Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Scale of Victory (4)

The four of them didn’t have much time to talk amongst themselves. Before the sad look on Chloe’s face disappeared, the chefs swarmed over. They were very interested in them, and as a result, time passed quickly just after the introductions.

Cho Min Joon received many questions as well, but most of them were about his perfect palate. Since it was thanks to his system, he just shyly smiled, but that attitude made him look modest in their eyes. As a result, they looked at him warmly.

‘That’s not a bad misunderstanding.’

Seeing from the chefs’ attitude, it was clear that his perfect palate made quite the impact. They were all curious. They all gave him businesscards telling him to visit their restaurants anytime. Of course, they made similar offers to other contestants as well, but in terms of restaurant invites, Cho Min Joon received the most. He even had more invites than Kaya, who won the competition.

But as chefs, it was a given that they were curious. The fact that there was no perfect palate in history meant that no chefs served one either. Not many chefs were willing to give up the opportunity to serve a customer like that.

It was to the point that even chefs with secret recipes were inviting Cho Min Joon to try their food.

“You can steal my recipe. But in return, I want to hear your evaluation.”

To be honest, he didn’t even know what kind of evaluation they really wanted. It was a long time afterward that he could finally excuse himself, and in the corner was Marco, who was eating a crepe cake with banana, chocolate, and peanut cream. He gulped the last piece down.

“If you want some, go to the second table. There’s lots there.”

“… No, that’s not why I’m here.”

“Do you want to sit?”

Instead of answering, Cho Min Joon plopped down next to Marco. After a moment of silence, Cho Min Joon quietly opened his mouth.

“It’s over.”

“It was over for us a long time ago.”

“… But it feels like it’s over now.”

“Hm… I think I know what you mean.”

Marco nodded and drank a beverage made of Banana juice and cocoa. Cho Min Joon spoke in an annoyed voice, “I think you gained a lot of weight.”

“Yeah… I’ve been stressed lately. I’ve been eating a lot.”

“Stress? Why? Shouldn’t you be relaxed since you found a position, too?”

“Not really. When one problem is resolved, something else always comes up.”

“That’s true.”

Problems always followed in life. Cho Min Joon spoke in a worried voice, “Still, don’t relieve it with food. You don’t look so healthy. Have you been to the hospital?”

“… Hm, I should probably go for a checkup after this.”

“I want to see you for a long time.”

In response to Cho Min Joon’s remark, Marco smiled and nodded.

“Thanks for worrying about me.”

“We’re friends.”

“Yeah, we are.”

The awkward remark made them unable to look at each other. Cho Min Joon glanced over at Kaya. An elegant dress with minimal makeup. The one outfit transformed her from a playful girl to a provocative lady.

He felt warm but sad at the same time. He should’ve been happy for Kaya’s success, but it was hard to be happy about being distant from each other. Cho Min Joon checked out the current situation. With his perfect palate, system, and the talent he always had, how far could he go? Would he be able to go half as far as Kaya?

‘… It’s not a matter of potential.’

It was a matter of whether he was going to attempt it or not, and Cho Min Joon was ready to go for it. His face was firm with determination. At that moment, Emily sat next to Cho Min Joon. She giggled as if she was tipsy.

“Min Joon, we’re going on a tour together soon.”

“I guess so.”

“I’m glad you agreed to it, Min Joon. It’ll be a great time.”

“… Tour?”

Marco asked with a confused look on his face. He thought for a moment and then asked in shock, “Are you two dating?!”

His voice was loud from the shock. So loud that it rang over the country music and the laughter of the guests. They looked at all the eyes that were on them, and then Cho Min Joon and Emily looked at each other.

“… Sigh.”

The storm swarmed in before he could even finish sighing.

***

“Sorry.”

Marco said with a frown. Cho Min Joon and Emily had to suffer through all sorts of congratulations because of Marco’s misunderstanding. They explained themselves, but some people still thought they were dating. Kaya glanced over and asked, “Wait… is it true?”

“… Not you, too.”

“No, but… Um… Never mind.”

Kaya was about to say something but stopped herself. Chloe fumbled with her hair and said, “I’m so jealous you’re going on vacation.”

“It’s more about where we’re going. If we go to Africa, we’ll die of heat.”

