The restaurant had been busy just like Giyeon's. It wasn't much of a surprise to me but the thought of Daewon being alone and hectic all of a sudden, considering that I've been noticing how the others had free time was still new to me. However, it didn't seem like he needed much assistance since he had been rushing orders with no problem.

But for me, I knew he needed the help he could get despite him saying he doesn't require any sort of assistance.

My hands grasped the doorknob and swung it open, quickly running in to talk to Daewon. "Busy day. Need any help?"

"One of these days, I'm sure you'll learn that I can manage this myself." Daewon's hand grasped the last ticket before mumbling under his breath, forming incoherent words as he pushed the last order on the counter. It took him a while but he had finally accepted the fact that I decided to serve the meals to the remaining customers.

My lips curled into a smile, quickly pulling the trays with me as I finally rushed towards the last table in the afternoon, ending the service successfully. Returning back to Daewon, who seems preoccupied with cleaning the kitchen counter, I crossed my arms and grinned.

He probably noticed my reaction since he faced me with a raised eyebrow and finally shook his head in dismissal. "I can't believe you just went in here and acted like you're a server in my restaurant. You can't just do that."

"I'm just helping. I never said I wanted to be a waitress," I countered his remark before waving it off. "Besides, consider it as payment."

He sighed in realization. Of course, there was a catch. "I knew it. You just wanted something in return."

"Don't worry, it's not something difficult to get," I told him, "Just a little recipe of yours for the family."

Before I could even continue, his eyes had shown a hint of disapproval before waving me off and telling me to order instead of lingering in the kitchen. "No can do. Chefs can't reveal their own secrets if I remember it correctly."

"It's just one recipe though."

"Why do you need it so badly?"

"It's for my mom."

He stood silent, contemplating whether to help me or not. His eyes glinted with curiosity and confusion before it dawned on him that I was still waiting for a reply. It took him a while to respond but he reluctantly agreed.

"She like Korean cuisines?" he questioned.

"She said she'd love to try one if she'd get a chance. I wanted to surprise her," I answered.

Daewon let out a hum before he walked away from the counter and towards the pantry. I only stood far away as Daewon decided to grab some ingredients before going back to the kitchen. If I could remember it clearly, this guy pushed me there. I wouldn't take the chance to fall again, especially not at the falls. I shuddered at the memory before following him.

He noticed the reaction I had and smirked. "What? Thinking of going for a dip?"

"Haha, very funny. I'd rather not take the chance to swim at a waterfall. The last time I did, I thought it was my last." I grimaced at the thought before crossing my arms.

He laughed and waved me off. After that, he mentioned me to follow him to the kitchen so he could teach me one of the recipes he got. Daewon handed me one of the aprons and gloves before facing the kitchen counter.

"You better make sure it's for your mom. I usually don't share my recipe to other people or else I'd be out of business." He then gave me a look.

"Don't share the recipe to anyone, got it?" He sternly warned me before he took out one of the pots. I waited patiently, my fingers tapping immensely on the counter and finally my lip turning into a pout as the words struck me. So mean.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Krabs," I mumbled under my breath but seems like he heard it pretty clear. An unamused look was plastered on his face after I said it.

Daewon cleared his throat before pointing at the ingredients in front of him. "So, let's try something simple. Kimbap."

He then told me to see if he had already gotten everything checked out on the list. Carrots. Cucumber. Eggs. Bulgogi. Radish. Spinach. Rice. Seaweed Paper.

My eyes went down the paper until I nodded as I saw that all of them were already on the table. He then gave me a hairnet and gloves as I took them and put both on.

"We'll start with the rice, putting some sesame oil on it and salt before mixing." He instructed me before he decided to let me do it. Simple. I followed what he said before nodding after completion.

Daewon moved on, finally peeling and julienning the carrots before proceeding to do the same with the cucumbers but also removing its seeds in the process.

"Can you get the skillet?" Daewon then asked me as I decided to get the pan next to me. He raised an eyebrow when I showed it to him as he was preparing the other ingredients. "Dara, that's a frying pan."

I took a second glance at the pan I was holding. "Wait, this isn't it?"

"A skillet has a more slanted side that points outwardly and deeper than that. It usually has a lid too," he explained before I put the pan down and look back around the kitchen. It took me a while before I decided to grab the one made in cast iron and showed it to him.

