OMI 9

The Senior Couple

Since I made a move on Lumière, our relationship has become a little more comfortable. 

Or rather, I think I’ve become more comfortable with him. 

He saw my vulnerable side, and even when I talked about my parents and the environment I grew up in, he didn’t pull away.

I was the one who felt inferior because of our very different backgrounds. Opening up to him made me realize that I didn’t have to be so guarded.  

Lumière thought it would be better not to see his parents for a while, since I seemed to be out of sorts after that day. 

But I really wanted to see them again. 

I wanted to know more about what a normal family was like. I was particularly interested in the house where Lumière grew up. 

Sensing his concern, I suggested we have another meal together, and Lumière was surprised but very happy. 

Since then, we’ve eaten together a few times on the weekends. 

It’s been almost two months since I started living with him. 

I’ve become able to manage daily conversations. 

It’s not quite a hobby, but recently I’ve gotten into tending the garden’s flowers and plants. 

I had never properly taken care of animals, let alone plants, so I wasn’t confident at first. 

But with daily care, they gradually grow. I found the changes fascinating and enjoyable.   

Lumière told me I could do whatever I wanted with the garden, and he even went with me to buy seedlings on his days off. 

I thought any soil would do, but there were so many options, and I ended up asking the salesman a lot of questions. 

He also bought me a beginner’s guide to read, so I work every day referring to that book.   

Sometimes at night, when the mood was right, we would kiss and then move on to touching each other.

Just the pleasurable touch was like a drug that made me addicted. 

I also learned for the first time that there is such a thing as pleasant tiredness.

But Lumiere never tried to penetrate me. We have never physically connected in that way.

Is it because I look so much like a child?

Or maybe he’s someone who even appreciates kisses.

Is he waiting for me to clearly return his feelings?

I’ve been wondering lately if I should just tell him to hold me properly instead of waiting. 

“Éclair, if it’s alright with you… my brother wants to meet you. He said he’d like to come over.” 

Lumière asked this while we were having our usual meal. 

“He wants to meet me? Which brother?” 

“Renard, the one who’s two years older. He’s been the most worried about me not having a good partner. Of course, only if you’re okay with it…” 

So, his brother who’s two years older, an Omega. I was a bit curious to meet him.

“I have no problem with that. I might even want to meet him.”

I wonder what it’s like to have brothers and sisters. As an only child, I can’t imagine it.

His brother and his husband are coming this weekend. 

It could be perfect timing. It seems like a good opportunity to see how a young couple interacts. 

◇

“Hello, you must be Éclair. I’m so happy to finally meet you. I am Renard, thank you for taking care of my foolish brother.” 

His hair was lighter than Lumière’s, a platinum blonde, and he had a cheerful smile. 

“Nice to meet you, Renard.” 

He nodded enthusiastically and suddenly hugged me. 

“You’re adorable. I think this is the first time I’ve ever met an Omega smaller than me!”  

I was a bit surprised by Renard’s lively demeanor, especially since his parents had seemed so quiet. He was more solidly built and slightly taller than me. 

“Renard! That’s rude to do that suddenly.” 

“Sorry, did I startle you? I don’t often get to talk to Omegas my age. I often meet my brother-in-law’s partner, but there’s almost a ten-year age difference.” 

“No… it’s okay. Don’t Omegas meet often?”   

“Not really… When many Omegas gather, security is needed, so we usually only meet through family or acquaintances. That’s why I don’t have many friends.” 

Hearing that he had few friends made me feel a little closer to him. I didn’t have anyone I could call a friend back home either. 

“Renard, I’d like to introduce myself as well.”  

“Ah, sorry. This is my husband, Aubert. I told him it was okay for  me come alone since it’s the central district, but he insisted on coming with me.”  

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let him go alone even in the central district. I’m Aubert, a long-time colleague of Lumière. Nice to meet you.” 

He had the quintessential Alpha appearance. With black hair and blue eyes, he was a refreshing contrast to Lumière’s family, who mostly had lighter features. 

“I’m Éclair. Nice to meet you.”  

“You’re lucky to have found such a sweet partner. Should I tell you how desperately Lumière was looking for his one and only?” 

Aubert laughed, and Lumière quickly intervened. 

“Please Éclair, I will tell you if you want to know. Aubert tends to exaggerate.” 

We went into the living room to chat over tea.  

“When we came in, I noticed the beautiful garden. Lumière never had such a hobby, so is it yours, Éclair?” 

“Yes, he lets me do as I please. I haven’t tackled any large plants yet, but once I get more comfortable, I’d like to plant some shrubs. There seems to be compatibility between plants, too.” 

I was still learning, but I enjoyed gardening. 

“Honestly, it might be better to hire a gardener…”   

“She is well organized and has good sense. Our garden is just grass because the kids and dogs run around. It would be a shame to plant flowers.” 

“The dogs were your idea.” 

