Bear put down the ingredients on his station. He made some notes on the side and then started to work.
Mr. YX still didn´t come back. One of the helpers went into the storeroom to look for what is happening. He soon came out again and walked straight to Eira.
"Miss Morgan. He is in the storeroom and looking for some specific ingredients we don´t have." The helper whispered to her.
Eira raised her brows. "Really? What does he need? And where do we find it?"
"He said he has to get to the next supermarket."
"What?" She was confused. They had everything ready but now the missing item he didn´t find was from a supermarket? What does he need?
"Yes. He said he had to get some snacks. Should I let him go?"
While Eira was still contemplating the audience started to get louder since they saw that there was something not right.
"Yeah get my car and drive him to the supermarket and help him find the things." Eira rubbed her temples and sighed.
What a great way to start the competition.
The helper quickly nodded and ran back to the storage room.
While all the commotion was focused on the things happening with Mr. YX, Bear calmly continued to cook.
He chopped, minced and put together all sorts of vegetables and herbs. He then brought a big cut of beef and started to prepare it skillfully.
Mr. YX got what he wanted from the supermarket and drove quickly back to the hall. He finally put all of his ingredients on his station and also started to prepare everything.
Both him and Bear are now seriously concentrating on their work and didn´t utter a single word. Everyone could sense the tensed atmosphere.
The time was set for 4h. So while everyone waited for the two cooks to finish they could get some food from outside of the hall. The judges also became some fruits placed on their tables to snack on while waiting. Their table was in a half-moon so it was easy for them to talk with each other.
Two hours already passed and Bear and Mr. YX were still busily working. The MC announced after another hour that they only had one hour to finish up. Sweat was running down their backs and the whole work surface on both sides was full of different kinds of bowls and pots. On the side were failed attempts of their works and while on the stoves they were cooking a lot more food. Both of them wanted to create something unforgettable for the judges.
Then finally there were only a few minutes left. They should both come to an end now and plate their dishes. Bear grinned when he saw that Mr. YX was still busily running around at his side while he himself had finished everything and just did the last touches. When he was satisfied with the result he took it to the judges to taste.
His dish before them had an intense smell and their mouths watered already when they saw it before them. Without much thinking, they took a spoonful and tried it. The meat was so tender that it literally melted into their mouths together with all the different vegetables to together create a harmonious taste. The seasoning was right and not overbearing. While the judges were still enjoying Bear´s dish, Mr. YX had already finished his dish and plated it. He now waited for his turn.
The judges let him place his plate beside Bear´s plate and they took a good look at his dish. There were some fried balls on a bed of what seemed like mashed potatoes. After Bear´s healthy and refreshing meal they didn´t really want to eat something fried but still, they took a bite of it. After they had chewed on the crispy outer shell that was just made of potato chips the cheesy inside oozed out and enveloped the crispy shell. Before they could register how it tasted it was already gone. They took another bite to see how it tasted but again it was quickly gone down their throats. It was so addicting that they kept on eating. Even though they had finished half of Bear´s plate they still went for more and soon all of them had finished the whole plate from Mr. YX. Satisfied they leaned back on their chairs and totally forgot that they had to judge it.
"So dear judges. What did you think of these two dishes?" The MC spoke and brought them back to reality.
George Ramsay cleared his throat and started to speak: "Right... right. The two dishes were both really good and creative... Both very different from each other...."
"They were fantastic. I am so sorry but I am full. If not I would eat all of it clean." James Olivier cut in.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Now then all of you please tell us your winner." The MC called out.
Starting with Marvin Yan, then George Ramsay, followed by Eira, James Olivier and at the end Genard Contado they all put out their board and wrote a name of the one which dish they liked more. On the count of three, all of them held them up.
The audience held their breath and even all surrounding sounds stopped as if they also held their breaths.
It was 3:2.
The winner is decided.
It iiiiiiiiiisssss....
.
.
.
*drumroll*
.
The mysterious Mr. YX!!!
The crowd applauded and cheered. Mr. YX quickly bowed to them. He then shook hands with his opponent Bear.
"Good job."
"You too."
The MC came closer to them and held a mic under the nose of Mr. YX.
"Mr. YX just a quick statement. How are you feeling right now?" He asked.
"I feel amazing. This is the first time I accomplished something on my own and am very proud of it."
"Can you show us your identity now?" The MC asked further.
Mr. YX looked at him and seemed to contemplate his decision.
"I think Miss Morgan is also interested to see who you are since you are going to work with her from now on." The MC tried to persuade him.
Mr. YX still didn´t make an attempt to remove his face mask.
The cheering crowd now started to chant one after another: "Pull it off! Pull it off! Pull it off!"
"As you can see EVERYONE wants to know who you are. Please show yourself."
Eira and the other judges came to them to congratulate Mr. YX. They stood in front of them waiting to see what he would do next.
Mr. YX looked directly at Eira and seemed to smile when she smiled at him brightly.
He stepped closer to her.
"Do you want me to show myself?" He asked her.
Surprised at his approach he stepped a step back and then looked at him.
"I am curious. But I respect your choice when you don´t want to let me know who you are. It will just be difficult to employ you tough." She chuckled.
"Alright." Mr. YX also chuckled.
He turned around to look at the camera that was directed at him. He then put down his cap.
And then his hands slowly went to his face mask and removed them.