“But if you’re on vacation, it’s fun no matter what.”

“… You’ve never lived in a hot place before, have you?”

Chloe smiled.

The party came to an end. To be more exact, they ran away from it. But some were still there drinking and chatting. They were now in the lobby on the 4th floor. They needed their last time together. Of course, they could meet again elsewhere, but it was meaningful that they were together in this place.

Not all the contestants gathered. It was just five of them. Marco, Anderson, Chloe, Cho Min Joon, and Kaya. The other five were still at the party.

They were silent for a moment. They all heard each other breathing due to the silence. They felt the time passing, and they feared the parting that was to come. It was Kaya who broke the silence first.

“Do you think we’ll be able to see each other here again?”

“We’ll see each other, but not here. It’s not like we can come here whenever we want, but I’m sure we’ll see each other. We might not all see each other at once… but some of us will, right?”

“I’m sure we can.”

It was a matter of how long their attachment could last. They didn’t want to admit it, but all relationships faded.

Chloe stared at Kaya with widened eyes.

“Kaya, are you going to keep hanging out with us when you’re famous?”

“She might not.”

Anderson spoke in a chic voice. Kaya glared at Anderson and shook her head.

“Of course, I will. Who else do I have? Even if I make other friends, you guys are the best. You were the first friends that were there from the beginning until the end… But then again, we’re not at the end yet. Still…”

Kaya’s voice cracked, and in between the cracks were tears. Kaya shut her mouth. Her lips wriggled, and then she dropped her head. Kaya covered her mouth and then closed her eyes.

Underneath her shaking fingers, her red nose sniffled. As her red lips began to show her teeth, they revealed themselves even clearer, and that conveyed a clear emotion.

“… I was looking for someone who’ll always love me.”

Kaya let out that one remark with a shaking voice and then breathed in. She then breathed back out.

She took her hands off of her eyes. Her eyebrows and eyes were slanted downward, and her brows were knitted. Her eyes looked like there was smoky makeup on it. Kaya sobbed, spoke, and confessed.

“You guys saved me. More than winning the competition, I was happy that I was loved by people who aren’t my family. And… I was scared.”

“… Scared about what?”

Cho Min Joon asked in a low voice. Chloe caught on. It wasn’t as noticeable with Kaya around, but Cho Min Joon also sounded teary.

Kaya looked up from the ground. Her eyes showed the pain she suffered from not having anyone to depend on, and Cho Min Joon looked at Kaya with the same gaze.

“I was scared I’d be alone again. I thought I’d become even more certain that I was meant to be alone. Thank you for proving me wrong. No matter how famous I get, what’s the use if I’m alone? You gave me hope. That’s really…”

Kaya broke into tears. Chloe hugged Kaya without a word. Marco helped her wipe her tears while Anderson just sat still with his mouth shut.

Cho Min Joon couldn’t say anything. He felt like his heart was inflating. He was busy just trying to get his heart to calm down. It was a good confession. She talked about her pain, but she was saying they treated her wound. And he wanted to throw up all the things that were filling up his heart as a result.

But right now, Kaya was the star of the show. If Kaya was overcoming her hardships, he had to cheer her on. But why was it that it wasn’t comforting that he wanted to do the most. He wanted to be one with Kaya’s emotions. He wanted to cry and hug her like Chloe, but that wasn’t his place to be. That wasn’t his relationship with her.

‘… What do I think of Kaya?’

He was hit with a question, and he didn’t know the answer. Cho Min Joon thought about it, but he couldn’t find an answer in sight.

“Min Joon.”

Kaya called him. Cho Min Joon flinched and looked over. Kaya was wiping her tears away while smiling and crying at the same time.

“Thanks. I could only believe in myself because you believed in me. From now on… Keep believing in me. Just like how I believe in you.”

“Of course. There’s no way that belief can end if it was real, and my belief in you was real.”

“I know. You’re real. You’re more real than the earth going round.”

Although they were saying deep things, no one could joke about it because it wasn’t the time or place. Cho Min Joon flushed and avoided Kaya’s glance.

Kaya was the winner, in the future and now. And among all that stepped onto her scale, there was one weight that wasn’t going to go anywhere. It was the most valuable weight.

And that weight’s name was…