Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Overlapping Shadows (2)

What new apprentices had to do in a kitchen was simple. They usually prepared ingredients, cleaned the kitchen, and ran errands for the chefs and cooks. Since most of the things apprentices did were small jobs, many thought it was a waste of time, but that wasn’t true.

First, they were able to get a good understanding of basic ingredients. The condition of ingredients, how to prepare ingredients, how to store ingredients, etc. And since using a knife was basic, they were bound to get better at using it.

On top of that, they got to watch other chefs work, and as a result of following their orders, they got a good grasp of the flow of movements.

But that only applied to kitchens that were in business. Rose Island was still preparing to open, so it wasn’t so busy. But that didn’t mean it was free either. Since there were no customers, they didn’t have to rush, but they still had lots of work to do. In Rachel’s case, she was busy looking for suppliers she hadn’t talked to in over 10 years, and as for the demi chefs and cooks, they were busy learning the recipes that Rachel taught them.

So Justine, an apprentice who should’ve been the busiest, looked bored in the kitchen. She couldn’t help it. Since there was much to cook, there weren’t many errands to run, so her hands weren’t busy. Naturally, all Justine could do was wash cooking equipment and watch the others. And through that, there was something Justine realized.

‘… Is something up with Min Joon?”

Cho Min Joon looked calm, but because he was so serious and upright, he looked stiff at times. But since he still got everything he put into his mouth right, it was almost as if he was just a tasting machine, but not these days. Something good must’ve happened because he sometimes smiled for no reason.

But that wasn’t the only thing that Justine questioned. That day, Lisa opened her mouth at lunch.

“Min Joon, why are you in such a good mood these days? Is it because you’re a new chef?”

“Does it seem like that?”

“Yes, very, people might think you won the lottery.”

In response, Cho Min Joon rubbed his neck. He could feel the indent of his old scar through his chef’s uniform. Normally, he would’ve felt displeased by the scar, but not Cho Min Joon. To him, it felt like a link between him and Kaya. Anderson grumbled and said, “He’s meeting Kaya today.”

“Kaya… That Kaya?”

It wasn’t Lisa who answered Anderson. Justine raised her voice with an excited face. Cho Min Joon nodded shyly.

“I’m meeting her today. She said she’ll mainly be in LA for the next few months.”

“… I hate that panda lady.”

In response, Ella grumbled. Cho Min Joon thought for a moment. Panda woman? He figured she called her that because of the smoky makeup Kaya wore. While Lisa stared at Ella sternly, Cho Min Joon comforted her with a soft voice, “Kaya will like you, Ella. She likes cute girls like you.”

“What’s so cute about me? I’m not cute. I’m all grown up now.”

Ella stuck out her lip and then smiled. Havier asked, “Min Joon, can I ask you a personal question?”

“No.”

“… Shouldn’t you ask what my question is first?”

“It’s obvious.”

Cho Min Joon spoke as if he knew everything. Havier raised both hands and said, “Then I’ll ask a different question. Is that okay?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

“Are you two dating?”

“… Havier.”

Cho Min Joon looked at him with a lukewarm face. Havier answered with a casual face, “Why? My original question was who you thought would become a sous chef.”

“How is that a personal question?”

“It’s a personal question because I’m asking about your personal thoughts.”

He was kidding, but it was strangely convincing. Cho Min Joon put his thumb on his scar again before answering in a calm voice, “No, we’re not dating.”

He wasn’t wrong. Although they were close, they had never established that kind of relationship. Havier didn’t question him and nodded.

“It sounds like there’s a lot that will happen in the future. I’m jealous.”

“Let’s talk about sous chefs. Who do you think will come?”

It was obvious he was trying to change the subject. At this point, he deserved some breathing room. Havier smiled and said, “Before we discuss who will come, the question is, how many?”

“Since she said she won’t be hiring a second chef, that means the sous chef needs to take over both roles… So with that considered… maybe two?”

“I’m not sure… Janet.”

Havier called Janet. Janet was in the middle of eating the fruit pudding Lisa made her when she turned her head. Havier asked in a playful voice, “How about we make a bet? How many sous chefs do you think will come?”

“I don’t have any money to bet.”

“Then you can bet something else. Appetizer, this is how we’ll decide who takes over appetizers, with this bet.”

“… I’d rather lose the position due to lack of skill than pure luck. Make the bet with someone else.”

Her word sounded cold, but Cho Min Joon was in awe. That one remark gave him an idea of what kind of chef she was. She wanted to be evaluated solely on her skills. It was possibly the best attitude that a chef could have. But at the same time, there was no leisure that could be sensed. Cho Min Joon whispered to Anderson, “It must be hard, don’t you think?”

“What?”

“Janet, it’s not easy being so uptight all the time.”

“I can hear you.”

Janet answered in a low voice with her eyes still on her plate. Cho Min Joon flinched and looked back at her. He thought he was whispering. He spoke in an awkward voice, “… You have good hearing.”

“The weak listen more carefully just like rabbits.”

“How are you weak?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to tell you.”

Janet then continued with her meal. She was calm as if she hadn’t heard anything. It was possible that she might’ve heard lots of things like this at the restaurant she used to work at.

