Absinthe

Chapter 58: Full Circle

I couldn't do anything that day except to watch Jiwoo's back as he, Jeremy, and Mowcah headed

towards the opposite side of the police station. I tried calling out but Jiwoo ignored me. I also tried

going after them, but Faye stopped me from doing that.

And I'm so annoyed that I didn't try harder.

Now, I'm stuck with this heavy mixed feeling of guilt and regret.

Ding!

I unlocked my phone to see a message from Mowcah.

Don't worry, BJ. He's just not in a good mood. I'm sure things will be okay tomorrow.

God, please let Mowcah be correct. Even if she's just 50% correct, I'll be totally fine with that!

And just in case, I need a little something to soften Jiwoo's heart, I'm going to make the perfect set of

Paris Brest – the very one that Jiwoo mentioned in his Ka-vogue interview.

It took me three hours to make several batches until I was satisfied with the perfect set to give Jiwoo

tomorrow. I plated it and stared at it for a few seconds, admiring my own work. This would surely

ensure my apology gets accepted tomorrow.

***

"What's with the chilling atmosphere?" I heard Vivi whispering over to Nico.

I looked sideways just in time to see Nico giving her a shrug.

"He's mad at me for what happened yesterday." I told the two of them so they would stop whispering

around. "Now let's focus before Maxwell grills us for not listening."

"This basically concludes your training with me," Maxwell announced. "What's left is for you to hone the

techniques you've learned and make it really your very own."

Nico and Vivi started clapping and I followed suit. I noticed that Jiwoo was just quietly staring at

Maxwell, doing nothing else.

"But you still have until December to come and complete your stagiaire and complete the new menu

we will use to win our third Michelin star! And of course..."

All four of us stared at Maxwell expectantly.

"All four of you will be joining this year's Chef of the Year Selections!"

I had no idea what that was but both Nico and Vivi exchanged overly excited looks. It must be

something big.

"On top of the usual prizes, the winner of this year's selection also gets a full three years' worth of

scholarship with the best and the most exclusive school of haute cuisine, L'Atalier!"

That was the first time this morning that I saw some hint of emotion in Jiwoo's face.

"And I'm not giving you tips on how to win that," Maxwell continued. "So off you go, make me that 3

Michelin star menu that you promised to make!"

At that, everyone started writing stuff down on their papers. That's the funny thing about us chefs. It

seems that we still can't let go of the old-style pen and paper method in creating recipes.

I kept staring at Jiwoo who seemed totally immersed in what he was doing. A few minutes later he

stood up and went to the pantry. I also stood up and followed him despite having written nothing on my

paper about my planned recipe, bringing my box of Jiwoo's favorite dessert.

At the pantry, Jiwoo was choosing between different species of potatoes, kneeling in front of the rootnovelbin

crop section.

"Hey," I called out.

But there was no response.

"Seems like you've already come up with a dish for Maxwell."

Still no response from Jiwoo.

"I brought you some crème puffs. You know, the ones you like."

I opened the box hoping Jiwoo would give it a look, but his face remained focused on the different

potatoes at the bottom shelf of the root crop section.

"Jiwoo, I'm sorry."

"What for?"

Finally, a response!

"For calling Rob."

Jiwoo stood up, his basket filled with Russel potatoes, his back still turned on me.

"Rob?" He asked. "Is that how you call Attorney Anderson now?"

"He's a friend from high school," I explained.

"And I'm just the guy in plain white shirt and jeans that gets mistaken for a common criminal."

Jiwoo finally turned to face me and there was nothing but indifference in his eyes. He wasn't angry. He

wasn't accusing. He wasn't anything.

Just plain indifferent.

And it scared me.

"That's not fair," I managed to say.

"Life's never fair," Jiwoo answered back. "I've accepted that at a young age. I don't know what's gotten

to me these past few months. I actually thought I started winning and life was finally dealing me better

cards to play with. But I was wrong. You made the wrong choice."

Jiwoo started walking to the opposite side of the pantry.

"I made the wrong choice?"

"You did," Jiwoo said, face buried in different kinds of tomatoes, this time. "And it's not too late to

change your mind now."

"Okay," I said. "It seems like you're right. I never intended on choosing someone with no balls. From

the look of things, I think I actually did. Thank you for making me realize that."

I walked over to the corner where the trash bin was and threw my crème puffs and headed straight for

the door.

"Hey, BJ! Where are you headed? Let's go out for lunch..."

I heard Nico calling out but I was already halfway through the door and there was no turning back. I

don't think I can work with Jiwoo being the asshole that he is again.

I drove around the metro without really knowing where I was going.

If there was one thing I hated hearing, it was exactly what Jiwoo said – that I made the wrong choice.

Working as a corporate finance analyst all my career, I had to make critical choices for the owners of

Samsong Group, and I pride myself for not having made a single wrong decision ever.

All my decisions were correct.

Well, maybe except for my stupid decision to work for Samsong Group in the first place.

But most of my decisions were correct! And even if my choices were not always the best option, I did

everything I could to make sure that I don't regret them!

So how dare he tell me that I made the wrong choice? Was it wrong to choose him over someone like

Robert who, let's face it, is really only interested in me because I'm his optimal choice?

I pretended not to know but I do! Rob wants me because who else is there to date? When you're a top

lawyer specializing in corporate law, who else is there to date? Who else but me, the internationally

renowned Investments Analyst?

How can that asshole think that?

I chose him because he makes me feel wanted without even having to try anything – that I'm actually

worth wanting just for the me that is, not for the me that I've become.

But he's telling me that I made the wrong choice?

Well, fuck that.

I must have been driving for hours without having realised for the sky was now getting dark and my

empty tank warning lights are on.

I drive for a few more meters and stopped at a filling station. When I opened my bag to pay, I noticed

my phone having almost a hundred missed calls from Faye.

I called her back and she answered on the first ring.

"Where are you? I was worried sick! I called everywhere!"

"Sorry, I was driving. And I'm here at..." I looked around and for the first time I realized that I actually

drove all the way to... "Tagaytay."

"What? What the hell are you doing there?"

"Errr... spontaneous staycation?"

"Oh my god, you drove aimlessly for hours again?" Faye said accusingly. And over the phone, I could

imagine her rolling her eyes violently.

"What's the matter though? What's with the hundred missed calls?"

"Samsong Group's here. They've been with me since lunch time."

"What? What do you mean Samsong Group's with you?"

"It's difficult to explain! They're sitting in my office right now!"

"Who? You're not making any sense, Faye."

"You should come here now!" Faye shouted and I had to distance my face from my phone. "Wait, hold

that thought. We should meet halfway! Let's meet at BGC instead. I'll make the reservations and I'll text

you the place. Just drive, okay. Drive and meet me there."

"Whatever. Make sure you pay for dinner."

"Wait!" Faye shouted again. "Have you been watching the TV lately?"

"Netflix and Hulu." I answered.

"No, as in TV. Old time TV. News. Regular programs. That shit?"

"No, why?"

"That explains it. I'm sending you a link. Watch it before you come."

Within seconds I got the link from Faye and I clicked on it. It was some news about Samsong Group's

newest investment. And from the look of things, Samsong has gotten themselves in big trouble.

This must be the reason why they're back – and suddenly it feels like my life has gone full circle.