Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Reform (2)

Today was one of the happiest days of Kaya’s life. At the same time, it was also the most uncomfortable day of her life. The position of the Grand Chef winner, which seemed to be so far away, was right around the corner, and the family that she was so worried about was right in front of her… She couldn’t have been any happier. After all, family came first for Kaya.

But she couldn’t be simply happy. Cho Min Joon was disqualified. That didn’t mean he was disqualified from life. No matter what happened, either Kaya or Cho Min Joon was going to be disqualified, but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel suffocated.

“Kaya, what’s wrong?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about something. Have some lemon smoothie. The quality is much better than that at home.”

Kaya held the long straw inside a cup to Gemma’s mouth. Gemma took a sip, and she smiled in a way that would’ve looked like a grimace to others. Cho Min Joon walked in. He looked at everyone who had awkward looks in their eyes. Anderson, Kaya, and their families. On top of the table were cakes, biscuits, ice cream, and wine.

Cho Min Joon sat next to Cho Ah Ra and quietly asked, “Did you have a good chat?”

“How could I? I just learned that my speaking skills suck, but I did understand one thing. ‘My Korean name is Ahn Deok Sam…'”

In response, Cho Min Joon let out a cough. He then knitted his teary eyes and looked at Cho Ah Ra.

“Did Anderson tell you that?”

“How else would I have known?”

“… Seems like you explained what it meant.”

“I didn’t, but we all laughed.”

Seeing from Anderson’s cold eyes and his trembling eyebrows, he figured he got caught. Cho Min Joon clicked his tongue and said, “Anderson, there’s been a misunderstanding…”

“Shut up. I don’t have time for excuses. This is why my parents taught me not to trust anyone…”

“What are you trying to say about my parents? Fabio, what do you think?”

“He doesn’t even listen to his parents but uses us as an excuse for times like these. We didn’t raise him right.”

Both parents sighed. Anderson knitted his brows in response.

“When are you leaving? Shouldn’t you tend to your restaurant?”

“That’s okay. We took this week off.”

“… What about reservations?”

“This is why children are useless. What day is it tomorrow?”

Anderson thought for a moment. He made a remark as if he didn’t know.

“I know it’s not your birthdays.”

“It’s our anniversary! This is what children are like. When will you grow up?”

“What kid remembers their parents’ anniversary? Next, you’re going to expect me to memorize your weight. Forget it. Eat this and leave.”

“Sorry. We didn’t raise our son properly. Kaya, it must be hard for you.”

“You do have a horrible son.”

“… Look who’s talking.”

Anderson growled at Kaya, but Kaya smiled and hugged Gemma.

“I’m a good daughter and a good sister. Right, Gemma?”

“Yup.”

“See? She agrees.”

“… No one’s on my side in this life.”

The person he trusted just laughed at him while his parents were busy making fun of him. Anderson destroyed the carrot cake in front of him.

“… Anderson. You didn’t crush that cake as a joke, right?”

“Oh, god.”

His parents even made him take on religion.

Cho Ah Ra snickered and whispered in Cho Min Joon’s ear.

“Anderson is cute.”

“… What?”

“He’s cute. He looks like a total model, but he acts so cute.”

Cho Min Joon glared at Cho Ah Ra. He spoke in a strict voice, “Don’t get any ideas. I told you you can’t date anyone until you go to college.”

“Ugh, seriously? I can’t even say stuff like this?”

“… Don’t even look at Anderson anymore. Your life will get stressful with him. You probably don’t have a chance anyway, but just the thought makes me cringe. Anyway, don’t look at him. I’m against it.”

“Whatever. Do you think this is the stone ages?”

Cho Ah Ra grumbled and drank her tea. Gemma, who was next to Cho Ah Ra, glanced over and carefully said.

“Try this. It’s good.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.”

Cho Ah Ra opened her eyes out of surprise but then accepted it with a smile. She then took a sip and looked at Gemma. Cho Min Joon smirked and pinched Cho Ah Ra in the cheek.

This opened the door. Gemma and Cho Ah Ra began to speak in English. Of course, they were both lacking for different reasons, but they seemed to enjoy the conversation.

As the night went on and the families went back to their dorms, only three of them remained at the table. One candle was lit… But no one enjoyed the vibe. Anderson glared at the candle and asked, “Are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess it’s just the two of us now.”

Anderson trembled out of disgust. Kaya attacked him in a cold voice, “Why do you keep acting like the victim? I’m the victim here.”

“Hmph. My personality might suck, but it’s not as bad as yours.”

“I’m not sure about that. They say the way you treat your family says a lot about a person. Seeing how we treat ours, I think the answer is clear. Don’t you agree, Min Joon?”

Anderson glanced at Cho Min Joon. He looked away without an answer and scratched his head. Anderson grumbled.

“You damned bastard. You gave me a weird name, and now you’re not even on my side. Do you have a conscience?”

“… Probably.”

“Min Joon is 100 times nicer than you.”

“… You keep making me into the bad guy. I’m leaving.”

Anderson got up from his seat. Kaya spoke with a surprised face, “Today’s Min Joon’s last day. You’re really leaving?”

“Who cares? I’ll just see him later.”

