Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Scale of Victory (2)

The chefs’ eyes were fixed on Kaya’s face. Kaya looked at them wondering if there was a problem.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“… You say such a shameful thing with a calm face.”

“There are more shameful things than that. This isn’t a problem.”

“Okay. I like your fighting spirit, and I like your cooking.”

New York spoke while pointing at the Langoustine. Kaya smirked.

“I told you. The chef I look up to the most made that.”

“But is that possible? He was disqualified before you. That means he’s a lesser chef than you… How can you look up to him?”

In response, Kaya’s eyes turned sharp.

“The reason why pupils look up to their mentors isn’t always because they’re better. Min Joon has many skills that I don’t have, but the reason why he was disqualified before me… was because he was unlucky… because he’s a foreigner.”

“I sympathize with what you said about pupils and mentors. There are mentors that you can’t look up to no matter how talented they are, and those who you can look up to even if their skills are lacking. For me…”

California glanced at New York. New York wasn’t looking over at her, but she could sense that he was minding her.

“My mentor is just so-so.”

“Hey! I’m the one who raised you to this level when you had no experience…!”

“I had experience. I’d been doing dishes for my mother for 10 years.”

“Is that why you broke so many plates? I shouldn’t have even paid you like I did!”

“That’s because the plates were slippery…”

California took a bite of her puree and expressed how unfair it was. New York knitted his brows.

Kaya quietly left the table. She felt good today. Although she should have been the most nervous today, she felt peaceful inside.

On the other hand, Anderson didn’t feel that way. It wasn’t because he was lacking. He was directing the kitchen with an objective view, and all his dishes were flawless, but his face didn’t look relaxed. However, it was understandable. This was a determining day of his life. He couldn’t feel comfortable even if he wanted to.

Anderson minded the chefs as he directed the kitchen. He didn’t miss their expressions or a single sigh that came out of their mouths. He didn’t know if the sigh was good or bad… But every time they did, Anderson’s heart sank.

‘Don’t think about the competition. Just worry about the customers, Anderson. Focus.’

But hope and anxiousness lingered in his head. His heart pounded so hard, and he didn’t know he wanted to win so badly. Just the thought of losing made him feel suffocated as if it already happened.

Ironically, the person who made Anderson calm down was Kaya. She was no longer her temperamental self, and she even served the chefs with a smile, and that made Anderson mad.

‘That despicable b*tch.’

He mumbled to himself, but he knew. He knew that he had to have that attitude as well. He knew that in this situation, he was the lesser contestant.

Anderson bit down on his lip. He couldn’t fall back. He didn’t want to fall behind anyone. That didn’t mean he wanted to be the best. After all, there was no such thing in the cooking world, but he didn’t want to be that person who fell behind. He had watched his superiors in his parents’ kitchen make countless failed dishes. He didn’t want to be them.

Anderson put a piece of grilled halibut on top of his angel hair pasta. The halibut had been flambéed in white wine. It contained the deep flavors of the stomach meat, and it was grilled with rosemary and olive oil.

As for the garnish, he added roasted peach, onions, and fresh buds. Anderson calmly placed the plates on the table. He explained with a straight face, “I put lime on the peel of the halibut, and the portion is stomach meat. After cooking the angel hair in rosemary, I cooked it in olive oil. It’ll remind you of Hong Kong vinegar noodles.”

“You’re Amelia’s son after all. Seeing how you hop back and forth between nationalities. I feel like eating this dish will get rid of my need to travel.”

“If you only mention Amelia, Fabio would be disappointed. The way you didn’t use brown sauce and brought the flavors of fruits and vegetables alive is just like Fabio, but why aren’t your parents here today? Oh, is it to be fair? Or because they own a restaurant? Or did they get their seats taken by Natalia over there?”

“… I’m not here as a Russo’s son. I’m here as Anderson. Please don’t speak of my parents here.”

“You’re cold as always. You’re just like Amelia. No, Amelia’s even colder. In that case, maybe you’re more like Fabio…”

Anderson left with an effort to not frown, but no matter which table he went to, everyone looked for Amelia and Fabio. He was sick of it. He only came on this show out of fear that the man named Anderson would never exist, but once he got here, all people talked about was his parents.

‘…I’ll win this thing.’

That would change everything. That would make him a great chef, not just the son of great chefs. That was all Anderson ever wanted. The honor of being the Grand Chef and the 300,000 dollars were just added benefits. The biggest homework of his life was to get away from his parents.

But he might have not been as desperate as Kaya. He might have not stood a chance against a girl who lived in poverty all her life and never got to enjoy a regular life.

