Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: People Above the Crossroad (2)

Kaya’s eyes shook with chaos. Even after she closed her eyes and turned off her phone, the thought wouldn’t leave her mind. ‘Sorry about the sudden text Kaya. I’m your birth father. Can you answer me?’

She remembered what Tess GIlly told her a while back. That her father was looking for her. When she heard that, Kaya figured that her father was Gemma’s biological father who got her mother pregnant and left.

“Wasn’t it Gemma’s father?”

“What are you mumbling about?”

Kaya flinched and looked beside her. That was when she realized she was still holding Cho Min Joon’s hand underneath her cardigan. Kaya quickly took out her hand and said, “N-nothing.”

“You were just looking at your phone… Is it a mean comment?”

“No. I don’t even feel hurt by comments anymore. I’m not that weak anyway.”

Kaya answered with a strong face. Cho Min Joon smirked and lifted his hand. On his hand was the cardigan that Kaya put on top. Kaya flushed and took her cardigan back.

“I was just hot, that’s all.”

“The AC is on.”

“It just came on. It was hot a minute ago. I’d better put it back on.”

Kaya put her cardigan back on. She then sighed inside her head.

It was still hot.

***

Kaya stood underneath the shower in her room and stood still. Her wet hair stuck onto her back, and water continuously dripped from her long eyelashes. She didn’t’ like the feeling of the hair on her neck.

No, she was just in a bad mood. She hated that she had to go back to her busy life after this day, and the same went for the text she suddenly got. She wondered if he was a fake, but then how would he have known her number?

Kaya had never seen her biological father before. Since he left before she could remember, there was no way she could know his face. When she was young, she even wondered if Grace knew who her biological father was.

“… Sorry, Mom.”

Her quiet voice washed away with the sound of the water. Kaya looked at the water that dripped down her body before turning off the shower. Her eyes closed. She then opened her eyes wide and stared at herself in the mirror.

“Get a hold of yourself, Kaya.”

But she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want to call her mother in worry that she would worry her.

She thought her mind would feel better after a shower, but she felt even more burdened than before. Emily looked at Kaya and asked with a worried face, “Kaya, is something the matter? You look down.”

“… Life is always full of problems.”

“You were fine earlier. Did you fight with Min Joon?”

“Min Joon’s not giving me a hard time.”

Kaya answered with a glare. Emily shook her hands to clear the misunderstanding.

“That’s not what I mean… Well, it doesn’t look like you’ll tell me anyway. Is there something I can do?”

“That’s okay. I can overcome it on my own.”

“Is there a need for that?”

It was Sarah who answered, not Emily. Emily, who was watching TV while laying on the couch, was looking at Kaya with a confused face. Kaya smacked her lips with surprise. Sarah had a strong personality and was hard to deal with, so it was even harder for Kaya to answer.

“I just don’t want to cause you any harm.”

“You’re not harming us by needing comfort. It’s a given. It’s not like giving comfort is that hard either. Maybe you’ll even feel rewarded by it, especially if you’re close.”

She didn’t know what Sarah meant by being close. She wasn’t sure if she was talking about Cho Min Joon or just close people in general. But at that moment, the person Kaya thought of was Cho Min Joon. At that moment, Kaya understood her own feelings.

She wanted to be by Cho Mni Joon’s side. As for comfort, that was another issue. She just wanted to be together with him. She felt like that would make her feel better. But…

“That’s okay.”

“… Why?”

“If I keep receiving without giving, I won’t be able to face Min Joon anymore.”

Sarah didn’t know how to respond. It wasn’t for her to step in. Rachel, who listened in on their conversation, smiled and said, “This is great to see.”

“… What do you mean?”

“Having worries like that is proof that you’re young. You still have worries when you get older, but it’s not easy to maintain such a pretty face and heart.”

Kaya rubbed her nose in response to Rachels’ praise. Kaya sat next to Rachel on the armrest of the sofa. Sarah smirked and asked, “I saw you always sitting on the armrest on TV. Is that a habit?”

“Oh, we only have a 2-seater at home. There were lots of thrown-out sofas on the streets, but we didn’t have room at home, so my mom and sister would sit on the sofa while I sat on the armrest.”

Her past was dark for how casually she said it, but her voice sounded so calm that they didn’t know if they should feel bad. Sarah managed to hide her emotions, but she failed to accept her story in a casual manner. She didn’t know what to say. Rachel calmly opened her mouth.

“Poverty is tragic when you’re going through it, but once you get past it, it makes you shine brighter. After all, someone who succeeded without having anything is much more impressive than someone who had support.”

“Are you saying I’m impressive?”

“Yes, I’m in awe. People will cheer you on to shine brightly from now on, and I’m one of them.”

“… You’re good at giving praise.”

