Feeling guilty for his own thoughts, Jihong tried to get everything out of his mind, as if to persuade himself: "It doesn't matter what kind of relationship they have, why am I even worried? We don't have any romantic feelings, and even if we did, the only thing I can do is go my own way. It's better to pretend that I didn't see or hear anything."

Until the last moment, Jihong coped with his problems perfectly, but why is he so upset right now. After all, there is not even any affair between them. And in Jaekyung's place, any athlete could have been. So it is wiser to just leave everything as it is.

"What's wrong with me? Is it possible that because of my own loneliness, I am trying to interfere in someone else's life?" - Jihon smiled wistfully, taking a drag.

The silence was suddenly broken by assistant manager Nam, looking up from his mobile phone and commenting, "Oh, by the way. I've thought about it before, but Cha Sunghyun has the same type of appearance as you, Mr. Jung."

Jihong almost choked on cigarette smoke at the absurd statement, "What kind of nonsense?" When he managed to clear his throat, the colleague continued, "No, seriously." He then pushed his phone towards Jihon, "Here, look! Don't you think your eyes and bridge of your nose are a bit similar?"

The photo showed Cha Sung-hyun in a knitted suit, leaning his elbow on the table and looking somewhere in the distance. Probably because of his slightly lowered gaze, his thin eyes and straight nose were especially visible, while the lower part, including the jawline, is partially hidden by the shadow of his hand.

"This is the only photo where he looks like me, besides, the lower part is completely covered by shadow, and he stands sideways.

"Come on, look at the other photos, there are obvious similarities between you!"

"Maybe because of the double eyelids?"

"What kind of nonsense?! Not all people with a double eyelid have the same type, - the assistant manager retorted, not hiding his excitement. - And the atmosphere around you... Oh, this vibe of a stylish, chillingly handsome man. But you look more gentle, especially when you're smiling."

"A stylish and chillingly handsome man..." - when Jihong chuckled at the description, his colleague exclaimed, assuring: "Well, really! You are so handsome, but the main thing is not to be conceited!!" - and playfully expressed his disappointment.

"Anyway, it's cool that you look like a handsome actor!"

"I'm afraid they'll laugh at me after you say

"No one will!" Cha Sung-hyun has a more striking appearance as he is an actor. But judging by your facial features, you seem more refined and beautiful

"You're the only one who thinks so

At Jihon's words, Assistant Manager Nam rolled his eyes and retorted, "Come on!" Sometimes Cha Sunghyun is too sweet. I know you hate that analogy, but he's very pretty, like an omega."

Jihong took the cigarette out of his mouth and asked, "Is he an omega?"

"Isn't that what the Internet is making a fuss about?"

"It's rumored to be beta

"Oh, really?" I've seen a rebuttal article claiming that he's an omega. Well, we'll never know for sure. After all, it's all gossip, and maybe he's actually the alpha.

"And this is possible

"How did you feel when you met him?"

"Nothing

When Jihong explained that it is impossible to identify the secondary sex by appearance alone, Assistant Manager Nam sneered, "Oh, the same thing. Even if a person is right in front of my nose, I will never guess that they belong. And even after talking all day, I am unlikely to understand. They say that alphas and omegas can recognize each other, but for me it's some kind of difficult puzzle. Or are alphas such a rarity here?"

"Well, pheromone suppressors weren't that powerful before, which made alphas and omegas recognize each other accurately," Jihon concluded, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Maybe, but these days, people use chips. But sometimes it is possible to determine the secondary sex, that's what's strange. It works if people have high compatibility, and such people will live happily ever after in marriage," - Assistant Manager Nam, being a cynic and realist, for some reason discussed very romantic things.

Jihon would like to answer, but he finds it difficult to delve into this topic: "Some alphas are extremely sensitive to pheromones, even to a tiny amount."

"Well, scientifically, it certainly sounds plausible," the man muttered, letting out another ring of smoke, "but then it seems like they'll have to sniff out every omega in the world. If an alpha only reacts to one particular person, isn't that fate?"

"Hmm, it's kind of like an allergy," Jihong sneered as he shook off the ashes. - People who are allergic to peaches start itching a lot just by walking past a fruit stall in the summer. And each person has their own unique component, so if an alpha reacts to it, it's only natural that another omega would have a similar effect with the same stimulus in pheromones."

"Did you major in natural sciences or something?" the assistant manager asked Nam calmly.

— Of course not.

"I know, I know!" But you think so down-to-earth! Oh, how great it is to be special or beta... [1]

Noticing his friend's wordplay, Jihong laughed and took one last puff. Then, shaking off the ashes, he extinguished the bull and said: "This is better than being too sentimental in the modern world."

                                                                                               ***

By the time Jihon had finished his work, it was late in the evening. Perhaps because of the long driving, he was especially tired. He considered calling a taxi, but it was only a 20-minute drive to the house. In addition, it is better to take a short walk than to endure the incessant chatter of the driver. Fortunately, the distance from the bus stop to the house is short. In addition, there was a grocery store nearby, so he could take everything he needed, and there was even a fruit stall outside.

Looking at the peaches on display, he remembered the serious expression on his colleague's face when he asked if Jihong had studied science, which made him smile again. In fact, one person told Jihon about it. It was a girl he had dated back in college. During the first semester of her third year of humanities, she unexpectedly confessed her feelings on the day of the midterm exam. Jihon was naturally surprised, because they hardly communicated. Since he had just broken off a three-month relationship with a guy, he agreed. And about a month later, they were chatting in a café as usual. And then she suddenly asked, "By the way, Jihon, are you an omega?"

For the first time, someone asked him about this. Usually, people wondered if he was an alpha. Then Jihon asked them about the reasons for this assumption. So, the girl took him by surprise, and he blurted out without hesitation, "How did you know?"

"Oh, I guessed right after all

She smiled knowingly and quietly announced, "I'm an alpha."

Jihong met an alpha woman for the first time in real life, and he didn't notice at all until she shared with him.

"The only difference between alpha and beta is that alpha picks up omega pheromones. In addition, pheromones don't matter much these days, because everyone uses chips.

She replied casually, and continued, smiling faintly, "But I still recognize the omega. I am naturally drawn to them. I just feel something at the level of vibrations, not even knowing about their secondary field. Whether it's a guy or a girl.

— Regardless of pheromones?

"I suppose so. Each has its own distinctive feature. You have it too, don't you?

Jihon used a chip at the time, so it was simply impossible to detect pheromones.

"Actually, Jihon, you... To be honest, when I first noticed you, I thought you wouldn't be as good as them. You're so different from them.

Although she did not specify what the difference was, Jihong roughly understood what she was talking about. He speculated that it had something to do with his appearance, including a physique that seemed far from a typical omega.

"But whenever I see you in the audience, strangely enough, it's ticklish.

She touched her breasts.

"Do you mean the beating of the heart?"

When Jihong asked, she tilted her head and explained, "Not really. Oh, how can I explain?" she muttered, looking a little puzzled.

"Oh!" I am allergic to peaches. That's why, just looking at them, I already feel a slight itch, as if something is tickling inside my chest. Do you know what I mean?

"Well, I don't have an allergic reaction to peaches. So, not really," Jihon said jokingly, making her laugh.

                                                                                            ***

[1] There is a little play on words here. 배타적 (exclusive, special, exceptional), and 베타적 (beta). This is some kind of local meme among Koreans :D In general, the words are just consonant.