"Hey Seojun..." 

"What’s up?" Seojun asked not looking away from his phones' camera as he took a series of photographs eating his food salaciously. 

Jihun, unfazed by his cousins’ thirst trap antics, proceeded with his question. 

"Have you ever had a situation where someone is evidently attracted to you, yet not making any move to consummate it?" 

"Yes. Minjin has been wanting to fuck me for the past 10 years but has not made one single move." 

"What?!" He said spitting out his drink and cracking up. "Really?!!" 

"Really. It spills out of her aura sometimes when we’re alone and in close proximity." 

"Minjin???" 

"Yes!" 

Jihun laughed picturing his 60-year-old austere, ascetic, curt, and dry CFO sending waves of desire towards his rambunctious, frivolous, hedonistic clown of a cousin. He shook his head and laughed again. 

"So, what do you do?" 

"I mess with her by throwing out snares." 

"You do not!" He exclaimed covering his mouth in shock. 

"Yes, I do. I occasionally brush her with my delicious seductive pheromones just to see what she would do." 

"So, she was lying when she said she had not been tainted in years and why are you teasing her you naughty naughty? You don’t even like vaginas." He admonished, wagging a finger at Seojun.  

"Because it’s fun to disconcert her. I'm entertained watching her aura fluster and yes she was lying, I snared her right before our meeting the other day on the elevator."

"You’re trash." Jihun said shaking his head peeved at his cousins' mean mischief.  

Seojun winked impishly and took another picture sucking on a strawberry. 

They were out at an Italian restaurant in Gangnam having dinner and drinks and Seojun per usual was having a personal photo shoot for his social media platform. For some reason, his cousin had a shit ton of followers who wanted to know what his middle-aged ass was up to. Actually, not for some reason; Seojun was indeed very handsome, sexy, pleasure seeking and playful. A smart bimboy who just wants everyone to relax and have fun. One can't help but smile watching his shenanigans.  

"So, you have an omega who is not gagging to get naked with you?" 

"Who said this is about me?" 

"Oh, spare me the prevarication of 'my friends' friend,' you ain’t got no friends." 

"I have friends." 

"No, you have acquaintances and colleagues. I’m your only friend. So, if this not about my supposed 'friend' then who?" 

"Ok fine. Let’s say..."  

"Ugh!" Seojun said, irked and rolled his eyes so hard that only the whites of his eyeballs showed.  

Jihun continued on his evasive vein. 

"Let’s say there is such an omega, aren't they known for being unable to refrain from acting on their sexual impulses? Isn't it unusual that this one is literally percolating with 'I want to do you vibes' but does nothing about it?" 

"And what makes you think you're not percolating with the same "I want to do you vibes?" 

"Then she should be even more willing right?" 

Seojun sighed and put his phone down with an annoyed clack. 

"You emotionally lazy types of alphas annoy me so much! You think because you're this magnificent flower that deigned to bloom means all bees must swarm to your stamens? You sit back and let the interested party perform all the calisthenics of the chase while you just go along for the ride until they get tired. Now you've met your match with a twist and she's making the mighty alpha second guess himself. I actually like her for not letting you sway her into doing your work for you because the conundrum here is not an omega practicing sexual restraint, it’s also a virile alpha not seducing this omega you’re so obviously interested in." 

"Who said I’m interested?" 

"Why else would you be talking about her?" Seojun asked massaging his temples. 

"And who said I’m not seducing?" 

"Ji, you’re not pursuing her let alone seducing her, you’re out here with me on hump day! Hump day!" Seojun said smacking his palm on the table for emphasis. "You should be out there humping." 

"You know hump day doesn’t literally mean you have to hump something." Jihun retorted tsking. "You’re also out here with me so I don’t know what you’re lecturing about." 

"Oh, please I rescheduled my dick appointment for later tonight to have dinner with you. You’re the one who’s into courtship and shit. I just want to have lots of sex." 

"I can tell, we can all tell," Jihun said dryly. "You stink of so many pheromones." 

But Seojun wasn’t listening. He was making eyes at someone at the bar who was also reciprocating. Jihun sighed and gave up because he knew what usually ensues from this point and sure enough his cousin was over by the bar in 2 minutes.  

