The rest of the week was the same old running a company stuff. He had not seen his omega…wait! When did he start thinking of her as his omega? Well fortunately or unfortunately depending on how one looks at it, he hadn’t seen her at all, he mused as he waited in line behind other cars trying to get into the garage. The line aggravated him, he should pay for valet services but the thought of strangers in and out of his car bothered him. Perhaps he should set his misgivings aside, he contemplated as he looked towards the valet. Lo and behold his goddess walked out, looking stunning in an emerald silk gown that slid over every curve of that body. Gold clamped her wrists, swung in her ears and around her neck. She clutched a fur wrap. Her hair in a magnificent afro glinted with gold flecks. Wow! He thought as she got into a black cab. As the taxi drove away, she looked back through the window. Did she see him? He felt his body quicken. Sighing, he texted Miki and made an appointment for later that evening.

Another week went by before he saw her again. He was swimming his usual laps alone when that familiar jolt came. He surfaced and yep there she was three lanes down. She looked at him, nodded in greeting and proceeded with her laps. He did the same but not as serenely as before. His exercise over, he pulled himself out and waited. Not long after, she came up and sat at the waters’ edge. He got up, walked towards her and sat in the lane beside hers. 

"I apologize for invading your personal space a couple of weeks ago," he began. "I lost all decorum and my senses, I did not mean to scare you nor make you feel uncomfortable. I am sorry. Will you please accept my apology?" 

She cocked her head to the side as she looked at him. A smiled tugged at her lips and she said "apology accepted. You didn't scare me so much as discombobulated me. You affect me"

"I knew that you felt it too! What is it?"

"I don't know".

"What's your name?"

"Why?"

"I want to get to know you. Please tell me your name. Mine is Jihun. Shall we have a drink together? As an extension of my apology?"

She was chuckling. "You're excitable"

"Am I?"

"Aren't you?"

"Perhaps" he said grinning too. So about that drink? Will you?"

"Are you asking me on a date?"

Jihun paused, was he? Yes. He was.

"Yes. Yes I am Miss..?"

"Mrs." 

All amusement fled from his face and soul. She flung her head and let out a gale of throaty laughter.

"I'm kidding," she giggled with mischief. 

"Not funny," he said in relief.

"Sorry, it amuses me so I never resist when I get the chance. My name is Honey." 

"Really?! Wow! Your voice definitely sounds like honey."

"Oh! A playboy."

"You think so?"

"Oooh very slick, a tongue coated with honey."

"Oooh," he said smiling broadly. "When?"

"Regarding?" She asked mischievously.

"Oh! a playgirl".

"You think so?"

He chortled shaking his head.

"Regarding?" She stressed lowering her head and and looking up at him with coquettish intensity.

He met her back with the same intensity. "Your choice," he said softly leaning into her gaze.

"Ah! I was right! A total playboy. This should be fun," she said getting up and sauntering towards the locker room. "Leave the time and place with the concierge and I’ll meet you there."

"You promise," he asked?

"Absolutely," she said. "I like apology drinks." 

He grinned totally enraptured by her juicy booty. "See you soon," he called out. She threw him a wave over her shoulder and departed. 

Oh look at you, a voice piped up within him. I thought you said we were so not doing this. Shut up he admonished still grinning. I'm just as surprised as you. He realized that his body wasn't reacting the way it had previously to the sight of her. Rather than the sharp spark of arousal he had felt in his genitals, this was more like his whole entire body was quietly smoldering. Whatever had ignited his libido seemed satisfied with just having been able to make a connection with her. For now it was willing to wait calmly, in patient anticipation. 

He waited anxiously at the omega prime bar he had chosen. He rarely visited places like these because of the overwhelming scents that so many omegas in one place emanate. The smell usually made him dizzy with desire and sick from exerting so much self control, since he can’t take suppressants. The smell today was like background noise, there but not bothering him at all. She walked in clad in a sexy gold dress and he felt that whip of longing smack him in his body. 

"Hi Jihun," she greeted. Her eyes drinking him in.

He got up and pulled out a chair for her. She sat and put her purse on the bar murmuring thanks. He took his seat and smiled at her.

"Hi Honey, thank you for coming. What would you like to drink?"

"The pleasure is mine. What are you having?" She asked.

"Iced tea at the moment but I’m about to switch to scotch."

"Which one?"

"Laphroig."

"Wow gangster."

"Oh you know it?"

"Yes and I’m sure it’s that distinct flavor profile you like."

"Isn’t it divine?"

"No. It tastes like you’re drinking liquified ashes."

This made him chuckle. "Why do you know what ashes taste like?"

"Once in a while I get weird cravings and eat some," she smirked.

He cracked up and signaled to the bar man. The bartender came over and he asked Honey "what would you like?"  

"I'll like a Bombay martini. Shaken not stirred"

"How very James Bond," Jihun commented with playful mockery placing his scotch order.

"I'm his reincarnation don't you know?" She said winking and he burst out laughing. "Nice choice," she said waving her hand around to indicate the establishment. "Strong opening move."

Their drinks arrived. 

"I thought you'd like it," he said after a sip of his scotch.

"It's more that I approve of the message rather than say I like," she replied savoring the taste of juniper in her drink. "An establishment that makes it clear that omegas are held in higher esteem than other genders? Yeah I can vibe with that but what I like more is the philosophy of gender equality versus gender superiority."

"That's an interesting concept."

"Why? You believe it."

"How so?"