"Is it this one?" I asked with uncertainty and he only gave me a nod, taking it from me before finally putting it on the stove and brushing a small amount of oil. Taking my hands, he then decided to give me the wooden spatula.

He then guided my hands to stir fry the carrots first. Out of nowhere, I decided to ask him. "Why can't you just stir fry both of them simultaneously? I mean, they both go to the same place."

Mentioning the seaweed paper, he only rolled his eyes at me. "Are you crazy, woman? Do you hear yourself sometimes?"

When I knew that he was going to scold me for even asking that question, I answered. "Kidding. I know that both of those vegetables are ethylene sensitive."

Seeing his shocked reaction, it made me laugh a bit. "Which means that they easily spoil if they go together. I know, I know."

"If you know that, then why even ask?" He gave me a deadly look as I shrugged.

"Just checking if you were still up to explain it to someone who isn't a chef. You didn't answer my question though," I told him before teasing him. "You probably want to say because they shouldn't be. Period."

He flicked my forehead with his fingers, making me pout as he guided my hands to remove the skillet and let the carrots sit for a few minutes. As we waited, he crossed his arms and scoffed. I'm guessing he didn't expect me to know anything in the kitchen.

Before he could even ask me a question, I smiled. "Let me guess, you want to know how I knew."

"I've worked with other chefs before. I know how to cook some meals myself and I've been in a few restaurants for my travel vlog, cuisines included in those."

He sighed, putting the carrots on one of the plates before finally taking the cucumbers and stir-frying them in the pan. Even if his eyes were focused on the skillet, he replied, "I was going to say why you acted as you've never seen the difference between a skillet and a frying pan."

"Ah that, well I still confuse them so it wasn't really intentional." I was a bit embarrassed to admit that but Daewon let it slide. I actually thought he was going to laugh but then he commented that some chefs do get a bit mixed up so it was understandable.

It didn't take long before he decided to put the cucumbers as well on one of the plates before grabbing the dried seaweed paper and laying it on a bamboo sushi roller. I stood there, watching what he was doing before his voice snapped me back to reality.

"Dara, can you whisk the eggs on a bowl and then cook it? I just need to do something quick," he told me before pointing at the pan. "Just make it like a flat omelette, alright? I'll be right back."

I nodded before doing what he asked. Daewon quickly walked out of the kitchen as I decided to take matters into my own hands. When the egg was finally on the skillet, I made sure that it filled the space perfectly and flipped it without breaking the form. Turns out, Daewon had only answered a text coming from one of the other chefs, possibly Minho's.

"I'm back." My eyes shifted towards him as I then put the omelet on one of the plates as he proceeds to cut it just like the carrots, into thin strips in a way that it would fit the seaweed paper.  

Daewon then decided to show me what to do next, putting the rice on it. "Make sure you only cover 2/3 of it and leave the rest. Then you can use a bit of water to seal the roll, got it?"

After that, he puts the carrots, some cooked bulgogi, cucumber, the egg, and all of the ingredients that he gathered earlier, and makes sure that it was just enough to hold. Too much filling may not really help when cutting the roll and possibly make the paper unable to stay its shape.

My eyes looked over how he had pressed the roll firmly and made sure that it would hold until he sealed the meal tight. Putting a bit of water to lock the seaweed paper on the meal, he quickly decided to grab my hand and told me to cut it evenly into eight pieces. 

Eventually, we finished it right before some of his customers decided to rush in once again. Taking a step back, I smiled. "Well, that certainly was a fun learning cooking lesson from you."

"I just did this so we're basically even."

"I know. But really, thank you. Mom was really curious about the trip so at least I get to cook her a meal."

Daewon then decided to write something on the notepad before giving it to me. "Here."

"What's this?" I couldn't help but question when he gave me an email address.

"That's our working email address for the restaurant. Let's keep in touch. At least one of us may be able to help you if you want to cook more cuisines for your mom."

"I'm not sure if I could take this. I mean, just one meal is enough—"

"Then just think of it as a way of our communication while you're gone for god knows how long."

I smiled at this. His cheeks were flushed with a tint of red as I nodded in understanding and put it inside one of the planners that I carry along with me. "Alright. But don't worry, it won't take long. Just a few weeks, possibly."

When I noticed how he stayed silent, I teased him. "Oh come on, don't go soft on me now, Daewon."

"Aish, just get out before I regret giving you that email." I laughed before waving goodbye. Well, that certainly was something.