The minute he opened his eyes the following morning, he knew what he had done or was it more what he had not done?

"Oh fuck!" He said face palming. He had not taken her number and asked her out again.

He kept an eye out for her over the next few days. However, not a sight nor  whiff anywhere. Then, one early evening he ran into her in the lobby as she was leaving.  

"Oh!" They both said immediately magnetized towards one another and smiling.

"I was just thinking about you," he said.

"Nice thoughts?" She asked eyebrows raised.

"Yes, perfectly nice thoughts and you?"

"I wasn’t thinking about you," she answered.

"Awn," he said in disappointment.

"But I have thought about you," she followed up smiling at his crestfallen face.

He lit up. "Yeah? Nice thoughts?"

"No," she said solemnly. "Dirty thoughts, messed up dirty thoughts."

He blinked, taken aback. He did not expect to hear such a blatant admission especially with her looking so demure in a bun, button up shirt, capri pants and ballet flats. He looked at her speculatively and then chose to ask instead where she was off to. 

"I’m feeling cooped up, I’d like some fresh air," she said.

"Would you like some company?"

"Sure."

"Ok do you mind waiting while I change?"

"I’ll give you 10 minutes."

"You got it he said dashing to the elevator."

"You know when you said you wanted some fresh air I thought we were going for a neighborhood stroll. It’s been years since I’ve been on the train. Where are we going?" Jihun asked excitedly.

"Don’t know yet," Honey answered.

"I don’t understand," Jihun said. Isn’t the point of getting on a train is because you’re going somewhere?"

 "Or perhaps it’s because I’m not going anywhere," Honey said. "Sometimes I get on the train for the company of people not necessarily because I want to escape my apartment."

"Expound."

"Escaping my apartment means loneliness, a desire for connection means aloneness."

"So you just ride the train? Why not go to the park or bar?"

"Because people rarely talk to people they don’t know at the park and this particular type of aloneness is the wrong fit for a bar scene. On a train people are more likely to talk to this foreigner. They are emboldened to pursue their curiosity because in that moment we’re all travelers. So who am I? Where do I come from? Is just as important as who are they? Where are they going? Within the question and answer session, a connection is formed even if it only last 5 minutes. Does it make sense?"

"Yes," Jihun answered. "I understand perfectly. So who are you Honey and where do you come from?"

"You already know my name and where I come from is a guessing game between us."

"Which I only get one guess or be silent forevermore," he stated.

"Yep!" She concurred.

He chuckled. "Why so secretive?"

She grinned and said "because I’m not handing out answers means I’m secretive?"

"Ah Ah," he mocked lightheartedly. "So going back to the earlier discussion are you satisfied with these trivial sprinkles of connection?"

"Well yes. I'm not some parched person in need of a shower of attention. The occasional sprinkle though trivial as you called it, is the right amount of perk me up. Come let’s get out at this stop."

"Why? What’s happening at this stop?" He asked.

"Nothing just exploring. I get off at random stations. Never been here before." She tried sounding it out.

"Gwanak-gu," he said helping her out. "We’re near Seoul national university."

"Oh did you go there?"

"No. If I did I would be more familiar with this area since it's so close."

"Oh look there’s a mountain in the distance," Honey pointed out.

"Yeah I see it," Jihun said his interest piqued, looking for his phone. "Let's see what it is."

"Jihun you live here, how can you not know such a big glaring landmark." Honey said laughing at him.

"So I'm supposed to know everywhere and every thing? Have you been to the statue of liberty?"

"No, but I know it."

"Mount Rushmore?"

"No but I know it."

"Old Faithful?"

"Who???"

"Ha ha shame on you that's in Wyoming," Jihun said with a laughing taunt. "And this mountain in front of us is Gwanaksan."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

They explored the hilly neighborhood together. This was definitely a college town nestled within a mishmash of commerce and haphazard residential buildings. It was a marked difference from their own Cheongdamdong. Even though there was a preponderance of young people present, there was also the older populace amongst them from middle aged to octogenarians. 

For dinner, they found a nice rustic restaurant where they had an incredibly tasty dakdoritang. Jihun made good natured jest of honey who took about 100 pictures of the chicken stew and the delectable side dishes. The grandma of the shop was quite sweet on Honey and Jihun acted as the language bridge, filling in the gaps where both speakers lacked. After dinner, they wandered around the area some more until they fell upon a building boasting live music, open mic night and a variety of beer on tap. Their bottoms found seats in a flash. They listened to indie artists, tried a variety of beers and chatted animatedly about an array of topics, enjoying themselves immensely. 

