# Chapter 82
They were hastily made-up names. Since they weren’t actually foods that could be properly called pizza, bossam, or cake, I started feeling embarrassed. This was because Lee Jinyoung’s expression hardened as I pointed to each dish and explained them.
Is it that strange? I had really racked my brain to make something that could achieve both health and taste.
I became a bit anxious, worried about hearing harsh criticism even if my creations would end up being discarded as failures.
“How did you make them?”
Fortunately, Lee Jinyoung’s reaction wasn’t too bad, seemingly curious about the food I had made. Although we would all evaluate the dishes together later anyway, I organized my thoughts to answer since she had asked. Besides, it would be better to know what they were eating.
I pointed to a round, flat white lump with my finger. This was the dish I had put the most effort into. It had been a while since I’d used fire to cook, so I was flustered at first, but I didn’t give up, believing I could do it, and it turned out fairly well.
Trying not to look at the black lumps I had pushed aside in the corner, I opened my mouth.
“Um… for the tofu pizza here, since there was no dough for toppings, I mashed tofu, mixed it with cheese, added vegetables on top, and fried it like a pancake.”
Saying it like that, it seemed it could be called a pancake rather than a pizza. I brushed away such useless thoughts and continued.
“The bossam is just tangerine and tofu wrapped in seaweed, that’s why I called it that. And this one is just yogurt sprinkled on top, so it’s a bit embarrassing to call it a cake, but please think of it as a spoon cake.”
“Huh? …Oh. No. The naming is important too.”
Lee Jinyoung hurriedly waved her hands as I scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment. I could feel her trying hard to encourage me, but it had the opposite effect. The naming wasn’t anything special, so my mood sank.
I quickly covered my cheeks with my palms as I felt them getting warm. A hot sensation was definitely rising up both my hands. They must have turned red, even without looking.
“Well, they may look like this, but they’ll taste good. I tried them as a check, and I found them delicious.”
Even though I spoke sincerely, Lee Jinyoung slightly scrunched her eyes as if she couldn’t understand at all. The corners of her mouth, which had been gently turned up, were now drooping. Oh Seulbi, who was standing nearby, trembled her shoulders slightly before bursting into laughter as if she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Then, seeming to have calmed down, she wiped her eyes and said:
“I’d like to propose those for the school’s special meal.”
If that was an evaluation, could I take it as a positive review? Kim Yuna, surprised by Oh Seulbi’s words, clapped her hands in agreement and added a meaningful comment:
“But it’s really unexpected. The senior was right.”
“I know, right.”
What are they talking about? The two were laughing quietly, then turned their gaze to me. Oh Seulbi, who saw my questioning expression, came over, patted my shoulder, and said:
“I thought you might try to make fancy cuisine again. But I’m surprised you made something so simple. …I did think you would be good at this when you heard about the competition, and seeing you preparing for it already, you must be serious, huh?”
For some reason, her tone suggested she found me endearing. Although there was playfulness at the end, seeing the pleased smile on Oh Seulbi’s face, I just remained quiet.
It seems they misunderstood something… but it seemed better to keep my mouth shut rather than correct them.
From my perspective, I had just seriously cooked as I usually would. I hadn’t thought about the competition at all. Since we would gather to work on it later anyway, and my dishes wouldn’t be selected, I just wanted to do well with what I was told to do. But when they connected it to the competition, I felt a bit awkward.
“For the competition, a simple recipe would be better, right? The key is something that anyone can follow.”
“That’s definitely the way to go.”
The atmosphere soon turned cheerful. It was never truly silent, but seeing everyone chatting casually, my somewhat tense feelings gradually relaxed.
I had worried about being criticized for making strange dishes.
Kim Junwoo alone stood at a distance, looking around at us with an expressionless face, seeming unable to join this warm atmosphere, but it didn’t seem necessary to mind him. Watching the other group members who seemed quite excited, I relaxed my previously upright posture.
Yeah, as long as it’s fun, that’s what matters. I was completely drained after putting in some effort to cook for the first time in a while. I casually sat down on a chair and picked up a lotus root from the remaining ingredients and chewed on it. It was uncomfortable to chew because it was raw, but the slightly astringent and faintly bitter taste of the crunchy lotus root lingering on the tip of my tongue made it savory.
I’m confident in eating like this, but I don’t seem to have a talent for cooking. It seems Yoon Taeho was good at cooking, but even with a different body, that hasn’t changed.
With just a few dozen minutes left until the end time, the teacher told us to prepare for tasting each other’s dishes. The club members became busy at that. Our group only needed to prepare the setting, so we were a bit more relaxed. And as we exchanged banter about what we had made, we tasted and evaluated each other’s dishes.
I understood why Kim Junwoo doubted whether what I had made could be considered cooking. While what I had done was just mixing available ingredients to make simple dishes, the other group members had literally recreated food.