‘… I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I feel bad now.’

Cho Min Joon put some ravioli in his mouth with a troubled face. Janet had made it. Ravioli made from scratch. The ravioli was much more absorbent than normal spaghetti. She used butter and salvia to make it softer, and the shrimp and lamb were mixed with onions and herbs which made it less greasy. Cho Min Joon forgot what just happened and smiled.

“Janet, this ravioli is delicious.”

“There’s nothing better than ravioli for an appetizer.”

Havier quickly jumped in.

“Jeez, I’m full. I’m full after one bite. I feel like it’s better as a main.”

***

That evening, Cho Min Joon headed to the airport. The airport was very close. It took around 20 minutes. Anderson held the steering wheel while he grumbled.

“You should’ve gotten your international license. Am I your personal driver or something?”

“Even with an international license, I can’t use it until I have my visa. Immigrants have to get a license from scratch.”

“Does immigration make you into someone else? What kind of stupid law is that?”

“Come on. This way, you get to see Kaya, too.”

“Why would I want to get in the way between the two of you?”

“I don’t think we’ll make it obvious.”

“Hmph, yeah right.”

Anderson grumbled as he stepped on the gas pedal. Cho Min Joon spoke in an anxious voice, “But I didn’t tell her I’d pick her up. What if I go and she says she’s too busy to talk?”

“Then tell her now. Oh, she’s on the plane, isn’t she?”

“I guess I’ll just see her face then.”

“Ha, you’re going all the way there to see her face? For a woman you’re not even dating?”

“Why are you being like that? And If you were the one coming, I would’ve gone there to pick you up, too.”

In response, Anderson showed a weird face. He wasn’t sure if he should cringe or feel touched.

“… Focus on flirting with Kaya. Leave me out.”

It sounded like he didn’t want to be honest. Cho Min Joon smiled without a word.

When they got to the airport, there were around 30 minutes left until Kaya’s arrival. Anderson dropped Cho Min Joon off and said, “I won’t come to pick you up tonight… Wait, are you even coming back? Is this going to be like Florence…?”

“Stop making fun of me. Anyway, thanks for the ride. Is there anything you want to say to Kaya? I’ll tell her for you.”

“Tell her to hurry up and lose weight.”

“… That might be difficult.”

Anderson smirked and changed his gear. The airport was full of people with suitcases. Cho Min Joon pulled out his phone.

[Me: Let me know when you’re here.]

[Kaya: I’m here, but why?]

[Me: You are?]

[Kaya: Yeah, I’m at the airport now, but why do you ask?]

[Me: I’m at the airport, too.]

He didn’t get a response for a while after that. It was a silent reaction as if she lost her wifi. Was she surprised? Just as he was about to text her again, he got a call. It was Kaya. Cho Min Joon answered the phone and complained, “Why aren’t you saying anything? I thought something happened.”

[What’s wrong with you? Why did you suddenly show up?]

“I wanted to surprise you. Did it work?”

[If you wanted to surprise me, you should’ve done it with your face first.]

“I can’t find you through all these people.”

[My family can find me just fine in a crowded market place.]

“That’s your family.”

Silence fell. He couldn’t see her, but he imagined that she was glaring her eyes. Cho Min Joon asked, “So where are you? Can we meet? Do you have plans?”

[It’s nighttime. What does a chef have to do at night? I do have to unpack at the hotel… but I’ll let my agent do that. This person owes me, so this is the least she can do.]

“So where are you?”

[LA airport.]

“… There are thousands of people here.”

[Come to the information desk. I’m wearing a white hoodie and jeans. I’m wearing a mask and sunglasses, too.]

Cho Min Joon knitted his brows. He questioned her fashion. When he went to the information desk, he sensed the reality even stronger. Cho Min Joon hung up. Kaya still hadn’t seen him because she still had her phone to her ear.

“Hello? Wait, did you hang up?”

“Kaya.”

“… Oh, you’re here.”

Kaya lowered her sunglasses to check for Cho Min Joon before nodding. Her voice sounded off. When they talked on the phone, he thought it was just the connection, but when he heard it in person, it sounded like she lost her voice. Cho Min Joon ranted with a worried face, “What are you wearing? No, I’ll let that part go, but what’s with the mask and sunglasses? You’re not a celebrity, and what happened to your voice? Are you sick? Did you catch a cold? Is that why you’re wearing a mask? Did you take medicine?”

“Jeez, stop nagging me. Shouldn’t our reunion be nicer than this?”

“What?”

In response, Cho Min Joon slowly looked around. Some of the people around them looked like they recognized them. Of course, they didn’t know if they recognized Kaya… But some were even taking photos.

But he couldn’t let that bother him forever. Cho Min Joon reached out his hand. The fingers that fumbled with Kaya’s palm slowly locked fingers with hers. Kaya looked at Cho Min Joon. Since she was covered with dark sunglasses and a mask, Cho Min Joon had to imagine her face. What did her face look like? Was she grimacing or smiling? Or was she surprised? Kaya’s mask inflated.

“… I might give you my cold.”

Cho Min Joon answered, “Then you’ll have to take care of me.”