"Honey," Jihun said as they stood in front of the elevators back at home a few hours later, "thank you. I had so much fun." 

"Same here," she replied. "I had a lovely time with you."

He reached for a hand and brought her fingers to his lips. "So what happens next," he asked?

"Whatever do you mean sir?" She asked playfully, caressing his bottom lip with her thumb. 

"Do we end the evening here or…..?" He trailed off hopefully.

"Or you get on your private elevator by yourself to your penthouse?"

"Aww what about those messed up dirty thoughts?!!"

"What about them? Are you inquiring if I'm still thinking about them? Then the answer is yes. I am watching you right now in 4K HD surround sound." She pressed her thumb against his lips, shivered in delight and winked. "You know what? I’ll go first. Goodnight Jihun."

Jihun threw his head back and laughed, the cheek of that lady, the sauciness. She just not only told him to fuck off he ain’t getting any but also that she was going up to masturbate to thoughts of him.

He went home and did the same. Normally he hardly ever engaged in solo play, he just found the whole experience frustratingly pale in comparison to a sexual duet, but this time around, his imagination had him in a fever of self pleasure. 

After he had exhausted himself to lurid images of her doing torrid things to him, his orgasm induced fog suddenly cleared up. His mind focused with clarity on what he forgot to do again.

"I am so bad at this these days." He groaned.

He once again forgot to ask for her number and to ask for the next date. When did his game totally dry up? He wondered.

Your game didn’t dry up an inner voice answered and you’re not forgetting either. Be honest with yourself on this one. You knew she would turn down your half hearted invitation. You’re an alpha Jihun, getting an omega to want you is nothing. So you know why. He sighed, he did know why. 

As if by magic he conjured her up with the power of his thoughts, it was not for naught that she has been on his mind the past few days. For here she was standing in his favorite coffee shop behind a shelf of books. That awareness of her led him to this particular secluded spot in the shop. He stopped behind her and she turned around with a finger to her lips.

What is she doing? he thought puzzled standing beside her now, to look at whatever it was that had her riveted.

A couple was in a heated argument in the secluded stacks.

"Honey," he whispered, "eavesdropping is wrong."

"Shhhh," she whispered, "go away with your moral compass."

"Do you even understand what they’re saying?" He whispered in her ear.

"Not all of it but enough to know this is juicy."

He started to ask what do you and then he caught the words "it’s one week to the wedding and you still haven’t backed out. You told me to wait that you’ll handle everything with her."

Jihun put a hand on his heart, shocked and intrigued. "Whaat???" he whispered to Honey.

"I know right?" she whispered with a totally entertained mischievous smile. "Translate everything."

And that’s how he came to provide close captioning services on this beautiful Sunday afternoon about other peoples messy private business. He even alternated between the female and male voice.

"You spineless asshole, this is why I divorced you." She said.

"After the divorce it was you who wouldn’t leave me alone." He flung back.

"You lack a solid backbone not good dick. What is your problem anyway you don’t even love her." She retorted.

"You know that’s not the case here. If I screw her over my media career is over." He cried.

Lies!!! Your family and hers are on the same social rung. The damage they can do to you is negligible. You’re just afraid of being publicly hated." She said furiously.

The guy was silent, chewing his lip.

"Look I’m not going to be your pregnant side piece motherfucker." She spat.

Honey and Jihun looked at each other mouth hanging open.

"Make up your mind or I will abort this baby and there is nothing you can do about it. You can’t have me arrested because that will be outing your infidelity." She threatened.

She started to walk away. He grabbed her, "Soomin please don’t. You know what this child means to me."

"Of course," she said. "You give great sex not babies. You’re shooting blanks 99% of the time. While we were married I kept your secret and bore the shame of the infertility in our marriage. You never had the courage to speak up and claim the blame."

At this point Soomin was just so upset she left. Her baby daddy ran after her.

Jihun and Honey followed.

"Why does she even want this asshole?" Honey wondered aloud.

"Oh please," Jihun said. They're both assholes. "They suit each other." 

The philandering groom to be caught up to his side piece and pulled her into an alley. Jihun and Honey crouched behind the dustbins to listen.