Kaya smiled. Her subtle praise made her feel better. Kaya added.

“I feel like I’d have a good time if I joined your kitchen.”

“Is that because of me or because Min Joon will be there?”

“Please don’t ask me that. You know the answer.”

While they shared a casual conversation, the bell rang from the hall. They looked at each other, and Emily spoke up first, “It must be the guys. I’ll check it out.”

Emily got up and headed to the interphone, and at that moment, she doubted her eyes. It was as she thought. The guys… But there was an unexpected face amongst them.

“… Allan?”

Her lips smiled. Emily hurriedly ran to the door. As soon as she opened the door, a scream could be heard. Anderson was holding onto his side with a frown. He groaned in pain.

“Ugh… Emily! Don’t open the door so fast.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“She did nothing wrong. She was just in a rush.”

Jeremy remarked with a smile. Emily’s face flushed after realizing he knew her feelings. Despite having seen him through the interphone, Emily still opened her eyes wide and stared at Allan.

“Allan, what are you doing here?”

“Well, I closed the restaurant, and it’s still early in the night. Since Rachel will leave soon, I wanted to see her one more time. I don’t think I’ll be able to see you off at the airport tomorrow morning. Also…”

Allan was about to add something else before he closed his mouth. Emily spoke with an awkward voice, “Oh, that’s true. We won’t see you tomorrow.”

“… May I come in?”

“Of course, come on in.”

Emily invited them inside. Allan looked at Rachel and smiled.

“Rachel. I’m here.”

“What are you doing back?”

“To see you.”

Rachel glared at Allan. It was clear that wasn’t the only reason, but she decided to let him off easy. Rachel looked at Allan as if he was her grandson.

“I enjoyed seeing you at Olive Island today. I’m proud to see you do so well when I didn’t even teach you for that long.”

“I still have a long way to go. I want to open a restaurant that’s much better than Rose Island.”

“Good. That’s a meaningful goal. I hope to see that in my lifetime.”

“You’ll live another 100 years. Stop talking like you’re old. You’re still young.”

“If I live another 100 years, I’ll be 160. Do you expect me to be single for that long?”

“Why? I have some sexy older friends. Should I introduce you?”

Jeremy joked with a smile. Instead of answering, Rachel didn’t even act like she heard what Jeremy said. Rachel looked at Anderson and Cho Min Joon with a smile.

“My pupils are here.”

“You’re right. We’re your pupil now.”

Rachel’s way of speaking sounded lighter than before. Her voice sounded unfamiliar yet pleasant. Anderson spoke in a nervous voice, “When you said your kitchen… you were talking about the restaurant in Venice, right?”

“Where else would I be?”

Rachel spoke in a voice of sadness and longing. She then looked back at Cho Min Joon and Anderson with passionate eyes.

“That’s why I want to make that place shine brighter than ever before. I’m not going to make it into Daniel’s grave, so I’d like your help. If you do, perhaps later… No, this isn’t the time for that.”

Rachel was about to say something but shut her mouth. She then looked to Kaya and said.

“I’m a little sad that Kaya won. I want her so bad that I want to take her right away.”

“But Rachel.”

Allan spoke up. His face looked a little worried.

“Anderson and Min Joon are both very skilled. They’re talented, too. They’ll become impressive chefs one day. But… it’ll be hard to make both of them into sous chefs with their experience. What are you going to do?”

“It’s a secret, but… Allan, come closer.”

Rachel whispered in Allan’s ear, and Allan jolted his eyes wide open in disbelief.

“That person? Wait, how…”

“I’m still popular.”

Rachel showed an elated smile. The topic changed to what kind of restaurant Rachel planned to create. Rachel spoke in a dreaming voice like a little girl, “I’m going to bring back what it was like when Daniel was alive. The menu will change from time to time, and all of it has to be absolutely perfect. All of the staff will think about it every day. What to make the next day and which ingredients to use. Of course, this won’t be enough because other restaurants do the same thing. My experience will be able to bring back Daniel’s old dishes, but it won’t be easy recreating his imagination and creativity. That’s why I wanted you so much, Min Joon.”

Cho Min Joon looked into Rachel’s eyes. He looked at the young elder who had a weaker soul over time. The elder asked in a voice full of anticipation, affection, and gratitude, “Thank you for coming to me. I’ll help you use that palate to the best of your abilities I’ll make sure you’ll be the best in terms of creativity. Do you trust me?”

He felt frustrated, but it was too late to go back. He could no longer run away. Cho Min Joon opened his eyes wide. It was possible that the people around them thought he looked overly determined, but he couldn’t help it. He wanted to repay Rachel for her trust.

“I trust you. I’ll trust you no matter what happens.”

Rachel smiled and so did Cho Min Joon, but what each of them meant was a little different from the other…

Still, they were both smiling in the same direction.