God of Cooking Chapter 206:
< One, Two, Three (3) >
The day Rose Island opens . As soon as Kaya woke up she glanced at the opposite side of the bed . As always, she was expecting to see Jo Minjoon lying next to her but he wasn’t there . Kaya spoke with a sleepy voice .
“Minjoon…… You here……?”
Her soft and slow voice was like a lullaby . She closed her eyes and opened it again . It may have took some time . But still Jo Minjoon was no where to be seen . Kaya, still drifting in her sleep, thought for a while . If he went to the bathroom he should have been here by now .
As she was starting to think straight, Kaya realized it was too bright to be 7am . Nervously Kaya looked at her phone . And she frowned . It was already past 7 .
“What the . Why didn’t the alarm go off . ”
It was meaningless to be upset now . Kaya sighed, got up and went out the room . She crossed her arms and leaned on the doorframe . As expected Jo Minjoon was in the kitchen . The look of him in a white shirt with a scoop was surprisingly charming .
She doubted there would be a happy moment as today . Just by looking at Jo Minjoon was enough . Even if time stopped right this moment . Just then . Without turning around Jo Minjoon opened his mouth .
“If you got up go and wash . I’ll make breakfast today”
Kaya pouted and went into the bathroom, after quickly washing she went behind Jo Minjoon, hugged him and put her hands on his belly . She made her voice low like a man and said,
“Our baby’s in here, babe”
“……What kind of joke is that? . ”
“No, no . Don’t look back . My face is still puffy . You’ll be shocked to see me like this unless you’re sleepy . ”
“I saw you a lot like that when I wasn’t sleepy . ”
“Than forget all that . Because that’s not me . What are you making?”
She put her head on Jo Minjoon’s shoulder and mumbled . Jo Minjoon replied softly .
“Omurice, all done with the rice, I just need to put the eggs . ”
“I ate omelette a lot as a kid . Cause fried eggs felt too little, I wanted to eat more . ”
“You won’t like it then, I guess . ”
“Nope . Not really . Since it wasn’t a bad memory . Of course, I would never want to go back to that time again though . ”
Kaya gave Jo Minjoon’s omelette a sad look . She could see that Jo Minjoon was focusing on the heat . The omelette had no holes nor burns . His was skillful of making the perfect egg . Kaya opened her mouth .
“Last time I saw some chefs on a TV show trying to make omelettes for breakfast, and they failed to do that . ”
“Well if you don’t cook for a while, even if you’re a chef you make mistakes . And honestly a lot of demmi chefs are good with their hands than head chefs . Since head chefs don’t really cook a lot . . ”
“I don’t want to be like that . I like a chef who works with their hands not with their mouth . ”
“I thought like that too but…… I changed my mind after seeing chef Rachel . Ah, all done . ”
Jo Minjoon placed the second omelette on top of the fried rice, and put two plates on the table . Kaya looked around and sat next to Jo Minjoon .
“Where’s Anderson?”
“Said he’ll work out in the morning and eat a hamburger outside . ”
“Ha . He’s good when it comes to these things . I really wanted to be alone with you . ”
“I don’t think he went out because of us . He must be nervous . More than me . Since it was his dream to work for Rachel . It means a lot to him . ”
“Yeah right . It was today . Are you nervous too?”
“More like excitement…… rather than nervousness . Since it’s the first time I’ll work as a real chef . Not as a participant of a contest, but as a chef in the kitchen . For the customers . ”
“What a **** . I really wanted to go to the restaurant today . Then I’ll be your first customer, right?”
“You don’t have to be with me in every single moment . You already have most of the important titles of my life . ”
Kaya smiled and kissed Jo Minjoon on the neck .
“Yeah . At least there would be no one who’ve got burned . ”
“……That’s a bit odd to include it in the important titles . ”
“It’s important . How can that not be important . It means that you cared for me, even getting burned . ”
“Guess that event meant a lot for you . ”
“Since it was the first time . That someone would get hurt for me . Maybe that was the start of all this . The start of being honest to you . ”
As soon as she finished her words, Jo Minjoon kissed Kaya . There are people who makes you happy just by being with them . For Kaya it was Jo Minjoon, and for Jo Minjoon it was Kaya . Their lips parted and Kaya, sightly blushed, whispered to Jo Minjoon .
“Go and show the customers who you are . Promise?”
“Yes . Promise . ”
Jo Minjoon replied .
“I’ll show them who I am . ”
€
Rachel peeked through the blinds . There was still 2 hours till the grand opening . But people were already waiting around the restaurant . It did seem like there were more reporters than the customers…… .