But he still had a reason, too. He didn’t want to lose. He didn’t think his skills were lacking. He was also confident he could lead other people. After all, he had watched all his life. He also trusted the skills of his colleagues. There was some difference, but they were all in the top 10. They weren’t all that different from him. That was what he thought and believed.

Time passed. Four hours passed.

The meal was over.

***

Waiting room. Anderson sat down on the sofa while loosening his tie. His voice sounded tired.

“Good work, everyone.”

“Good work to you, too. Cheer up. I’m sure you’ll win.”

Anderson smiled. He didn’t know the results, but he felt good inside. He knew he gave it his all.

Kaya leaned back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. The light was as bright as always, but it seemed especially sparkly today. She felt dizzy. Perhaps, she did way too much in a short period of time. Kaya put a biscuit in her mouth. Kaya turned her head blankly with the biscuit still in her mouth.

“You need it. Eat.”

“Aioeueoaoeiiei.”

“Eat before you speak.”

Chloe snickered and pushed the biscuit into her mouth. Kaya ate the biscuit and spoke, “Ahh…”

It was more like a groan than speaking, but she was so tired that she couldn’t even form words.

Kaya kept her mouth open and didn’t do anything. She really didn’t do anything. She didn’t turn her eyes, blink, or even breathe. She stayed like that for seconds. After about 30 seconds, Kaya breathed in heavily.

“… Are you okay?”

“No. I’m glad today is the last day.”

“What are you going to do after the competition?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll probably spend the 300,000 dollars to pay off my mom’s debt… and then maybe move? But it’s hard to get even a small room with 300,000 dollars in New York.”

“Then you should go somewhere else. How about Georgia?”

“I don’t know. Will my mom want to leave New York. She’s sick and tired of it, but that’s her home.”

“But…”

Anderson cut her off. He looked at Kaya with a dumbfounded face

“What makes you think you’re going to win?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re talking as if you’re going to get that 300,000 dollars.”

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll win, but be like, ‘But the true winner is Kaya Reuters. I’d like her to have the prize money instead.'”

“… There’s better chance Allan and Emily will fall in love and get married.”

Kaya didn’t answer. She had lost all her energy imitating Anderson. It was a while later when Kaya finally spoke again, “Why am I so tired when I didn’t even cook?”

“I’m like that, too. It’s normal.”

Anderson answered in a chic voice. Hugo opened his mouth.

“I saw a chef’s interview once. He said people thought head chefs had it easy because they didn’t hold pans or knives, but he said managing a kitchen is much more tiring because they have to consider the time, movements, and everything else… I felt the same way when I was a team leader. So no wonder you’re tired.”

“You all did a good job. You looked good out there.”

Cho Min Joon spoke with a smile. He meant it. The two of them shined as they chased after their dreams, and being able to stand by their side made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. Of course, he was a little jealous… because he was a step behind. But he believed he could catch up. No, he was determined to catch up.

If that was the case, he had no reason to feel miserable. It was a blessing to have friends with big dreams. Even if he couldn’t catch up, he would have a dream to chase for his whole life.

“I’m dying to know what the chefs are talking about.”

“They’re probably praising me.”

“Probably. But they’re probably praising me more.”

Anderson and Kaya glared at each other despite their fatigue. Cho Min Joon smiled bitterly. In the end, they were never going to be on friendly terms. It was possible that they would be like Rachel and Sergei forever. At that moment, the staff called.

“The two finalists, please go to the kitchen.”

“… Okay.”

Anderson answered heavily and got up. Kaya was more tired than nervous about the results. Cho Min Joon looked at Kaya.

“You’ll win.”

“… I know.”

For a moment, Kaya’s voice sounded heavy, but that was just for a moment. Kaya soon got up. She then walked over. As soon as her beige shoes were about to step on the next tile, Cho Min Joon put his foot forward.

But there was no point in trying to step forward when he was still sitting. If he didn’t get up, he wasn’t going to step on the next tile. But right now, it wasn’t time for Chloe or him to stand up. Right now, it was Anderson and Kaya’s turn. Only they could walk forward. But of course, one of them would walk further than the other…

‘I should get up, too.’

Cho Min Joon clenched his fists. At that moment, Chloe pressed her hands on his. Cho Min Joon slowly turned his head. He wondered if he should pull out his hand, but he couldn’t after seeing Chloe’s smile.

She was simply holding his hand out of consideration. She was friendly. Her holding his hand was just an act of kindness, so he couldn’t refuse it. He couldn’t. Chloe opened her mouth.

“This isn’t the end.”

Those words made his frustration go away. Cho Min Joon smiled. Chloe’s hands shook, and Cho Min Joon answered, “Yeah. This is just the beginning.”