The dishes the group members made were like this:
First, Kim Yuna made an eggplant salad mixed with finely chopped tomato salsa sauce and beans. Oh Seulbi made snack bars by roasting cereal and dried fruits in malt syrup. I couldn’t help but admire her skill as she removed the square mold used to shape them and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Lee Jinyoung made what she called “vegetable powder.” It was a yellowish-brown powder made by grinding carrots and cabbage, drying them in the oven, and then finely grinding them again in a blender. Lee Jinyoung gave each of us a cup with an appropriate amount and explained to drink it mixed with water or milk according to our preference.
What Kim Junwoo made was a smoothie made by grinding various vegetables. Thinking it was an easier recipe compared to the other members, I grumbled to myself.
I think I could do that too. Just as I was feeling annoyed at his attitude of being incredulous at my food, I stuck out my tongue when I saw him precisely calculating and explaining the ratio of ingredients, the temperature to maintain flavor, and the timing. What is this, a math lesson?
Still, I was surprised to see him showing such a serious side, when I had thought he was just playing around without properly participating in club activities.
Other groups also presented their completed dishes. However, considering how they tried to hastily finish at times, the atmosphere wasn’t serious. It was more like they were just going through the motions since they had already joined the club.
I gulped down the smoothie while glancing at the Middle Class guys and Kim Junwoo.
“How is it?”
“…It’s good.”
I just nodded in response to Kim Junwoo’s somewhat cautious voice. Despite all his talk about ratios, it really did taste good. It had a healthy taste, making me feel like my body was getting better.
At my words, Kim Junwoo shrugged as if saying “is that so.” He seemed to try to brush it off casually, but his relief was evident.
“By the way, what’s your relationship with Yoo Wono?”
“Why do you ask?”
Kim Junwoo briefly looked at the group members who were exchanging opinions while drinking the smoothie, then leaned closer to me and casually asked. He had a slightly furrowed expression. It was a face showing hostility toward Yoo Wono. But the question about our relationship was strange.
He did try to help me, but judging by his current expression, he doesn’t seem to be asking out of concern for me. Is he just curious about what happened during lunch?
Still, seeing how he casually just called a third-year student by name, he must really dislike him.
“Seeing him trying to take your bandage…”
Kim Junwoo trailed off and closed his mouth. It felt less like he was contemplating what to answer and more like he was struggling to continue.
I followed his gaze to my right wrist. Now that I looked at it, the bandage was too clean. Even though it had been changed in the morning, with Yoo Wono fiddling with it and me rolling around on the floor, I thought it had gotten a bit dirty.
Could it have been changed again? As my thoughts led to Moon Seoheon, who might be waiting outside, I shook my head.
“What about it?”
“So…”
“What is it?”
My eyebrows furrowed at Kim Junwoo’s hesitant response. What’s with him? If he has something to ask, he should just say it quickly. As I was about to tell him not to bother unless it’s important due to his dragging attitude, Kim Junwoo, after vigorously scratching the back of his head, reluctantly opened his mouth.
“I was wondering if he was pressuring you about taking the bandage.”
My furrowed brow relaxed, but my eyebrows rose instead. Rather than expressing my confusion about what he meant, I rolled my eyes at a suspicion that was gradually forming.
Kim Junwoo, who read my thoughtful expression, seemed rather flustered and clicked his tongue softly in surprise. It was a face that suggested he regretted saying anything.
I mulled over what he had said. It was clear that the “he” who supposedly pressured me referred to Yoo Wono, and the bandage wasn’t mentioned without reason. Then I recalled what Yoo Wono had muttered while unwrapping my bandage. Naturally, I also remembered his reason for being obsessed with the bandage.
Kim Junwoo now had a suddenly resigned face and was slouching his shoulders.
“Hey, don’t tell me that what you burned on the rooftop was the bandage Yoo Wono had been wearing?”
At my words, Kim Junwoo flinched. The face he quickly raised showed obvious embarrassment. I involuntarily clicked my tongue and looked at him with clouded eyes.
So all that trouble that bastard caused was because of this guy… no, because of those guys on the rooftop. Judging by his comment about it just disappearing, he didn’t seem to know who had taken it. I was the only one who suffered for no reason.
I turned my head to glance at the Middle Class guys. Coincidentally, I made eye contact with the guy who had yelled at me. Although it was very brief because he just frowned as if disgusted and quickly turned his gaze away.
“Hey… thanks for that time. For saving me.”
Kim Junwoo mumbled in a small voice. It was too quiet to understand what he said, but being close by, I realized he was expressing gratitude.
Under my steady gaze, he straightened his hunched shoulders and this time spoke clearly, enunciating each word.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry for making you feel bad.”
His seriously sincere face involuntarily made me laugh. Thinking I was mocking him, his body flinched, so I lightly patted his shoulder.
“Alright. As long as you know.”
I hadn’t intended to bring it up, but it felt odd to just let it slide, yet somehow I felt lighter. Perhaps it was because I received a proper apology from an unexpected person whom I thought would never acknowledge it. It was surprising how quickly the lingering knots of discomfort could dissolve.
