Tic Toc Tic Toc .
Inside an empty kitchen, Jo Minjoon quietly stared at the clock . Don’t go . Stop . Despite his silent scream, the clock hand continued to move diligently, like it always does .
Eleven fifty-nine and fifty-seven seconds . fifty eight seconds . fifty nine seconds . And 12 O’clock… . .
It was the new years . And it was the end of his twenties, as well as the beginning of his thirties . Jo Minjoon sighed deeply as sudden fatigue enveloped him . Time was moving mercilessly, and he thought to himself, compared to the amount of time spent, he did not gain anything .
Jo Minjoon was a highschool teacher . To be exact, an english teacher . Like all teaching job, it was a career without a big success, but also that won’t have even small failures . Yeah . That was it, until the spring of his twenty eighth year . But in March, Jo Minjoon resigned from his teaching position .
He knew that a teacher’s career, wasn’t meant for him . Not once did he want to become a teacher . What Jo Minjoon aspired to be ever since he was young was to become a chef . However, his parent’s opposition was too strong . At that time, Jo Minjoon had a decent grade, and he had already been accepted to a college through early decision . So, when he said he wanted to become a chef, what kind of parents would support that kind of rash decision .
10 Years passed after that . Jo Minjoon followed his parents wishes, and was able to find his place at a high school . However, that was it . His parent kept saying that he will thank them later… but that was not it . Yes, the job had stability, but Jo Minjoon only felt vanity from his job . That’s the reason for his resignation .
After, he went straight to a restaurant . He found a job as a dishwasher in a famous restaurant in Gangnam . He washed dishes for half a year, and after one year, he started making salads and other side dishes . That’s all he was, after thirty years of life . Someone who had nowhere to go in New Year’s day, sitting as time went by in a dark empty kitchen .
There was no point complaining about it now . It was a choice that he made . So, he had no right to complain about his current frustrating life . Then, suddenly the sound of chime echoed through the hall, and the light went on in the restaurant .
“Oh, Minjoon . You were still here?”
It was Park Yooseok . He was two years younger than him, but he was his superior . He was lined up to become the head chef in few years .
“Ah, yes . Sunbae . What brings you here?” (*Sunbae = equivalent to the japanese “Senpai” . Designates a senior in work or study . )
Jo Minjoon was using honorifics to speak to him . He had no choice . It was because the hierarchy of the cooking world was very strong . Park Yooseok pretended like he was uncomfortable at the honorifics, but secretly he enjoyed it . Park Yooseok took out a wallet from a corner of the kitchen, and then shook it in front of Jo Minjoon .
“Ah, what a relief, I think i left something somewhere . Hyung . Peel those garlic while I go get it . Seemed like we are out of garlics . Since you are here already, it would be better to peel them now rather than doing it tomorrow morning, no?
“I’m a little tired right now . ”
“Ha……hyung . Please Help me keep my good manners towards elders . Other hoobaes, never talk back to me when I ask to do these little chores . ” (*Hoobae = equivalent to the japanese “Koohai”, designates a junior in work or study)
“…… . . Understood . ”
“I’ll be leaving now . Take care . ”
Park Yooseok left after that . But He picked up what Park Yooseok’s mumbling before he left . “Does he think he’s all that because he’s older? So scary” Jo Minjoon couldn’t do anything but stared at back of Park Yooseok . Even though we was mad, he couldn’t say anything . If he did, he would become known as reckless, and someone who disregards the hierarchy . He had no choice to swallow his anger .
“Garlic my **** . ”
But still Jo Minjoon was taking the garlics out of the kitchen refrigerator . After peeling garlics for a while, Jo Minjoon turned on his smartphone . And he went into his blog . His blog was the only thing that soothes him these days . Posts about dishes that he made, and the comments that gets posted on those . When he reads those, it gave him peace of mind .
Jo Min Joon clicked on the “write post” button . The subject was simple . New Year’s greetings . Even the content was simple and boring .
There were no comment for about 10 minutes . Jo Minjoon was not a famous blogger or anything . When he was taking notes off the other blogs cooking recipes, he received a comment notification . It was a familiar nickname .
CookingGuru : JoChef-nim Happy New Year~ ^^ Your New Year’s greeting was first . (*nim = honorific calling somebody higher, a customer or as to be polite . Equivalent to the japanese “-sama”)
[JoChef] was Jo Minjoon’s nickname . Even though it was just one person, but his sadness loosened up a little . Jo Minjoon quickly replied .
JoChef: Happy New years to you too, CookingGuru-nim . Your greeting was also my first .
CookingGuru: hehe hmm there was no dinner post, dont tell me you didn’t eat dinner?
JoChef: Somehow it ended up being like that . T__T
For a while, the two exchanged surface level conversation . It was after about 10 comments were exchanged, the conversation became deeper .
CookingGuru: Then JoChef-nim is still in his 2nd year?
JoChef: Yes, although i flaunt myself a little in my blog with my cooking, but I just peel garlic in some restaurant . lol . .
CookingGuru: Ah . . its a pity . If you changed your path just a little bit younger, I’m sure you would’ve be in a better situation .
JoChef: What can I do . It’s my fault . I didn’t have the courage back then . I realized it to late, that everyone has their own path .
CookingGuru: If you could return to when you were younger, would you jump in to the world of cooking right away?
JoChef: Yes, I would . Now I am certain which path is my path . Of course it’s pretty rough right now but still…
After that comment, there were no other comment for a quite a while . Maybe he became tired of such a deep conversation . It was a bit depressing topic to talk about in New Years . Jo Minjoon rested his head on a table outside, and closed his eyes . He was sleepy . Tired . He did not want to think about anything .
It was after around 10 minutes after Jo Minjoon fell asleep . His dark phone screen illuminated brightly with a comment alarm .
NEW CookingGuru: Sure . Return to when you were younger . I would like to see your youthful pursuit of your path too .