"Just like any other alpha you don't think any gender is above you but neither have you been inculcated with gender inferiority. This bar would never have been a choice for an indoctrinated alpha steeped in supremacy. So you don't think omegas are prime yet you don't think they are beneath you either. That makes you somewhere in the middle and that middle is gender equality." 

"Oh! I see. You may be right. The fact that a person is a beta or an omega has never been a factor for me and I chose this bar for the brownie points", he said with a grin.

"Nah that's bullshit. There are many omega friendly bars yet you searched for and chose this genre in an omega safe neighborhood. While in those other bars, the staff  might be omega friendly but there is no guarantee with the alpha and beta patrons. So I don't believe you're only trying to earn brownie points by skewing the ambiance in your favor. I'm even more convinced by your admission of gender blindness that it's because you want to treat me with dignity hence your care for my comfort and security."

"Aah ah! Errr thank you?..."

"I wasn't giving you a compliment. I was just stating facts." 

"A brilliant playgirl," he said raising his glass.

"They do exist," she responded clinking her glass with his.

"What brings you to Seoul?"

"I'm on vacation."

"Wait there is an air b and b in our building? That's against the rules. I'm going to report them," he teased.

"An exercise in futility. You can't kick him out and he pays all of his fines. He makes money and the association makes money. If it makes you feel better he only accepts a minimum of one year lease."

"Damn that's a long vacation, sabbatical?"

"No it's wander lust"

"But you're rooted for a year."

"Ah! You're right. Then I'm just on the run."

"From?"

"The law? A vicious ex? My problems? Who knows?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "Is Honey your real name?"

"Yes my name means honey."

"Where are you from?" He asked.

"I live in the United States."

"Yeah I can tell from your accent that you live in America but behind that accent I can hear a lilt and something British as well".

"Yes there is that," she answered with an indecipherable smile.

"You’re not going to tell me?" He prodded.

"Maybe but let’s see if I like you enough to share biographical geography. I too noticed you speak English with the barest trace of an accent and not only that, you speak like an American". 

"Yes there is that", he said mimicking her mysteriousness in solemn jest.

She giggled. "Tit for tat?"

"Yup" he said putting his glass down after taking a swig. "Kenya," he said brightly, clicking his fingers.

"Wrong," she said. "If you’re going to keep guessing, you only have one more and if it’s wrong I won’t tell."

"Oooh" he drawled amused. 

"Let’s see if we can find out more about each other by not going the mundane what do you do? What are your hobbies? What’s your favorite color? Route." Honey countered.

"Oh I like this" he said totally game. "Squid or goat?"

"What? She asked surprised. You’re not talking about them as food are you? Not with that mischievous look in your eye… what are we doing to or with this squid or goat?"

"Not telling but I choose goat."

"You dirty dirty boy".

"Why?" He asked laughing.

"You know why," she retorted, "but I choose squid".

"Why?"

"Because if you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking then imagine the possibilities with all those tentacles". She raised an eyebrow.

"You dirty, dirty girl, I like you". He stated intrigued.

"I can tell. Thunder or lightning?" She asked.

"Thunder," he said.

"Lightning," she said.

"Interesting," they both said, aware of why the other chose what they chose.

"Flowers or grass?" He asked.

"Grass."

"Flowers!"

"Eeew" she said. 

"What??? "But why eeew?" He asked in disbelief.

"Why would anyone want to give or receive those things? Their beauty is so fleeting and they die."

"But what about in a landscape?"

"I can appreciate them on land but there is still a barrenness once they're gone. An undefinable absence."  

"I actually understand what you mean, but that's why I like them so much. It's because of that emptiness they leave behind when they're gone. It makes you appreciate them more once they're back. It's the reason why people fill spaces with cut flowers fake or real, to never experience that undefinable absence as you say". 

She put her elbow on the bar and leaned her head on her knuckles. She smiled and said "You smell like flowers".

"I know," he said smiling too. Which one do I smell like to you? I'm aware the scent is different depending on the omega."

"I'm not sure but I'll let you know once I can pin point it".

"I look forward to it." "You smell like grass."

"Is that what they've all meant by outdoorsy? I've also heard that I smell like summer rain."

"I believe the particular scent that might have been a bit elusive to name is petrichor. It's very subtle but it's there."

"Is it turning your head?" She asked roguishly.  

"Absolutely and I know my enticing flowery scent is doing your head in."

She cracked up shaking her head. "No lies detected there".   

They asked each other more of these random questions chatting and laughing late into the night before they had to leave. 

When she fished out her phone to call a cab, he understood without being told, that she didn't want a ride from him, even though they live in the same building and even more so, she may or may not have other plans. To be sure, he offered anyway.

"Bad idea Jihun, I’ve been drinking, you’ve been drinking. Be scared for your chastity a little."

"Aye mama," he said chuckling, the idea of this 5 foot and a few inches woman overpowering his over 6 foot frame was laughable. 

"If apology drinks are this much fun then you can apologize to me as many times as you want. See you soon gorgeous," she said with a mega watt smile before climbing into her cab. 

"Goodnight Honey." He said shutting her cab door.

He watched the car drive off before setting off for his own. He thought about their time together and how enjoyable it had all been. When was the last time he went on a date? 8 years? He had forgotten just how much fun dating could be. He sat in his car thinking of a myriad of things for several minutes, before sighing and pushing the ignition. He shook off the rumination as he drove. For now he would rather savor how good this evening felt rather than entertain his intrusive thoughts.