin and Sun Choi picking up speed.
Jun couldn’t match the physical advantage of Yo Han and Sun. As a result, the first to hit the water and plunge in without hesitation was Yo Han.
But once they were in the sea, the balance shifted.
“Whew.”
Producer Yoo let out a whistle.
On the split monitoring screens, the one who overtook Yo Han was Sun Choi.
“I expected it, but wow. That’s insane. Guess a national athlete really is different.”
“He’s in his element. Like a dog hitting water.”
At the youngest staff writer’s comment, Producer Yoo leaned closer to the screen.
The other Alphas were clearly falling behind. The lead was unmistakably between Sun and Yo Han.
Is Sun going to take first like this?
The place they were both heading toward—
Was one point.
Gyeol Go, sitting atop the unicorn float.
“How did they both end up picking Gyeol? This shot is perfect.”
“Can you get closer and zoom in? Capture Sun swimming properly—we’ll use it for the opening.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The camera widened, capturing Sun cutting through the water—
And then one of the staff screamed.
“What—what is it?!”
Producer Yoo snapped in irritation, but her gaze locked onto the center monitor.
The unicorn float that had been floating fine just moments ago was overturned.
“What happened?!”
She ripped off her headset and shot to her feet.
“A wave hit him! Gyeol said he can’t swim!”
“Send in the rescue team!”
“They’ve already gone!”
The set descended into chaos in an instant. Several staff rushed toward the beach. Producer Yoo moved to follow—
“Producer!”
“What now?! At a time like this—!”
She spun around angrily—
And froze.
Her eyes fixed on the monitor.
Standing side by side, she and the assistant director stared blankly at the screen. Then Producer Yoo sat back down and gave a sharp order.
“Get this shot. Properly.”
“Y-Yes!”
Her eyes widened as if trying to absorb every frame, her lips curling into a smile.
A chill ran down the assistant director’s spine.
He had seen that expression before.
Back during R-Connect Season 5—the season that became a legend.
The moment she sensed undeniable success.
She had smiled exactly like this.
Which means...
His gaze followed hers.
Cutting across the sea—
Was Yo Han Sung, carrying Gyeol.
***
Late at night, in a cramped studio apartment office, Kisoo Yang powered on his PC.
10 p.m.
Time for Episode 2 of R-Connect to drop.
On one half of his wide monitor, he opened Mflix. On the other, a fan community site. A new post had just gone up.
He clicked it, then cracked open a can of beer.
/ (HOT!) Title: Watching R-Connect 10 Episode 2 together
Dopamine day let’s gooooo
“Let’s see how our Gyeol’s doing in Episode 2.”
He hummed to himself. As a manager, he had to monitor things closely.
“Tough bastard. Tough and pretty.”
When the casting offer for R-Connect came in, Kisoo had thought, This is it.
But he hadn’t expected Gyeol to perform this well.
When he heard Gyeol had binge-watched entire seasons—fifteen to twenty episodes each—multiple times, he’d been stunned. At the same time, he’d worried that getting his hopes up might only lead to disappointment.
But that worry had been pointless.
In Episode 1, Gyeol had hit it big.
The “Gyeol’s first entrance scene” that dominated the internet—SNS, forums, YouTube—left even Kisoo speechless.
He knew Gyeol was good-looking, but not like that.
He even felt guilty for not styling him properly all this time.
Just one episode had aired, and Gyeol’s Instagram followers had jumped by 20,000 in a week. From barely hovering around 1K.
Offers were flooding in—web dramas, small influencer deals, supplement promotions.
But Kisoo wasn’t new to this industry.
He couldn’t claim perfect insight, but he had instincts.
Years ago, when SAVE ME collapsed and Gyeol failed to renew with LM Entertainment—
He had reached out.
Because he believed Gyeol would rise someday.
“Oh, it’s starting.”
Maybe that moment was now.
Gyeol wasn’t meant to fade away as just another failed idol or minor actor.
Even when Gyeol didn’t believe in himself—
Kisoo did.
“He can do it. Come on, Gyeol. Fighting. Fighting.”
Muttering encouragement out of habit, he focused on the screen.
Episode 2 opening.
The panelists celebrated the explosive buzz and high ratings of Episode 1—especially Gyeol’s impact.
After discussing his first impression choice, the scene cut—
To the brunch date between Sun and Gyeol.
[Oh? Then maybe—?]
As the panelist spoke, the scene immediately showed Gyeol placing a card into Sun’s mailbox.
***
YESSS prediction confirmed!!!!
THE EMPEROR RETURNS
Knew it, obviously Sun. Different league entirely
I still can’t let go of Jun-Gyeol 😭😭😭
The brunch date is so cute...