‘Finially this day has come . ’
She sighed . It was nerve racking . Was it excitement . Or maybe fear . But there was nothing to be afraid of . Everything was perfect, and they were ready for changes . No, Rachel herself has already changed a lot .
“Isaac . What time is it?”
“It’s 10:20 . We still have about 40 minutes left . ”
“Okay . Got it . ”
Rachel quietly looked out the window again . Isaac stayed put . He didn’t say a word of comfort nor a strong advice . Eventually Rachel spoke up first .
“Thanks . Isaac . For helping this clueless woman till this day . ”
“I never helped . I’ve just been next to you, that’s all . ”
“To think of it, Isaac, you’ve also put everything into Rose Island . Perhaps you’d had to be more angry than Jack . But why didn’t you?”
“Because there was someone else more angry than me . ”
“And who is that?”
Instead of replying Isaac stared at Rachel . Rachel was waiting for an answer until she realized what his gaze meant . She opened her mouth with a slight tremble in her voice .
“You mean I was more angry at myself?”
“That’s why you gave yourself a punishment . Didn’t you stay quiet for 10 years? Someone like you devoting 10 years at your home . Do you think that makes sense?”
There was one thing people misunderstood about Rachel . It’s that she’s very introverted or that she has a weird personality, but she wasn’t . Yes, she is a bit cold and harsh…… But that wasn’t something to say it’s weird .
And still Rachel spent 10 years all alone by herself . She didn’t do that because she liked that . It was a time of sorrow, pain and suffering . Time and loneliness hit her like a hammer . The more she spent alone, the more Rachel’s pain grew bigger . Isaac opened his mouth .
“You never wanted to give up . You wanted to get up, but you were just not confident enough . Perhaps I should have been **** you then . But…… You looked too exhausted to do that . ”
“Thanks . Issac . You’re the best present that’s left . ”
“It’s been a long time since you’ve complimented me . ”
“I guess so . But it’s not because I wasn’t thankful . It was because I always felt like you’ll always be there for me . They say that a foolish child doesn’t know how to thank their parents . ”
“So you’re saying that you’ve been foolish till now?”
“I have to be a grown up now . I’m already 60 now . ”
Outside, people started to gather around the restaurant . There was still time till business starts but it would be worth the wait . Rachel took her hands off the blinds . Isaac opened his mouth and started with a calm voice .
“It makes me think of when chef Daniel was here . There were lots of people just like today . ”
“That guy didn’t shiver a bit . Not only was he skillful but he was such a cold person . Everyday was like **** but he loved that . ”
“Just one concern…… may I say what it is?”
“I don’t want to hear any concerns at this moment . But well, Isaac . If it’s you it would be something that I need . What is it?”
“Don’t be too conscious of chef Daniel . Though the two of you made this place, it won’t be in your hands forever and ever . Eventually a new head chef will come and they will make it a different place . ”
It was a surprise that Isaac would say something like this . Since he always respected Rachel’s thoughts . Rachel’s eyes widened . But soon she nodded as though she understood his words .
“If you say so, I guess I am too attached to Daniel . ”
“You’ll get over it . And you have to get over it . ”
“A chef who only pretends to be someone else can never go on eventually…… I know that well . But I guess I still love him, seeing myself not letting go . I feel like an idiot but it doesn’t feel that bad to be an idiot . ”
As Rachel said so Isaac made a weary smile . Rachel smiled and looked at Isaac .
“It would be good for you to have someone also . Then that hard face might have soften a bit huh?”
“I learned a lot from you two . That there are more struggles than good things when you get together . And…… my half is my work . Rose Island is my everything . ”
“Yeah . Today would mean a lot to you too . I promise . I’ll never ruin this place . ”
“Now lets get up . It’s time to head to the kitchen . Go and greet the customers . They’ll love it . Especially on a special day like today . ”
“Sure . ”
Rachel got up . She was about to grab the door **** . Isaac quickly opened his mouth as he just thought of something .
“One more, there’s one thing you misunderstood . ”
“Misunderstood?”
“He would hate me if I told you this…… but still . Chef Daniel was also nervous . He was always tense and feared what others said . But he just simply didn’t want you to know that . So he would only tell me his difficulties . He also…… wasn’t a hero . He was a husband who wanted to be a hero . Nobody is perfect . There’s only people who strive for perfection . ”
Rachel didn’t say anything nor moved . She looked sad, happy, and angry at the same time . Then she slowly replied with a calm voice .
“I see . ”
Rachel took a deep breath . One, Two, Three .
The door opened .
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