He was fine with this development as it gave him space to contemplate without distractions the question his cousin had asked. Seojun was partially correct in his analysis. Yes, in the past decade or so, he has become emotionally lazy. Even when he barely showed any interest, omegas pursued him fervently until they got exhausted.  

That was not the case with Honey though. The reason why he wasn't actively pursuing this omega, even though every fiber in him was clamoring to be connected to her was because a gong had gone off in his head on their first date. Mingled with the excitement within him was also alarm and this particular alarm had gone off before, 26 years ago. What had unfolded was a miserable saga of epic proportions. The only thing that had been missing in that escapade was this tingling awareness and persistent nudge. Back then it was more akin to being pulled in helplessly versus this time around where he is being helplessly pushed.   

Well, he was going to help it god damn it! He wasn't some young buck that could easily be swept away by the tides of emotions. At this stage of his life, he was in control of how deeply he wanted to get involved. There was no reason to hold back since this particular entanglement also had a built-in escape route, an expiration date of a year. This worked out well since a year is about the time relationships start to lose their sweetness and sour anyway. After the required probationary year, both parties stop putting their best foot forward and the truth is revealed about who they are. What happens next is the grand decision: do they put in the work and build something anyway or fold while the going was good? For him and Honey only the latter choice exists because she has to inevitably return to where she came from. He felt himself relax. Fine it's decided. He will put in the chase for such a short pursuit.  

Jihun stood before one of the new paintings on display at the art gallery he had been invited to pondering if it would suit the lobby of his office. His phone vibrated and it was a message from Seojun; he was running late. Jihun sighed and as he pocketed his phone, the hairs on the back of his neck raised and a familiar laugh reached his ears. He looked up and saw Honey speaking to one of the artists within a group of people. He was surprised that she knew people in his world. He leaned back to see if he could catch her eye, however, at that moment one of the men in the group commandeered the attention of her ear and she listened raptly. Disappointed, he tried to return his focus to the painting and decided that he didn't like this particular style of art after all.  

He perused paintings to sculptures to art installations. He tried to catch glimpses of her but she was completely surrounded by people and all he caught were sounds of her voice and laughter. Tired, he pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t concentrate. He should just pick a couple of things as he is expected to buy. Before doing so though, he wandered off to the private part of the gallery reserved for esteemed patrons. He punched in the code and the door clicked open.  

The art curated here was especially lovely and often deeply evoking. Too bad none of it was for sale. He noticed a few new pieces here and there and gazed at them with appreciation. Then he saw a painting that riveted him to the spot. Framed in the majestic sunset of the African plains was the striking form of a dark-skinned women wrapped in a beautiful piece of tribal cloth, curled up in a chair asleep in front of a window. Half of her face was tucked into her arm and her shining cascading braids obscured the rest of her features. He looked for the intro card and read; Ebun by Suehalia Mohammed.  He should look up the artist to see if there are other pieces for sale. 

He heard the door and felt her before she spoke. 

"Hello Jihun." 

He turned. "Hello Honey." 

"Do you like that painting?" 

"Yes. Very much." 

"Why?" 

"I don’t know why, I just do." 

"I like your answer Jihun." 

"Why?" 

"It’s simple," she said coming to stand beside him. "It comes from the heart and not from the head." 

He chuckled. "I guess you’re like me in that sense. You’re not fond of those who try to explain art with complicated pretentious jargon." 

She agreed and chuckled too, "bingo!" 

She started to walk away and he followed.  

"Does some art make you feel things she asked?" 

"Yes," he answered. "You?" 

"Yes." 

"What does this one make you feel?" He asked. 

"Loneliness." 

"And this one?" 

"Sadness." 

"This one?" 

She paused.  

"Aroused," she said and leaned against a pillar. 

He came and stood in front her. He reached out and traced her collar bone. She didn’t flinch nor protest. He traced his finger in lines across her chest inching lower towards the swell of her breasts. 

"Where do you go Honey?" He inquired languidly. 

"What do you mean?" She asked as she reached out a finger and traced swirls around his shirt buttons. 

"I'd like to see more of you but I can hardly ever find you." He answered. 

