Chapter 107: Arbitration Expenses (2)
Chapter 107: Arbitration Expenses (2)
Today was one of the happiest days of Kaya’s life.
At the same time, it was one of the most awkward.
The Grand Chef victory that had once seemed impossibly far away, something she had never thought would have anything to do with her, was now right in front of her. On top of that, the family she was always worrying about had appeared before her looking as though nothing was wrong.
For Kaya, there could hardly have been anything happier. Her family mattered more to her than anything else.
And yet, she could not simply be happy.
Jo Minjoon had been eliminated.
Of course, that did not mean his life as a chef was over. No matter who it was, one of the three of them had to be eliminated eventually.
But Kaya still could not do anything about the suffocating feeling in her chest.
“Kaya. Why laik that?”
“Huh? No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about something. Drink this lemon smoothie. The lemons are really good quality, so compared with what I used to make at home, it’s like heaven and earth.”
Kaya brought the straw to Gemma’s mouth.
Gemma took a sip and smiled in a way that might have looked distorted to others.
Jo Minjoon entered the hall.
He looked awkwardly at the people gathered around the table: Anderson, Kaya, and their families.
Cakes, biscuits, ice cream, wine and other snacks were spread across the table.
Jo Minjoon sat beside Jo Ara and quietly asked, “Did you manage to talk to everyone?”
“How well do you think I could’ve done? I only realised how hopeless my conversation skills are. Still, there was one thing that was easy to understand. ‘My Korean name is Anduksam…’”
At those words, Jo Minjoon suddenly coughed as though something had caught in his throat.
One eye twitched as he looked at Jo Ara.
“Anderson told you that?”
“How else would I know?”
“…Now that I look at you, it seems like you explained what it meant too.”
“I didn’t. But I did laugh for quite a while.”
For some reason, Jo Minjoon had already felt that Anderson’s gaze was particularly cold.
When their eyes met and he saw Anderson’s eyelashes trembling with suppressed irritation, Jo Minjoon realised he probably was not going to receive a warm farewell.
He spoke in bewilderment. “Anderson, I think there’s been a misunderstanding…”
“Shut up. I’m not listening to you. This is exactly why my parents taught me never to trust people…”
“This child is making us sound like strange parents. Fabio, what do you think?”
“Children who disobey their parents always use their parents as an excuse in situations like this. We must have raised him badly.”
The two of them sighed.
Anderson, who had suddenly been labelled a problem child, frowned. “Since when? Aren’t you busy with the restaurant?”
“It’s fine. We’re on holiday this week.”
“…What about the reservations?”
“This is why raising children feels pointless. What day is tomorrow?”
Anderson rolled his eyes for a moment before answering as though he truly had no idea.
“Well, it doesn’t seem to be either of your birthdays.”
“It’s our wedding anniversary! I told you he’s like this. Just when are you planning to show us some affection?”
“What kind of child remembers their parents’ wedding anniversary? Next you’ll tell me I’m supposed to remember your weights too. Forget it. Just eat quickly and go away.”
“I’m sorry. We failed to teach our son how to grow up properly. Miss Kaya? You must be having a hard time.”
“You certainly raised a terrible son.”
“…I don’t think that’s something I should have to hear from you.” Anderson glared at Kaya and growled.
Kaya, however, smiled triumphantly as though she had already won and pulled Gemma closer with an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m a good daughter. And a good sister too. Right, Gemma?”
“Yah.”
“See? She says I am.”
“…It seems like there’s no one on my side in this life.”
The person he had trusted had given him a name that made Koreans burst out laughing when they heard it, and his parents seemed more interested in teasing him than praising him.
Out of frustration, Anderson began crushing his carrot pound cake with his fork.
“…Anderson? You’re not mashing the cake just for fun, are you?”
“Ah, God.”
Such was the love of parents that it could turn even an atheist son into a believer.
Jo Ara snickered and leaned towards Jo Minjoon’s ear. “Anderson is cute.”
“…Who is what?”
“He’s cute. He looks like a model, but the things he does are really cute.”
Jo Minjoon gave Jo Ara a cold look. “Don’t get any strange ideas. Didn’t I tell you not to think about relationships before you get to university?”
“Oh, seriously. Can’t I even say something like that?”
“…Don’t even look in his direction. If you get close to him, your life will only become more exhausting. Not that anything would happen in the first place, but even imagining it is horrible. Anyway, don’t even glance at him. I’m completely against it.”
