Chapter 257
<Healthy flavor (1)>
Did you hear, Anderson? That a person’s futile efforts to escape their fate makes them live out their fate almost exactly in the end.
I don’t understand.
I feel like exercising like this would just end up worsening my health. Since I would get to sleep less, become more tired as a result, even if my stamina gets better, I won’t be able to recharge, but I’d still have to get to work, and my body would get wor…
Shush. Just start lifting. Did you really think you could work in the kitchens with strength like that? Don’t you dare say stuff like ‘going on the treadmills’ again.
Minjoon lifted the barbell without another word after hearing Anderson’s jab. A vein popped on his forehead and his legs shook as he managed to come back to a full stand. Anderson looked at Minjoon before letting out a deep sigh.
No wonder you were feeling so weak. Do you know how annoying it is for everyone if you collapse? I’m not going to be worried for you, just pissed.
Fine, fine. Good lord.
You can’t keep treating yourself like this. You know how Rachel associates chefs who fall apart in the kitchen.
…Dude, don’t guilt trip me with that shit.
Don’t put me in a situation where I have to do it to begin with.
Minjoon squatted down with a little frown. 110 pounds. It was just two thirds of Minjoon’s weight. Anderson helped Minjoon onwards with a few words.
Most people can’t squat their proper weight because they feel like they can’t do it. I trust you. You aren’t the type to get tired by just this.
Minjoon responded with another squat. He was complaining a lot, but he was following through pretty well. As a matter of fact, it was strange seeing him complain of all things. He wasn’t the type to complain much. Weight training really wasn’t his style.
But it wasn’t like Anderson could just let Minjoon keep doing his own thing. Not just because Rachel told him to help the man out, but also because Anderson was Minjoon’s friend. They were friends for only a single year, but they talked a lot during that time. They failed together, they succeeded together. They shared happy things and sad things together as well.
Don’t get sick. You’ll just end up hurting the people around you as well.
I’m not sick, don’t worry.
Be careful, man.
Fine, fine. I’ll work a little less from now. Don’t worry so much.
…‘A little’?
Anderson frowned. Minjoon seemed to be implying that he was still going to work a lot. Well, whatever. At least he was going to work less.
Minjoon wasn’t someone who lied. That night, he went straight for the bed instead of trying to experiment with new recipes like usual. This was good for Kaya. She, too, was worried about him overworking recently.
What happened? You don’t usually come to bed this early.
I realized I might be missing something really important because I was focusing too much on something else. I didn’t want to keep too many people worried about me, too.
Good, finally. No need for cassoulet or Jo Reggiano or whatever. Your health comes first.
You were worried?
How could I not be? You were putting so much work into cooking. I know how bad that can get.
He couldn’t tell if she was mad or worried. Minjoon decided to deal with it for now by lowering his eyebrows with his fingers. This was a person he would’ve normally only seen on television. Right in front of him. As his lover.
Thinking about that made him feel way less tired than he actually was. Kaya frowned annoyedly.
What are you laughing for?
Just because.
I heard guys say that when they don’t want to explain something.
Dunno.
Oh my god, you’re being so frustrating. It’s like you’re getting smarter every day.
That’s a bad thing?
For me? Yeah. Your dumb side had a charm to it.
I had a dumb side?
Minjoon let out a small laughter of surprise. Kaya shut him up with her finger.
Don’t you laugh. You really were like that, you know?
How?
You always got nervous next to me.
Minjoon had no idea if that was true. He was nervous next to her? Kaya snorted with a knowing look.
Women know these things, you know? Especially when guys get nicer and start talking more in front of them. You really think I didn’t notice?
…I did? You were being serious just now?
Yeah. You totally fell for me first. You get it now? So stop trying to make fun of me like that.
Kaya turned off the lamp, covering Minjoon’s vision with sudden darkness. Kaya’s hand came straight onto his head. She was feeling for his head carefully.
Man, you’re handsome.
What are you doing?
Thanks for being you. I couldn’t dare say that in the light. Thanks for always standing up for me. Thanks for thinking for me, thanks for cheering for me. No matter how dark or bright it gets.
Minjoon responded by turning the lamp on again. Kaya flinched back with a sudden blush.
W-what the. Why’d you turn the light on?
I wanted to see that face.
So embarrassing… turn it off. Isn’t that enough now?
I’ll be next to you.
Minjoon rubbed Kaya’s forehead lightly.
I’ll always be next to you. Don’t worry. I won’t go anywhere.
I’m going to trust you on that.
Kaya kissed Minjoon’s cheeks. The lamp turned off again. Minjoon thought to himself as he looked into the darkness.
‘…Man, I’d feel bad about catching a cold, even.’
It was a little pressuring. In a good way, though.
€
So today’s the last day.
Yes, thank you for everything, Minjoon.
It was really fun. I hope you got a lot of good footage out of that.
It’s a lot better than you think.
The cameraman smiled happily. Not many filming sessions ended with a good note like this.
A lot of the viewers will end up liking you more I think, Minjoon.
You must’ve edited me well.
There wasn’t much footage where you looked bad. Especially when you add in interviews about you with other people.
No one around Minjoon said anything bad about him. Even that Janet was talking about how nice and hard working the man was. Right then, someone butted her way into the conversation.
You aren’t going to interview me?
…I’m sorry. What was your name again?
Deborah. Don’t you forget it.
Minjoon looked at Deborah, who flinched back in surprise.
What?
…Just when does your renovation end?
You sound like you really want me gone.
No, just…
I’m going to stay here until you really get sick of me.
Despite her voice, there was a deep shadow under Deborah’s eyes. She was probably feeling frustrated herself. Sometimes, she would stand over the kitchen with a blank look on her face. She would occasionally make an unfinished dish and sigh over her plate.
Occasionally she would make a dish, but it would instantly get rejected by Rachel. It was quite depressing looking at her finish the dish Rachel refused to eat any more of.
Tell me if you need help. I’m available after dinner.
It’s fine. Your girlfriend would kill me if you did.
…That’s true.
It’s a good thing you’re trying to get more rest. Work hard on keeping your body healthy, alright?
I understand.
Chef Minjoon, it’s almost dinner time.
Yup.
Deborah smiled as she watched Minjoon walk back into the kitchen. The man was someone to be thankful for. He had quickly turned into Rachel’s motivation for cooking again in the woman’s life.
Minjoon might not know this, but he was affecting Rachel’s state of being quite a bit. Especially with that cassoulet or Jo Reggiano of his. She could still hear Rachel’s words in her ears as clear as day.
‘That boy is even better than me.’
‘How can he be better than you of all people, though?’
‘I’m just borrowing dishes out of Daniel’s book. I always wonder if my dish is really my dish. But not Minjoon. He can make something similar to Daniel despite never having seen his dishes.’
‘It’s not that you borrowed Daniel’s cooking, you were just influenced by it.’
‘I always helped Daniel with his cooking. He was always the main show. The only thing I can do is… being an assistant in the kitchen. That kid is…’
It wasn’t very difficult to imagine what Rachel was about to say right then. Deborah remembered responding with a bitter look back then.
‘Minjoon must be happy for being trusted and loved so much.’
What did Rachel say after that? Deborah thought to herself as she sat on the sofa. Right then, the door of the resting room opened as Justin walked in with a pale face.
Jus…tin? What’s wrong?
Ah, chef.
Justin didn’t even seem to have noticed Deborah being there. Deborah saw a bunch of droplets of sweat on his face.
Did something happen?
Uh…
Justin looked around nervously. He seemed too frightened to even think.
Chef Minjoon collapsed.
<Healthy flavor (1)> End.