It sounded cold, but it also meant this wasn’t the last time. Anderson looked back at Cho Min Joon and then slowly said, “I know the name you gave me… is weird, but I won’t get rid of it. I was the one who liked it for sounding Asian. I’m going to introduce myself with that name whenever I meet Korean people.”

“No, there’s no need for…”

“Don’t feel sorry… because I’m going to tell everyone you gave me that name. Then they’ll blame you for it. That’s my revenge.”

Cho Min Joon laughed. It was a foolish type of revenge. Cho Min Joon watched Anderson leave as he said, “Thanks for everything, Anderson.”

Anderson stopped. He answered without looking back.

“No need to be all cringy. We’ll see each other again.”

To be more exact, they would see each other again tomorrow and a few weeks after that for the finals, but Anderson didn’t know this. Cho Mni Joon smiled and said, “Sorry.”

Anderson didn’t answer. It was possible he didn’t have anything to say or didn’t understand what the apology was for. His shadow disappeared, leaving him with Kaya. The candle lit up the table while the rest of the room remained dark. Kaya looked at the half-open door and said,

“I think the lights turned off.”

“The one in the kitchen turned off.”

“… No, not that. I mean me. My future. My life was always like that. The future always looked dim. It was always like that. I knew tomorrow would be just as dark as today. And when I came on the Grand Chef, I saw the light, but I don’t see it anymore, Min Joon.”

Kaya turned her head. Every time the candle flickered, the shadow above her face shook, but her eyes didn’t shake. Neither did her voice. She spoke in a very certain voice, “You must’ve been my lighthouse.”

Cho Min Joon didn’t say anything. It wasn’t because he had nothing to say. He couldn’t breathe. That was what he thought about Kaya. No, to be more exact, Kaya wasn’t just someone who led him into a path.

Kaya’s path was the path he wanted, and he wanted to make food just like hers. He looked up to her in every way. Just looking at her made him motivated, but it would always result in feeling inadequate.

But Kaya, his lighthouse, said this to him. That he was her lighthouse. Those words made him feel warmer than any praise from the judges.

“… I was your lighthouse?”

“You were there whenever it was difficult. You told me what to do… And you stopped me from doing bad things. More than anything, you kept me up. Thanks. I might never say this again once you leave… So I’m saying it now. I won’t say it again.”

“You were also…”

He wanted to tell her that she was his lighthouse, that she still was. But it wasn’t easy to say. Cho Min Joon whispered for a moment before his mouth shut. Kaya tilted her head.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing. I don’t have anything to say.”

He felt too pathetic to say it now. After all, he had been disqualified. He wanted to tell her later that she led him to this path. Kaya smiled. She smiled like a girl.

“Hey, lighthouse.”

“What?”

“Do You think I can still find my way without you?”

“Kaya.”

Cho Min Joon called in a soft voice, “I’m not a lighthouse.”

“… That’s your opinion, not mine. You were a lighthouse to me.”

“No. I wasn’t, Kaya. You would’ve found the way without me, and you would’ve proved what a great chef you are. You might think your life was meaningless, but you fought. It was a war that most people wouldn’t have survived, but you did it. Your sister smiled in such a beautiful way. You made that happen.”

Kaya looked conflicted. She was either touched or wanted to deny it. Her face looked complicated.

“You shine brightly. Not only do you light up your own path, but you light up others. So I can’t be a lighthouse for you… because that’s like a lighthouse on a sunny day. So Kaya… Don’t think you got this far because of me. It was all you. You fought hard, endured the pain, and all I did was stay by your side. I shined for a moment because of you.”

“Why are you putting yourself down? I…”

Her voice trembled. This was the first time she felt dizzy because of a compliment. Kaya’s eyes glared and spoke. But ironically, her glare looked friendly.

“… Okay. I won’t say I got here because of you… because I did it with my own skills, but you held my hand. You pulled me in the right direction. Why are you speaking as if you’re nothing?”

“Because that’s what’ll get you to win the whole thing.”

Cho Min Joon spoke in a calm voice. It was different from before. The finals as well as Kaya’s journey, and that made him feel anxious. He believed in Kaya… But he hoped that Kaya did lose out because of his existence.

“Anderson is good. I’m not saying you’re worse than him. I’m just saying. You can’t be Kaya who leans on Cho Min Joon anymore. You have to stand on your own to win… because Anderson has been on his own until now. So…”

“No.”

Kaya gave a short answer. She looked hurt. Her eyes were wet and her face looked red. Kaya clenched her fists. All her emotions were conveyed in the fists that Cho Min Joon couldn’t see. She had no intention to loosen them up.

“It’s more impressive for me to survive with you than alone. It’s an amazing thing that I could hold your hand! To me, that’s true. So don’t say this stuff when I’m grateful. You can’t do this to me, too.”

She understood what Cho Min Joon was trying to say, but her heart wouldn’t accept it. Kaya sprung up from her seat.

“I’m going to win. I’m going to beat Anderson no matter what, so don’t have any other thoughts. Just…”

Kaya closed her mouth because she choked up. What she was about to say next stayed in her heart. Kaya spoke in a tired voice, “I’m going to sleep. See you tomorrow.”

Kaya left. Cho Min Joon stared at the candle in silence. The footsteps grew distant. Maybe he was waiting for the footsteps to return. When he couldn’t hear anything, Cho Min Joon’s sigh put out the candle.

The candle went out, but his sighs continued.