“Forget it. Do you think this is the Joseon dynasty?” Jo Ara grumbled and drank her tea.
Beside her, Gemma glanced at her before carefully pushing a plate over.
“Eat dis. It delicius.”
“Ah, yeah. Thanks.” Jo Ara’s eyes widened in surprise, but she soon smiled brightly and accepted it.
After taking a bite, she smiled cheerfully at Gemma.
Jo Minjoon grinned and pinched Jo Ara’s cheek.
Gemma and Jo Ara began chatting in clumsy English.
Naturally, the reasons their English sounded awkward were entirely different, but the fact that both of them were enjoying themselves was the same.
As the night deepened and their families returned to their rooms, only the three contestants remained at the table.
A single candle had been lit to create an atmosphere, but none of them could really enjoy it.
Anderson stared at the flame. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Then I’ll be alone with her.” Anderson shuddered as though the thought were horrifying.
Kaya spoke coldly. “Why are you acting like you’re the victim? I’m the victim here.”
“Hmph. My personality might be bad, but it’s nowhere near as bad as yours.”
“I wonder. They say you can tell someone’s true nature by how they treat their family. I think the difference between you and me was pretty obvious. Anyone could see it. Right, Minjoon?” Anderson glanced at Jo Minjoon.
Instead of answering, Jo Minjoon looked away and scratched his head.
Anderson grumbled. “Shameless bastard. You gave me a ridiculous name, and now you won’t even take my side. Do you have a conscience?”
“…I do?”
“Even if he is nicer than you, it has to be by at least a hundred times.”
“…If I stay between the two of you, I’m the only one who ends up looking like a bastard. I’m leaving first.” Anderson stood.
Kaya flinched. “Today is Minjoon’s last day here. You’re really leaving?”
“So what? We can see each other again.” The words sounded cold, but ultimately, what they meant was that this was not the end. Anderson glanced back at Jo Minjoon. “The name Anduksam you gave me… I know now that it’s ridiculous, but I’m not going to throw it away. I was the one who said it sounded Asian in the first place. From now on, every time I meet a Korean, I’ll introduce myself with that name.”
“No, I really don’t think there’s any need…”
“There’s no reason for you to feel sorry. I’ll also make sure to tell them that you were the one who gave me the name. Then Koreans everywhere will criticise your character. That’ll be my revenge.”
Jo Minjoon forced a laugh.
What kind of absurd revenge was that supposed to be?
Watching Anderson’s back recede, Jo Minjoon called after him. “Thanks for everything, Anderson.”
Anderson’s footsteps stopped.
Without turning around, he answered, “Don’t make the atmosphere unnecessarily sentimental. No matter when it is, we’re going to see each other again.”
Strictly speaking, they would see each other again tomorrow.
And even after that, they would meet at the final.
Of course, Anderson did not know that yet.
Jo Minjoon smiled calmly. “I’m sorry.”
Anderson did not answer.
Perhaps he had nothing to say, or perhaps he simply did not understand why Jo Minjoon was apologising.
His shadow disappeared into the darkness, leaving only Jo Minjoon and Kaya in the hall.
Melted wax ran down the candle as it lit the table, while the kitchen beyond remained sunk in darkness with all its lights switched off.
Kaya stared through the gap of the partially closed door.
“It looks like the lights went out.”
“If you mean the kitchen, yeah.”
“…No. That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about me. The road ahead of me.” Kaya lowered her gaze. “My life has always been like that. Even looking as far as tomorrow was difficult. No… there was one thing I knew for certain. Tomorrow wouldn’t be much different from today. After coming to Grand Chef, I thought I could finally see the light. But now I can’t see it again. Minjoon.”
Kaya turned her head.
Every time the candle flame flickered, the shadows across her face shifted with it.
But her eyes did not waver.
Neither did her voice.
She spoke with more certainty than ever before. “It seems like you were my lighthouse.”
Jo Minjoon said nothing.
It was not because he had nothing to say. Rather, the moment he heard those words, breathing itself became difficult.
Because that was exactly how he thought of Kaya.
No, more precisely, Kaya had not merely been someone who illuminated his path.
Kaya’s road was also the road he wanted to walk.
The dishes she made were the dishes he wanted to make.
She was the embodiment of the happiness he sought, the personality he admired, and the object of his adoration.
Just looking at her could make it difficult for him to breathe, but that very sense of distance had also driven him to struggle harder.