Renard seems to be very fond of animals. He said they had three dogs, two cats, and even a rabbit at home. 

“Do you like animals, Éclair?” 

“I don’t know if I like them. I’ve seen stray cats before, but they never let me touch them”.   

I have never had the environment to keep pets, so I have no experience with them. 

“If you’re not afraid, come and pet them. It’s called animal therapy, when you touch animals, they heal you.”

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to come over.” 

“Come over! You’re more than welcome! And you don’t have to be so formal.” 

“This is formal? Maybe it’s because Lumière is the one who taught me.”  

Lumière taught me most of the language of this country. Even when we spoke using the Language Unification Medicine, his words were always so refined, and I think that rubbed off on me. 

“Haha, so he’s training you to his liking?” 

“That’s not it! I’m teaching him things that are universally useful. And when I’m not there, Ende teaches him.” 

 In fact, the words that Ende teaches are also very precise and correct. 

“Lumière’s preferences? I’m curious.” 

I asked, intrigued by what Aubert had said earlier. 

“This guy was a sheltered boy. He liked demure, quiet, princess-like ones.”

Aubert said with a laugh. 

A princess-like one. That was very different from me. 

Lumière nudged Aubert lightly.     

“Éclair, don’t worry about it. It’s an old story, and it was more about the kind of characters I liked in stories.” 

“You know, the kind of actors you like and the kind of people you actually want to date can be different. In stories, I like muscular knights.” 

“Huh? Didn’t you say you like me just the way I am?” 

“That is not real life. If I had to choose a husband, you’d be my number one, darling.” 

Renard said and gave Aubert a quick kiss. 

A passionately in love Alpha and Omega couple. They already had kids, but they looked like newlyweds. 

“Come on, this is somebody else’s house.” 

“Sorry, sorry. Oh? Éclair, your face is red.”

“Huh? Oh, no… I just thought, that’s what it’s like to be in love.”

I had seen a lot of drama in the shop, but I hadn’t seen many people in real relationships.

I felt a little embarrassed and looked down. 

“Oh, that’s so cute! Lumière, why don’t you do the same?”

“I’ll do it when you leave. I don’t want to show his cute face to you anymore.”

Lumière patted my head gently. 

“Jealous, aren’t you?” 

Aubert shrugged, as if to say, “Good grief?”

“Éclair, I started this, but let’s not talk about preferences. Lumière talks about you all the time at work.”

“Really?”

I hadn’t had many opportunities to hear about Lumière at work. 

“We work in different departments, so we don’t see each other often, but when we do have lunch together, he always talks about you. Like how much you enjoyed breakfast or how you’re obsessed with the flowers he bought yesterday.” 

I didn’t know he talked about me like that to his friends.

“That’s nice to know, and a little embarrassing.” 

“If it bothers you, I’ll tone it down. I just get so happy about the little things… Did I really talk that much?”

“Give me a break. I know it’s because you finally found someone, but I have listened to your stories every day.” 

“It’s okay to talk about me… Just don’t overdo it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Aubert’s exasperated expression.

Renard and Aubert’s banter was entertaining, and it was fun to hear stories about Lumière that I didn’t know. 

Renard talked about his childhood, and Aubert knew him from the time they started working. 

The conversation flowed more easily than I expected and I was surprised at myself. 

“Oh, there’s a place outside the central district where the flowers bloom beautifully this time of year. It’s one of the landmarks of the country. Would you like to go together?”

I didn’t know how to respond to Renard’s suggestion, so I looked at Lumière.

“Flowers this time of year? This must be on the edge of the eastern district… We might get permission if we apply.”

“Whether it’s one Omega or two, the security is the same.”

Aubert added to Lumière’s words. They seemed surprisingly excited.

“Éclair, what do you think? Would you like to see it?”

Lumière asked me.

“If we can go, I’d like to. I want to see the flowers.”

We always went shopping in the central district, so I wanted to see more.

“Then let’s go! It’s decided! When would be good? The flowers are at their best in two weeks, so we should have time to apply.”

“That sounds good. Should we bring the kids?”

Renard shook his head slightly at Aubert’s suggestion.

“You don’t get it. It’s a double date! Sometimes it’s nice just the two of us. I’m sure our parents would be happy to watch the kids.”

They planned to leave the children with their grandparents.

They hadn’t visited recently, and their parents had been asking to see their grandkids, so it was perfect timing.

The word “date” made me feel a little dizzy.

“I’ve never gone on a trip like this with someone before.”

My words silenced the three of them.

“Should we just go alone?”

Lumière suggested suddenly.

“No way! It would take longer to get permission, and the flowers would be past their peak! Éclair is still in the observation period, right? The more reasons the better. Don’t worry! We’ll only be together on the way, and we won’t be in your way once we get there.”

Renard laughed happily.

Going on a date on a day off.

It was something I never thought I’d experience.

I didn’t know if I had ever longed for it, but I couldn’t help but feel excited.