...Does Not Stay in the Kitchen

Observation Room.

"Well," M.J. started, at a loss for words. "That was..."

"Explosive?" Brady offered.

The other three observers instantly shivered.

"Thank god, no," M.J. hurriedly said.

"But almost," Scarlett added.

While the others discussed all the worse potential outcomes in Kitchen #2 in the hopes of finding a silver lining, Michael slid his gaze towards the last kitchen's camera footage, bracing himself to witness more disasters. But surprisingly...

"Huh. Orange Team and Yellow Team are doing fine," he said.

"What?"

"Oh my..."

"Really?"

Compared to Kitchen #1's tense atmosphere and the World War III happening in Kitchen #2, Orange Team and Yellow Team's interactions were akin to a calm cooking ASMR—both teams' members were focused on their respective tasks and only traded cooking tips with their teammates. Sara, Dante, Jean, and Andrew also appeared to be experienced in the kitchen, as there was no clumsy, last-minute fumbling around for something or the other.

"Cooking doesn't look so bad, after all," Brady realised.

Michael nudged him. "Not a fan?"

"Nah." Brady glanced around furtively before lowering his voice, "Between you and me, the only thing I eat when alone is cup noodles. So easy to cook and so delicious."

[Hahahahaha my idol loves cup noodles too!!!]

[Wait didn't he once swear by homemade spaghetti?]

[He did?!]

[I mean, I once hid all my cup noodles and made noodles from scratch when I had guests...]

[Certified cup noodle lover]

[Prince of Hearts give us a song about loving noodles!]

[Ooh, I know: I'm a hopeless ramen-tic when it comes to you~]

[Udon know how deep my love is~]

Oblivious to his secret being exposed, Brady continued to rave about his favourite cup noodle flavours while Michael listened attentively. Beside them, Scarlett and M.J. saw the noodle-pun-infested chatroom and widened their eyes.

"Um, Brady..." Scarlett tapped the singer's shoulder hesitatingly. "...Your mic is on."

"...and the Thrice Spice Flavour—" Brady's voice broke abruptly. His hand flew to his collar where a mic was attached, and sure enough, it was on.

"Pfft!" M.J. snickered at his horrified expression.

"You heard nothing just now. Nothing." Brady looked around the room threateningly, but with his pouty lips and round, caramel eyes he resembled a kitten having an adorable fit instead. Albeit a kitten with a voice that could serenade anyone into amnesia.

"Sure, sure. We heard nothing."

[My lips are sealed!]

[We TOTALLY didn't hear about your love for Thrice Spice Flavoured instant ramen]

[Dw, I've pho-gotten everything already]

[Whatever do you Mein? There's nothing to forget!]

"Ugh..." Brady buried his face in his palms. "Tell me I'm not the only one who loves cup noodles here..."

Scarlett giggled, "I think you are. But don't worry, our viewers support you."

"Yeah, right."

"On a more serious note, it looks like Orange Team won't finish on time," Michael said once they finished teasing Brady. "Larry's reached their kitchen already."

M.J. took over when Sara and Dante drew their handicap card. "Their handicap is to carry on with their non-dominant hand! Both of them are right-handed, so they can only use their left hands for the remaining time. As a fellow righty, boy am I glad to not be in their shoes!" she laughed goodheartedly.

[Lol me too]

[My left hand is lazier than my brain before exams]

[Same. Mine is perpetually idle]

[As a left-handed person I will reverse all previous statements]

[As an ambidextruous person this is a win-win]

"To summarise,the Purple and Green Teams have finished their final preparations, Yellow and Blue Teams have moved on to plating while handicapped, Sabina is carrying Red Team with much difficulty—we apologise for the muted channel, but it's for the benefit of younger viewers—and Orange Team are thrown for a loop due to their new penalty," M.J. concluded. "With less than half an hour to finish their assignment, how will the contestants fare? For now, we can only wait and see."

***

REMAINING TIME: 00:00:00

[Judgement time]

All twelve contestants lined up in front of the rectangular dining table, backs ramrod straight and faces sombre like soldiers awaiting discipline. Opposite them, Larry, M.J., Brady, Scarlett and Michael dug into the rainbow themed dishes before them, starting with the purple coloured ones. Although it seemed like an offhanded decision, Iris had a sneaking suspicion they started with the last colour of the rainbow instead of the first because no one could tell what the solitary bowl of reddish brown liquid on the table was...

Clink. Clink.

For some time, the only sounds permeating the air were that of cuttlery clinking and chewing. Standing between Travis and Skyler, Iris clasped her hands behind her back, feeling as nervous as the night before her first date. After all, this was her first time seeing celebrities in the flesh!

May Jennings "M.J.", Michael Anderson, and Sacrlett Grayson regularly appeared on the big screen, whereas Brandon Hearst's songs were a staple on the radio. Unless they lived under a rock, nobody wouldn't know who these A-listers were.

Being less than four feet away from them also made Iris super conscious of the fact that for the next few weeks she would be a part of their world—one of fame, cameras, and action—and it lit a flame of surreality in her heart. Unlike her, they looked so at ease under all the scrutiny, as if they were born under the spotlight. She wondered if there was a trick to their effortlessness... Or was it just experience?

Clunk.

M.J. set down her wineglass and pinched her lips, frowning slightly.

Iris's heart flew to her throat.

"Is something wrong?" Travis voiced. His calmness rubbed off on Iris, and she loosened her clenched fingers, telling herself to calm down.

'She's just a person like us.'

'Just a person... Who can control our future.'

"How much did this wine cost?" M.J. asked.

Her tone was neutral, as if she was simply curious. Was that all there was to it?

"$50." Unaffected by the tense atmosphere, Travis elaborated proudly, "I chose the tenderloin for a tender and flavourful steak, and our purple potato salad is also made out of the freshest legumes. Since wine complements steak best, we just had to get it. There was a minor hiccup during checkout due to budget constraints, but thanks to my quick thinking and some Cupid Coins, we were able to purchase this wine and present it to you."

The more Travis shared, the more Iris wanted to bury herself into the hole dug by everyone's disinterested gazes.

'You don't have to be so detailed! This isn't a freaking cooking show!' she cried internally.

Indeed, Travis was destined to never receive the reaction he expected. M.J. remained wholly unimpressed, and the other judges had moved on to sampling the blue team's dishes, a blueberry-themed breakfast spread.

'Unsuited for this time of the day, but definitely something within Skyler's capabilities,' a tread of Iris's focus noted.

"I see," M.J. said.

Without elaborating, she returned to regally cutting her steak. Every 'clink' of her knife against her plate felt like a stab to Iris's nerves, for she sensed an unspoken dissatisfaction. Yet, there was nothing to be done. For the rest of her meal, M.J. didn't touch her wine again.