Sunday evening came really fast for Tiffany as she was having fun at Bora’s house for some booze and food with her alpha friends. They were eating pancakes and japchae, and their drink of choice had been some fruit flavored rice wine, also called makgeolli, one of Tiffany’s favorites drinks.

Tiffany thought she was going crazy when her senses caught up a familiar citrus scent. The undertones of alcohol made her overall senses even more confused. Why was she suddenly picking up Taeyeon’s smell in that place? 

“You alright, Tiff?” Bora asked, finding it a bit weird Tiffany was sniffing the bowl of makgeolli. 

“There’s something in here that reminds me of her scent…” Tiffany said, explaining her behavior. 

“Her scent?”

“Ah, the omega girl?” Yuri seemed excited to know more about it. “She smells like citron makgeolli?” 

“Kinda, yeah. Alcohol nodes included.“ 

Yuri smiled, finding it amusing. “I’ve met a girl who once smelled like martinis. Those alcohol scents are the best. Feels like they are pushing and pulling sweet hangovers over you. It’s a very adorable scent to have.” 

“Speaking of which, how's it going with her, Steph?” Jessi inquired of her alpha friend. “Did you establish who's in charge?”

Tiffany looked down, not keen on the direction the conversation was taking. They had been discussing fashion and makeup, but now the topic had shifted to Taeyeon. Tiffany wasn't bothered by discussing Taeyeon herself, but rather how her friends were talking about her.

“Did you put her in her place?” Jessi chimed in.

“No,” Tiffany replied, exhaling, leaving the bowl of rice wine on the side of her plate. “It's okay, girls. Don't worry about it, it’s not that important.”

“Tiff...” Bora began. “If you don't assert yourself, that omega will think she's superior to you. You can't let that happen. Staying silent will make her believe she can do as she pleases without consequences.”

“It's fine, really! I don't care about it,” Tiffany reassured them, shrugging. “I'm not bothered by what she thinks or says. Taeyeon and I are actually on good terms.”

“Taeyeon? Is that her name?” Jessi ventured. 

“Yes, that's her name!”

“A typical omega name,” Jessi remarked, igniting a feeling of discomfort within Tiffany. She didn't appreciate the negative tone her friends were taking towards Taeyeon. This made Tiffany question her own behavior—why did she suddenly feel uneasy about their comments when she herself had made similar jokes in the past?

“I think it's an adorable name,” Tiffany replied, trying to steer the conversation positively. 

“So, are you two close friends now?” Yuri asked with curiosity.

“We're not close friends.” Tiffany denied. “We're roommates who happen to talk occasionally...I guess it's normal to do that when you share a dorm with others.”

“You're so different from me,” Jessi pointed out. “If it were me, I'd never let her challenge me or say the things she does to you.”

“Well, we're all different. You can't expect us to be the same. We all have our own personalities.”

“Yeah, sure,” Jessi agreed. “I'm just saying, you're being too lenient with her. She's an omega. Omegas need alphas. They need someone to lead them, to be in charge, to show ‘em who is the boss! It turns them on, you know? They actually like it.”

“I don't think she does,” Tiffany replied, her heart quickening in discomfort at the thought of commanding Taeyeon in that way. “Taeyeon is different.”

“Different?” Yuri asked, curious.

“Yeah. When I talk to her…” Tiffany blinked, recalling moments spent with Taeyeon. “It is such a good time. Everything is light and cozy… It's like she isn't even an omega. It doesn't feel like that. It feels like… all of this… it doesn't matter.”

“What doesn't matter?”

“Our castes,” Tiffany answered, looking at her friends. “It's like… it doesn't matter. It's like… we're… equal.”

“That's ridiculous!” Jessi retorted, and Tiffany felt a pang of sympathy for Taeyeon. “An alpha and an omega will never be equals, Steph. They are the lowest caste. Their kin are just not at our level! And they never will be! You gotta remember that.”

“How come you are defending her?” Bora asked. “After everything she said to you?”

“Something blooming there, Tiff?” Yuri joked, making Tiffany a tad angrier. 

“There’s nothing blooming!” Tiffany retorted, growing upset with her friends' judgment. “Taeyeon has a strong personality despite being an omega. And she has interesting insights about stuff. I like talking to her about stuff. And all I'm just saying is that it wouldn't hurt to treat her with a bit more respect.”

“Thank God you're an alpha, or you'd make your own life difficult!” Yuri remarked.

“Steph, you gotta step up! You're an alpha—the top caste of our society!” Jessi emphasized. “You should use that to your advantage!”

“My advantage?”

“But of course! We're arguably the best mates out there. Betas and omegas are all crazy for us. With just a snap of your fingers, just like that, you can have any of their kin begg