"Soomin please," he begged fervently.

"Please what? Are you going to tell her, yes or no?"

The bastard was mute.

"Ok so you marry her and she finds out that she can’t have kids then what? Do you plan to do the same and be silent while everyone is looking down at her and her abnormal infertility? Do you know how psychologically damaging that is for an omega? Why put her through that? Won’t it be easier to come back to me and let’s be a family?"

"She knows actually," he confessed. "She knows I can’t father children. I told her after we got serious."

That shut Soomin up. She was quiet for some time. 

"I see what’s going on here. I’m the fool here. I’m not the one with the upper hand here, it is you, you snake. You have no plans to tell her what so ever. You are enamored by the compelling image you both present to the public. I’m even going to admit you are a fantastic looking couple. It’s me you’re trying to stall, so that I can be twelve weeks or more pregnant then most clinics will be afraid to abort due to complications. Then you’ll have your golden marriage and your golden child. Fuck you!" She said hitting him. "Fuck you, you fucking piece of shit bastard." 

She tried to push him away so she can escape. Between their scuffle and him begging her to listen, the trash cans were knocked over and their audience revealed. Both parties stared at each other in shock and then Jihun and Honey took off running in opposite directions.

A few days later Jihun was at the gym bench pressing when a pair of boobs leaned into his face. He dropped the barbell. Luckily the rack guard caught it.

"Hello there," Honey greeted.

He smiled up at her.

Have a good work out she said cheerily and went to the weight rack.

They watched each other as they worked out. He openly admired her ass as she did squats. She watched in appreciation as he did flies. He watched her leg extensions, she returned the gaze on his bicep curls. As they worked through their exercise routines it was practically smoldering between them. They finished around the same time.

I’m going to sit in the relaxing pool, join me she said and headed towards the women’s locker room.

A few minutes later he slipped into the blazing hot pool across from her. He could feel the relaxing bubbles wrap around his muscles.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she said back.

"Sunday was fun."

"Yes," she agreed cracking up. "Where did you run to?"

"Towards home," he answered chuckling. "You?"

"Towards the shopping center."

"What do you think she’ll do?" Jihun asked.

"Oh she’s going to abort." Honey stated.

"Why?" He asked. "She could live a comfortable life as the mother of the golden child."

"Nah. What if the miracle repeats itself? Then she and her spawn will be cast aside. Besides couldn’t you see the vindictive spite in her eyes? Aborting that baby is her checkmate on dude." Honey answered.

"I see it from his point of view though and understand his cowardice. Virility is one of the major reasons alphas are top of the gender class and he is near sterile. What a mindfuck."

"Yeah but It's a different kind of mindfuck for the omega if your gender is known for fecundity and you produce nothing. No one would ever think to blame the supposedly virile alpha. The lack of an offspring would be put squarely on the shoulders of the omega. Who also will be despised for tying up a prime alpha. Well the other omega will probably leave him too."

"Why?"

"Once they have bonded either she will be overcome with an omegas' urge to nest or the contemptuous treatment she's about to receive for her inability to produce an heir will become intolerable. Omegas do not exit successful pairings. For Soomin to leave and break the bond, it means that her parents and former in-laws do not even know that their son is near sterile. 

"Hmm I see," Jihun said. "You sure get into other peoples messy business"

"Oh be quiet you were there too and it was juicy and other people I’m sure have been privy to my messy business."

"You’ve got messy business?" 

"Yes, don’t you?" She asked.

"Yes I do," he replied. "I think it’s rare the person that hasn’t had some shit happen."

"True," she said in agreement.

They got out of the bubbling hot pool into the ice cold dipping pool to cool off.

"Jihun I’m going to be at the Namdaemun market on Thursday at 7pm. I’ll wait for you at the Chungmuro station north exit for no more than 10 minutes. If I don't see you I'll assume you were busy with far more interesting things." She smiled and got up. 

"Wow that’s a loaded assumption," he said chuckling. "Also this is the second time you’ve told me instead of asked me to join you. Why are you so sure that I’ll do what you say?"

She walked up the steps of the dipping pool and said in a sing song voice as she left "because you like me, you wanna fuck me."

Jihun burst into laughter. "So very very true," he agreed.

"Later," she said waving without looking back.

"See you on Thursday," he called out still laughing.