Leveling Up through Eating

He started cooking as he continuously munched on the bread. 

He first used the bread knife to cut the bread nicely. Then he placed the garlic, butter, honey and condensed milk in a bowl and mixed it well. 

After he mixed the ingredients he spread the resulting sauce on the bread evenly. Then he sprinkled the parsley gently on top.

What’s after? I finished all of the preparations needed. 

There’re plenty of people who enjoy the taste of garlic bread.

Whether it be a child or an adult, once they put it in their mouth, the mixture of the sweet and salty flavor of garlic bread is the best. 

He placed the prepared bread on the oven pan. Because the pan was large enough there were quite a lot of garlic bread that went into the oven.

He set the timer, turned it on and watched the slices of garlic bread start to turn golden brown.

It was always a joy for him to wait for that ding! sound the oven would make when it’s done. 

How does my cooking taste? 

Minhyuk kept on munching his bread. 

Well, let’s start making the soup. Unfortunately, there’s only powder for making cream soup in Instructor Valen’s house. 

According to Changwook, he ate this nasty food when he was in the army. I’m sorry but… 

Minhyuk still drooled over it even if it was just instant soup. Usually, if you visit tonkatsu [1] restaurants you would be able to get this type of cream soup as a side dish. 

It was a very cheap dish but once he thought about how long he hadn’t had this food he couldn’t stop his mouth from watering. 

Just imagining that slightly salty flavor with a soft but thick texture… I can’t help but drool. 

He lit up the stove with the tididik of the gas and filled the pot with water according to the recipe. Then he slowly poured the powder in and stirred the pot until it boiled. 

If you sprinkle a bit of salt on it then it would taste even better! 

Valen came out just in time when the soup started boiling. 

“Hoo, what’s this delicious smell floating around?” 

However, Instructor Valen who was coming inside the kitchen suddenly halted. 

“Y…you. What’s happening?” 

“The soup is boiling!” 

“…That one over there?” 

“Yes!” 

Minhyuk answered confidently. 

Yes, you guessed right. 

Minhyuk was boiling water enough for ten bags of soup! The pot was large enough to accommodate at least 50 servings of soup. 

“……..uhmm.”

Instructor Valen groaned lightly. 

***

Instructor Valen stared blankly. Minhyuk sat in front of him with a fork in one hand and a spoon on the other, his face had a bright smile and his eyes were filled with anticipation.

There were eighty-odd [2] slices of garlic bread piled up like a mountain on the table. 

‘Uhh….’

Instructor Valen looked at the run-of-the-mill soup that filled his bowl. Opposite him, he saw Minhyuk ladle out some soup in the small pot in front of him from a larger pot below the table. 

‘This is a soft and sweet smell.’ 

The aroma of the cream soup wafted towards Minhyuk’s nose and stimulated his appetite and made him drool. 

“Please eat to your heart’s content. I’ve made as much as how much I respect you.” 

Minhyuk didn’t forget to butter him up [3].

Valen slowly picked his spoon and savored the cream soup. 

Then, at that moment… 

Crunch! 

He heard a light sound.

When Valen looked up, he saw Minhyuk having a big bite of garlic bread. 

The garlic bread is crunchy on the outside but soft and warm on the inside, maybe it was because it was just freshly made. There’s this sweet and salty taste that lingers in your mouth. 

It doesn’t end there. 

He scooped a big spoon of soup and put it in his mouth.

Once the thick soup enters the mouth it melts the dry garlic bread and becomes more savory. It’s a feast for the tongue!

The crunching sound of the garlic bread seems oddly cheerful. Anyone could see it from Minhyuk’s expressions. 

This is bliss. 

Then… 

“Hooo…” 

Instructor Valen supported his forehead with his hand and shortly… 

“Hahahahahahahaha!” 

He couldn’t stop himself from laughing. 

“Crunch?” [4]

Minhyuk who was so engrossed in eating his bread and soup looked at him with a bewildered expression. 

Instructor Valen was chuckling while clutching his belly. 

“Whenever you eat, you look like you’re the happiest person in the world! You look really pleased.” 

Minhyuk nodded strongly at his words. 

“Nothing in this world can make me happier except for eating!” 

There were times when what makes people the happiest were not expensive cars, a nice house or even beautiful women. Sometimes they’re the happiest when they’re just eating.

Just like today’s Valen and Minhyuk. 

“Me too, I’m really enjoying the food today.” 

Valen smiled widely, however it soon turned into a bitter smile. 

“My every day routine is the same. I go to work and go home to an empty house. There’s nothing more lonely than going home to an empty house.” 

Minhyuk continued to eat his food while he listened with rapt attention. This would have been considered rude but Valen had a favorable impression of him. 

“This was the first time. The first time that someone asked to eat together with me, whatever your intentions may be.”

He stared at him blankly. 

“All this time, I’ve been alone. I thought this house would never hear the sound of someone making food. Somebody…” 

Valen grinned. 

“Dining together with me.” 

“…” 

Minhyuk stopped eating for a moment.

A simple meal was different for someone. 

“I will forever keep this food in my memories.”

Those words struck a chord with Minhyuk. There would always be a food that anyone would forever remember. 

Someone from the army would say chocopie or someone who was extremely hungry would say ramyeon. Someone would even say that it was the seaweed soup made by their mother who passed away. 

Everyone would have a different food that deeply remains in their memories. 

Was it really that praiseworthy? 

“So it’s delicious, ah, I’m so glad to hear that.” 

“Let’s eat! How can we leave such delicious food and let it cool down.” 

“You’re absolutely right, Instructor!” 

Minhyuk started eating again with a happy expression on his face and Instructor Valen resumed his own meal while watching him. 

Minhyuk and Valen had a wonderful dinner together. 

***

Footnotes

[1] Tonkatsu : a deep-fried breaded pork cutlet

[2] -odd : adding odd after a number means approximately. Lit. Approximately *number*

[3] butter up: kiss up, flatter

[4] it’s like when your mouth is full but you still try to talk or smth like that

TL’s corner:

I feel like the author loves the words then, and then, at the moment. Idk how to even reduce the amount but still be able to connect the paragraphs. ㅠㅠ

Have you noticed that tididik don’t gas stoves do that sound? Lol is Athenae that advanced in tech tho? And that ding from the oven. Well, well… Lol. I guess we could forgive author-nim as it is fiction. 

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