Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Hunger Trip (1)

Sara Bloom: Ugh, I knew it was going to end, but I feel empty inside now that it’s really over.

JIF VS GIF: When’s the next season?

Sara Bloom: @JIF VS GIF It won’t be out this year, that’s for sure.

Roy Sherfan: I’m happy my wife won, but I don’t like that some weird guy is involved.

Randle Klopers: You sound weirder to me.

SKELIX: So what’s the point? Kaya has become an impressive cook, is that it?

Denizz Onenn: What other ending did you expect other than that?

Tricia Peanut: @Denizz Onenn He probably expected some kind of kissing scene or something.

Rachel Cathering: You can’t really say it’s connected, but I heard they’re airing a food tasting program in Grand Chef’s slot. What was it called again? ‘Hunger Trip?’ Something like that.

Beth Liebermann: Apparently, Emily Porter and Cho Min Joon will be on it.

Rachel Catherine: @Beth Liebermann Oh, really? I didn’t know they were friends.

Beth Liebermann: @Rachel Catherine I don’t know about friendship, but they have the perfect characters. The heir and the perfect palate. I hope other famous chefs go on it… But they’re probably all busy with their restaurants.

“… People are interested in Hunger Trip.”

Cho Min Joon spoke in awe while reading a mention. Hunger Trip. That was the title of the tasting tour program he was going to be in with Emily. It wasn’t just the two of them. Other casts were hired as well.

‘They might already be chosen.’

Martin avoided answering any of Cho Min Joon’s questions about the cast. He didn’t know the reason, but even if he knew the truth, nothing was going to change. No matter who was on it, Cho Min Joon probably didn’t know them.

“I’m jealous. I wish I could go, too.”

Chloe spoke in a flat voice while sprawled out on the couch. Her arms swung through the air toward the chocolate on the table, but her arms were too short. Cho Min Joon reached for one and handed it to Chloe. Chloe looked at the chocolate and stuck out her lower lip.

“… You hate me, don’t you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Why would you give me cocktail-flavored chocolate if you don’t hate me?”

“Maybe I want you to lose your appetite and lose weight.”

Cho Min Joon smiled playfully. Chloe got up from the couch and switched it out for a milk chocolate. She then coldly said, “Forget it. I’m going to be a pig.”

“Then you might not fit into that dress ever again.”

“What? Why are you being so mean?”

Chloe glared at Cho Min Joon and then put down her chocolate. The party was over. The competition was over as well. All that was left was to go back home. Chloe continued to get this thought. Would she be able to see him again? Their words were really different, so would they have a reason to talk to each other again?

Her anxiousness melted into her faint smile. Cho Min Joon looked at the snacks on the table and asked, “What are you going to do when you go back?”

“I’ll have to think about it. What I know for sure is that I’m going to manage a cooking blog. And… I also got a few offers for TV shows, but it’s nothing like Hunger Trip. Just recipe shows…”

“What? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“… It’s not good enough to brag about.”

Chloe answered an awkward smile.

“Kaya won, and you’re secured for a TV show… Mine’s nothing compared to that. Sorry. You probably don’t like petty girls.”

“That’s not petty. I’m pettier than you are.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

She clenched her fists.

“I’m going to succeed. I’m going to keep walking this path for as long as I can. And as for my dream…”

Her fists shook, and then a smile formed on her face, and her bright green and brown eyes gazed at Cho Min Joon.

“I’m going to make sure it comes true.”

Something formed on her cheeks due to her shyness or because it was her makeup. The wrinkle that formed on her cheek when she smiled was very charming. Cho Min Joon was unable to answer. And at that moment, a savior arrived. It was Hugo. He came out with his suitcase.

“Ugh, I’m aching all over. Why did I bring so much stuff? Did you guys get everything?”

“Yeah. I did.”

“Oh, there’s chocolate. Give me one.”

Cho Min Joon handed him the same cocktail chocolate he gave to Chloe. Hugo chewed on it with anticipating eyes and then grimaced. At first, it tasted like chocolate, but after that, a trashy alcohol flavor spread throughout his mouth. He spoke with a shaking voice, unable to understand what he just ate, “W-what is this? Is this chocolate?”

“Yeah. Cocktail chocolate.”

“What’s that…? This tastes horrible. Why did you give this to me? Did I do something wrong?”

In response to Hugo’s response, Chloe stared at Cho Min Joon. She wanted to say, ‘See? What did I tell you?’ Cho Min Joon burst out into laughter. Only Hugo showed a dissatisfied face and swallowed the chocolate.

“… I would’ve spit it out if there was a trash can.”

“In my country, they say medicine that’s good for your health taste bitter.”

“That means all bitter things are good for you.”

“Maybe they are.”

Cho Min Joon grinned. Hugo sat on the sofa with a bitter look on his face. And as soon as Kaya came out, he held up a piece of chocolate with twinkling eyes.

“Kaya, do you want some chocolate?”

“No.”

“… Why not?”

“I just brushed my teeth.”