And now, that Kaya had told him he was her lighthouse.
If he said those words warmed him more than all the praise and encouragement he had received from the judges, would that be too much?
“…I was your lighthouse.”
“Whenever things were difficult, you were beside me. You told me what I should do… You even blocked me when I started going down the wrong path. More than anything, you held me up so my heart wouldn’t collapse. Thank you. When you leave, I thought I might never get the chance to say this… so I’m saying it now. And I’m only saying it once.”
“Me too…”
He wanted to tell her that she had been his lighthouse as well.
That she still was.
But the words would not come easily.
Jo Minjoon moved his half-open lips, whispering words too faint even to be heard, before closing them again.
Kaya tilted her head. “What? Why did you stop halfway?”
“It’s nothing. I just don’t have anything to say.”
Right now, saying those words felt miserable.
No matter how he dressed it up, he had lost. He wanted to save those words for the day he reached the end of his own road.
Kaya smiled brightly. It was a girlish smile that suited her age.
“Hey, lighthouse.”
“What?”
“Will I be able to find the way even without you?”
“Kaya.” Jo Minjoon spoke softly. “I’m not a lighthouse.”
“…That isn’t for you to decide. At least to me, you were.”
“No. That’s not true, Kaya. Even if I hadn’t been here, you still would’ve found the way. And you would’ve proved for yourself just how exceptional a chef Kaya Lotus is.” Jo Minjoon looked directly at her. “You might think the life you lived before coming here was meaningless, but it wasn’t. It was a struggle. A war that ordinary people would have found difficult to survive. And you survived it. Your sister… she has a beautiful smile. You protected her so she could smile like that.”
Kaya’s face tightened. She did not know whether she was supposed to be moved or deny what he was saying. Even she seemed unsure.
“And you shone. Enough to illuminate not only your own path, but other people’s as well. That’s why I can’t be your lighthouse. A lighthouse beside another lighthouse would be meaningless.” Jo Minjoon continued gently. “So, Kaya… don’t think you made it this far because you relied on me. It was your own strength. You cooked, fought, survived and endured all those scars. I just… I was only a mirror beside you. A mirror that reflected your light for a little while.”
“Why do you put yourself down that much? I…” Her voice trembled.
It was the first time praise had ever made Kaya feel this dizzy.
She opened her eyes fiercely.
Ironically, Jo Minjoon thought those fierce eyes were simply another expression of her gentleness.
“…Fine. I won’t say I made it this far because of you. My own two feet are clearly working just fine. But you held my hand from the front. You pushed me and pulled me forward. Why are you talking as if none of that mattered?”
“So you can win the final battle.” Jo Minjoon answered plainly.
Things were different now.
The contents of the final were different, and so was the path Kaya had taken to reach it.
That was why he could not help feeling anxious.
He believed in Kaya.
But he did not want her to lose something she should have gained simply because of his presence.
“Anderson is strong, but I’m not saying you’re weaker than him. I’m saying this: being the Kaya Lotus who survived until now by relying on Jo Minjoon won’t be enough. To beat Anderson, you need to be Kaya Lotus standing on her own. Anderson made it this far on his own too. So…”
“I don’t want to.” Kaya cut him off.
Her expression looked hurt. Her eyes seemed wet, and her face was flushed, whether from the candlelight or from blood rushing to her cheeks. Kaya clenched her fist.
Hidden inside that fist, unseen by Jo Minjoon, were countless emotions.
And she had no intention of opening it.
“Surviving while holding your hand is even more amazing than surviving alone. The fact that I managed to grab your hand at all is amazing! At least, it is to me. So don’t drag this out when I’m trying to thank you. At least you… I wish at least you wouldn’t be like this.”
She understood what Jo Minjoon was trying to tell her.
Her head understood. Her heart did not.
Kaya stood. “I’ll win. No matter what kind of person I am, I’ll beat Anderson. So stop thinking about useless things. Just…”
Her voice grew wet, and in the end, she could not finish. The words she wanted to say continued circling silently inside her heart.
Kaya spoke in a subdued voice. “I want to sleep. See you tomorrow.”
Kaya left.
Jo Minjoon remained staring at the candle, his expression unreadable.
The sound of her footsteps gradually faded. Was he hoping they would come back?
When he could no longer hear them, a sigh escaped his lips and extinguished the candle.
The flame died.
But the weight of that sigh did not disappear nearly so easily.