The door clicked and he withdrew his hand, someone else had entered the space perhaps it was Seojun. No, it wasn't. The pheromones of the footsteps that echoed towards them belonged to a stranger. It stopped beside her. It was a man, an alpha and a rather striking one. He leaned into her ear and started whispering. Honey continued tracing swirls around his buttons inching lower and lower down his navel towards the top of his pants, her eyes never leaving his face. Her gaze dropped to his lips for a few moments, smiled and raised back to his eyes. Confusion clanged in his head and a semi erection in his pants. The man finished speaking and stood back. Her finger stopped.  

She smiled again at Jihun and asked "were you able to find anything that pleased you in the exhibition this evening?" 

He cleared his throat. "No," he answered "but I haven’t seen the whole exhibit yet." 

"Then let me suggest Amore Vincit Omnia. It’s at the southeast corner of the gallery. Who knows, I might come see it sometime at your place. Enjoy the remains of your day gorgeous," she said as she took the mans' proffered arm and left. 

"What the hell?" He thought bemused. 

His cousin walked in a few minutes later.  

"Sorry I’m late. Did you find anything you want to buy?" 

"No," Jihun said "but apparently it’s at the southeast corner of the gallery." 

"What does that mean? Seojun questioned. "I’m confused." 

"Me too cousin," he added. "Me too." 

For the past several days, Jihun has found himself sitting in his living room and staring at the sculpture, since he purchased it. She was indeed right about him liking it. He mulled the encounter over in his head, the absolute truth of her answers. Loneliness, sadness, arousal. Then the mysterious alpha who was permitted so much physical closeness yet no physical intimacy. He swirled the amber liquid around in his glass, was there any deeper meaning to suggesting this sculpture? Two lovers bound by shackles to their personal demons; each lover trying to free the other. Amor Vincit Omnia; Love Conquers All.    
 

He knew his eyes were burning into her but he didn’t want to look away. He found her at a party masquerading as a fundraising event. People converging under the facade of helping someone. He chose very carefully which ones he went to. The long boring righteous ones were a no no. He preferred the ones like this; after the pledges and the charitable giving have been conducted, the lights are dimmed, people threw away their philanthropic guise and do what they really came here for and that is to have fun.  

After their brief encounter at the art gallery, he surmised that he would see her at this function as well. Anyone who mingled with the art set would inadvertently know this set of people too. He wanted to start pursuing her and here she was. He watched in amusement as she was cornered by the son of a congressman and her skillful escape as she laughed ducking beneath his arms. He sipped his scotch staring at her unabashed as she made her way across the floor. Then she was intercepted by a woman who put her arm around her waist and held her close whispering in her ear. As the lady spoke, Honeys' eyes looked over her shoulder and locked with his. She gave a nod of agreement and they parted. She walked towards him and sat at his table where presently he was the only occupant. 

He smiled at her. "Finally," he said. "You grace me with your presence." 

"How could I not?" She asked smiling back. "I was pulled here by your unrelenting gaze." 

"I am interested in you Honey. It’s only natural that my eyes follow you." 

"Pray tell, what are you thinking about when said eyes are following my every move?" 

He took another sip of his drink and a slow smile etched his lips, his eyes communicating his desire as it slid sensually down her face. 

"My my," she said amused. "What a loaded gaze. I believe if this room were empty, you’d have me on that table begging for mercy 7 ways till Sunday." 

"14" he countered, "and the room doesn’t have to be empty." 

She whistled softly eyebrow arched almost to her hairline 

The woman that was whispering to her came back clutching a few items. She bowed briefly to Jihun before laying the items on the empty chair beside Honey. She knelt in front of her, slipped off Honeys' shoes and proceeded to massage her feet. First, she caressed her leg before circling her ankle with her fingers and then rotating the foot. Jihuns eyes flickered between what was being done to Honey and Honey herself. Waiting for her to say something. She didn’t. Then the lady unzipped a pouch and pulled out something that unfolded into ballet flats. She put them on Honeys’ feet and brushed up her dress to her thigh. She placed a kiss on the inside of each one before getting up. 

Jihun watched all of this once again confused. Are these people her Subs and she is the Dom? Honey stood up and the woman placed a cloak around her, tied the strings and picked up the rest of their belongings.  

"Let’s meet up soon Jihun and discuss those 14 ways," Honey said blowing him a kiss. "Enjoy the rest of the party." 

He watched till she was out of sight in wonder. Morever, he now knew whom had placed that shroud around Honey at Namdaemun.