Hugo put down the chocolate with a sad look on his face. Kaya looked around the lobby and sat down on the armrest beside Cho Min Joon. She swung her curly hair and smiled.

“Isn’t my hair gorgeous these days?”

“I liked your old hair better.”

Chloe said in an upset voice. Since she preferred messy hair, that was understandable. Right now, Kaya’s hair was as soft as that of a shampoo model.

“Are you conditioning these days?”

“I used to skip that step to save time and money, but I’ve been doing it these days.”

“Now that you earned 300,000 dollars, that’s nothing in comparison.”

“Exactly.”

Kaya smiled with her chest pumped. 300,000 dollars wasn’t enough to completely change someone’s life, but it was meaningful to Kaya. It was her ticket out of her lousy life. In her prior life, she couldn’t even spend 30 dollars with ease, so she was proud to have earned so much money.

Everyone left the lobby. They finished chatting, and they were now all standing in the parking lot. They all got into their airport bus but Anderson didn’t. They asked why he wasn’t getting on, and all he said was that he had something to do in Illinois.

Anderson stared from outside the window with a serious look on his face. As the scenery grew distant, so did Anderson and so did the Grand House. It was their final goodbye.

Kaya put her face against the glass and stared at the building and garden. And when it grew too distant to see, Kaya spoke with a conflicted face, “I feel a little better leaving with all of you. I would’ve been sad if I was alone.”

“Yeah…”

Chloe thought back to her experience and nodded. The day she left as the disqualified participant, she was definitely sad. After all, that was quite the eventful day.

“When do you think we’ll see each other next?”

No one could answer that question, and no one criticized it. That Kaya was talking as if it was a given that they would meet again.

***

“Are you sad you couldn’t leave with them?”

Martin asked Anderson, who continued to stand still even after the bus departed. Anderson slowly turned his head. He spoke with a dissatisfied voice, “Why did you want me to stay?”

“Hm, I’m sorry I cut your time with your friends short, but I’d rather not talk about it out here… Can we go inside?”

“… Let’s go to the lobby on the 4th floor.”

“Aw, I don’t like taking the stairs.”

Martin showed a crying face, but Anderson didn’t give in. In the end, they walked up the stairs to the 4th floor lobby. Martin panted and sat on the sofa.

Anderson sat still and looked at the table. The chocolate and candy wrappers would have normally annoyed him, but today, he felt like they were his friends. Martin watched Anderson tie up an empty bag to look like a candy and asked, “Why do you think I asked you to stay?”

“You probably have a business proposal. It could be either of the two. Seeing how you only asked me to stay, it has to do with my parents… Or you need me for something. Is it…”

Anderson asked in a calm voice.

“About that tasting tour…? Hunger Trip, was it?”

“…”

Martin looked blank as he stared at Anderson. He didn’t know he could get caught so easily. ‘I didn’t want to get caught like this.’ Martin spoke in a disappointed voice, “You’re quick. Then do you know what I’m going to offer?”

“It’s probably one of the two. It’s whether I can ask my parents if you can film at our restaurant, but that’s not something I can promise. As you’ve seen before, I don’t really have a say. And if you want me to appear on Hunger Trip…”

Anderson glared his eyes.

“Do you want to?”

“… Yes, I do.”

Martin answered willingly even though he had a feeling he could take the bait. Martin calmly continued, “We were originally planning to cast professionals, but after considering Min Joon, our direction changed. We want to see the difference between the two when tasting food. That’s what we’re considering now. Of course, the viewers might relate with the non-professionals more.”

“But why me? Chloe has the visuals of a model, and she would reel in more viewers. As for Kaya… Since she won, she won’t have the time.”

“We did consider Chloe, but we found out she had her foot in for another program. But even if that wasn’t the case, we probably weren’t going to cast her. She has good chemistry with Min Joon, but the public likes fights more than friendly interactions. Just like you and Kaya. And if you appear with Min Joon, we thought you’d get a good balance of both fighting and friendly.”

Anderson fumbled with the candy in his hands. He tied it and untied it.

“So you’re telling me to be Min Joon’s sidekick. I think I’ve experienced enough of that with Kaya on this show. That doesn’t sound so tempting to me. It might benefit Min Joon to taste all sorts of foods around the world… But I’ve already experienced that.”

“It’s not just about tasting food. You’ll get paid like a celebrity, and you’ll become famous. That would take you years if you tried to do that in a restaurant.”

No answer could be heard for quite some time. Anderson closed his eyes and thought about it before speaking in a low voice, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s right for me. I’m already well-recognized, and as for the pay… I’m not strapped for cash.”

“One more thing.”

Martin opened his mouth. His face looked desperate as if he had one more weapon to pull out.

“There’s one more thing that might tempt you.”

“… What is it?”

In response, Martin looked through the documents in his arms. And then he took out a photo. Anderson’s eyes grew wide as soon as he saw it. He spoke in a surprised voice, “No way…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Martin smiled with confidence.

“Does this change your mind?”