Today was awkwardly uneventful. The loud ones still made a fuss during breakfast but not that shaking as Ludwig was occupied with Reanne and the cooking competition. It was rare to see Ludwig so focused and let a deeper voice out when he talked rather than a cheerful voice. Reanne, on the other hand, listened very well to every word that Ludwig stated and collaborated.

They were serious.

Well, if I was placed as the third member, I would laze around and let Reanne and Ludwig do their job. I might as well just exist to do the dishes or peel some potatoes at the competition, knowing that I didn't do well with cooking. But Olivier seemed different from my plan. Though she didn't join in her team's discussion, her mind wandered elsewhere.

I knew it because Mrs. Vengiel came to the Pummel's for some takeout foods.

"Oh, oh, I hope they win," Mrs. Vengiel widely smiled while waiting for her food. "I'm excited for this year's cooking competition."

"You know, Mrs. Vengiel?" I asked in the middle of sparkling the tables

"I do!" she seemed enthusiastic. "Olivier asked if she could take some days off until the competition and of course, sure we agreed."

I honestly didn't have any grudges against Olivier but the truth was the truth. You couldn't master cooking only by learning for 4 days... less than 4 days!

"Do you know that Olivier can't cook, Mrs. Vengiel?" I questioned her.

"No, what about it?"

"Do you think that Olivier would be a liability for Reanne and Ludwig?" I whispered. "Just an honest answer, please."

Mrs. Vengiel waved her body left and right, like a beautiful pole swayed by the wind.

"No, I don't think so, Luna," Mrs. Vengiel replied sooner than I thought.

"Why?"

"I have lived longer than you so I could say that Olivier's not aiming to be a good cook..." Mrs.Vengiel nodded on her own statement. "She's trying hard because she can't cook."

Oh.. that's a refreshing point of view indeed. I couldn't contain my surprised face and I deeply knew that Mrs. Vengiel stated the fact.

"I don't care if she needs a week, a month, or even a year just to compete..." Mrs.Vengiel prepared to leave the haven after she received her take-out food from Cole. "I will support your team with everything I can, Luna."

Mrs. Vengiel left me speechless after saying thank you to Cole. For a mere barn fella, she was so kindhearted and warm, gracious at the same time.

Now I know why we have this insanely kind Cole.

Put that aside, I worked at the Pummel with a lot of fun. I had some good conversations with the customers and I could buy some street foods plus Mr. Pummel gave me a bonus for everyone. It was fun, but my mind traveled afar. I still didn't know where Olivier was headed from this morning until now, the dinner time. For a foodie like her, skipping dinner was unusual.

"Olivier learned to cook with us," Ixora tried to calm me down. "The food for dinner today is her work."

The crowd stopped eating.

"Is it safe... to eat...?" Storm hesitated.

"So rude," Koko sighed. "Well, she did help us but just the tiny weenie bit. Of course, she didn't want to ruin our dinner."

The crowd resumed eating.

"Did she eat?" Reanne expressed her curiosity to Ixora.

"I believe so..." Ixora nodded. "She still has a long way to go so she eats and learns."

As we ate, we could see clearly that Jin rushed to finish his dinner. Watching his action somehow brought a serenity to our hearts. At least someone checked on her.

"You good?"

"I'm good," Olivier replied without diverting her attention from the veggies she just-chopped. She knew the owner of that soft knock and familiar voice.

As his vision wandered around the kitchen, Jin could easily notice that Olivier had been practicing chopping some green onions, onions, garlic, beef, and soft fruits.

What a good start to learn from handling a knife.

"Do you think it's edible?"

Jin walked closer to the door to see Olivier's art. She made a bond from the carrot cut.

"Is it edible? Yes, it is. If you ask, is it worth enough for the competition, it is not," Jin responded.

Honestly, I thought Jin would sugarcoat his answer.

"Oh... Okay..." Olivier took the answer. "I need to cut deeper to get proper cuts.."

"Use more energy," Jin offered suggestions. "This island's carrots are mighty big and a bit hard."

"Okay..." Olivier tried to cut some carrots as she replied. "I guess I don't have that kind of energy..."

"Well, you can soften them first by boiling the carrots..."

"Does it ruin the taste?" Olivier asked. Both of them were silent as they looked at each other.

"It... depends on the menu, actually..." Jin tapped his nose, a usual twitch when he was thinking. "Okay. Let me tell you a trick to cut hard veggies..."

Olivier stepped back and made space for Jin to use the knife. He demonstrated his trick of using less energy but with better results.

"Focus on this backside," Jin explained. "Humans fingers are weaker than the palm and by focusing on cutting with the back side, you use the palm power to cut."

"Once the back hits, you can proceed on slicing with the middle and front side..." Jin continued.

Olivier made an o with her mouth without a voice.

"Let me try, let me try..." Olivier excitedly took a turn on the knife. As she carefully cut the carrots according to Jin's explanation, he seemed satisfied with seeing his little student's fast achievement.

"Oh oh... I did it..." Olivier squealed. "And my hand doesn't hurt..."

Jin nodded in satisfaction. He came to teach (and worry), but somehow he got even better than teaching. Olivier offered her first carrot slice to him.

"For teaching me," Olivier showed the slice. "Thank you."

"You hand-feed me?" Jin giggled.

"You mind?" Olivier asked.

Jin's eyes dilated out of surprise. He was totally joking and teasing Olivier, but she caught him defenseless. Not in his right mind ever thought about this small action from Olivier. Small one yet somehow was bad enough for his heart attack. Jin tried really hard to calm his overjoyed heartbeat while eating the carrot slice from Olivier's hand.

"I handfed you all the time. Don't be so extra..." Olivier sighed.

Okay, one statement is plenty enough to freeze Jin's heartbeat.

"That's ... when I was a cow, Olivier..." Jin facepalmed. "Do you think I'm still a cow?"

"You lift the curse fully?" Olivier casually asked.

"Well, I guess?" Jin hesitated. "Don't you think it's better this way? Uh, I can talk to you like this, right?"

Olivier shaped her mouth circle again.

"Okay, then I won't hand-feed you anymore."

It seemed so mighty easy for Olivier to say something comical that stumbled Jin on the kitchen island. He needed to say "NOOOOO!" or "HANDFEED MEEE EVERYDAYY" but he totally knew it would bring a negative effect on Olivier. Just this time, he decided to be content with one slice of carrot.

The night was peaceful with a soft voice coming from Olivier's chopping knife, until it was almost midnight.

"I will finish soon..." Olivier tidied up the kitchen. "You don't need to stay with me."

"Nah, I'm not sleepy," Jin shook his head.

"Okay... thank you," Olivier bowed as if she was treating Jin so formally. "I have to sleep now or I can't learn anything tomorrow..."

"Good idea," Jin agreed. "Let's cook together again tomorrow?"

Olivier smiled. Short enough to melt Jin's shocked heart.