⤷ 22... unexpectedly adorable?
⤷ LOL Sun is kind of clumsy?? Look at him fumbling 😂
They look good together. Endgame = Sun-Gyeol calling it now
⤷ It’s only episode 2 calm down you fandom freak 😂
⤷ Sun-Gyeol let’s gooooo
Gyeol in sunlight is unreal... how does he not have pores
***
Even to Kisoo, the brunch date looked peaceful and cute. The sunlight made Gyeol look even more beautiful.
Smiling warmly, Kisoo refreshed the page over and over, scanning comments.
“Hm... Sun’s not really Gyeol’s type though.”
In his interview, Gyeol had said he chose Sun because “he looked cool during the group game.”
“So it’s not actual attraction yet.”
The scene shifted to pheromone matching.
When Tommy emerged from the pheromone booth, face flushed bright red and clearly aroused, the viewers exploded just like the cast had.
“Oof...”
His agency must be clutching their necks right now. Still, Tommy’s image was bright and likable—it’d probably be fine.
Finally, it was Gyeol’s turn.
He stepped into the booth, looking slightly tense.
“...He’ll be okay, right?”
Kisoo couldn’t relax either.
Fortunately, Gyeol passed through the first four Alpha pheromones without issue.
Kisoo exhaled and gulped down his beer.
Then—
[The fifth Alpha pheromone.]
The subtitle appeared.
Gyeol’s reaction changed instantly.
“What? What—fifth?!”
***
Fifth??? what are they talking about??? other omegas only had four
⤷ yeah everyone °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° else had four
⤷ wait so only Gyeol??
holy shit must be the late-entry twist pheromone
⤷ omg that’s it
⤷ so the late-entry twist chose Gyeol and only sent it to him???
Gyeol’s reaction is totally different...
damn that expression is hot
⤷ LOL
⤷ screaming
THIS is R-Connect lmao look at him
y’all are nasty omg
look at his neck turning red... this is insane
⤷ should I even be watching this...
⤷ my heart rate is 160
⤷ R-Connect = cardio
the embodiment of desire
***
“...That looks... dangerous.”
Gyeol’s flushed skin, ragged breathing, trembling body—
Even to Kisoo, it looked dangerously sensual.
What do I do about this...? He’s not going to end up like that one guy who—
Thankfully, the scene cut to the matching results.
Gyeol wasn’t among them.
“Haah—!”
Kisoo finally breathed.
Damn, his heart almost dropped out.
The subtitles showed Gyeol choosing pheromone number two, and comments flooded in saying it was obviously number five—
But the focus quickly shifted to Tommy and Hee Jun in the Time Booth.
“I aged five years... seriously...”
***
Tommy and Hee Jun Skinship Time and they’re just holding hands??
boring as hell
do they even know what skinship is
just kiss already
but calling him giant Potato is cute tho
⤷ yeah he’s basically a burning Potato now lol
***
Then—
Jun Shin approached Gyeol.
Kisoo’s expression stiffened.
That... wasn’t good.
When Gyeol joined R-Connect Season 10, the one thing Kisoo had worried about—
Was Jun Shin.
Because Kisoo had been SAVE ME’s manager.
He had watched them grow up together.
How they became close.
Everything they built together.
Every moment they laughed and cried.
And the way Jun had looked at Gyeol.
[There’s only one. For me, it’s you.]
Jun’s eyes hadn’t changed in eight years.
He looked at Gyeol the same way—
Spoke with the same certainty.
Then he pulled Gyeol into an embrace.
The shot of them hugging, the ocean behind them—
Was heartbreakingly beautiful.
And Episode 2 ended there.
“...What the hell.”
Beer dripped from Kisoo’s mouth.
***
WHAT IS HAPPENING SOMEONE EXPLAIN
holy shit Jun-Gyeol was REAL???
didn’t people say they dated back in SAVE ME days??
⤷ yeah I saw that too
⤷ same
wait is this an ex reunion storyline????
⤷ am I watching R-Connect or Ex-Love
don’t jump to conclusions maybe they didn’t date
⤷ if that’s “just friends” I have no friends
wait... if they DID date... does that mean Jun chose success over love?
⤷ I swear I’ve seen this drama before
⤷ this is how reunion stories start
imagine being Gyeol... I’d be furious
I was a SAVE ME fan... I knew they dated... and Jun leaving was the final blow... and now THIS??
⤷ this is insane
⤷ dopamine overload
***
The mood surged wildly.
Kisoo ran a hand through his hair, typing and deleting comments over and over.
Because he felt the same.
“...Jun Shin, you bastard...”
Kisoo Yang—
Former manager of SAVE ME—
Knew.
That Jun Shin and Gyeol Go had dated.