"Can we have Jimmy as the leader? He's a second-year student at our school. He's been representing our school in other compet.i.tions as well." Luisa said.

"I'll be happy to be the leader if all of you agree," said Jimmy with confidence.

"I agree. How about you, Beauty, Justin?" asked Candice.

"I don't mind," replied Beauty.

"Same here," added Justin.

"Good, that settles it." Jimmy started to give his ideas without delay. He recommended all-Filipino dishes. Candice suggested adding a Chinese or Thai dish. The three culinary students had been talking non-stop of their ideas. Until Justin interrupted.

"People, time is running out. Just decide Jim. You're the leader anyway."

"Justin, you've been silent all this time. Why not share your thoughts. You might have good ideas hidden under your sleeves." Candice slightly miffed that no one accepted her 'good' ideas without second thought.

"We decided Jimmy's the leader then done. I will do and cook what he tells me. So he will decide," answered Justin.

Candice moved her lips but held back. She couldn't deny his words.

"Well, Jimmy?" asked Beauty, who supported Justin's stand all along.

All eyes were on Jimmy. "Okay, to be fair, let's make a Thai appetizer, Filipino entree, and j.a.panese dessert. How about that?"

"I agree." "No problem." "Fair with me." All answered in unison.

"Candice, you do the Thai appetizer. Luisa, take charge of the j.a.panese sweets. I'll do the roasted pork belly. The rest, you a.s.sist."

Beauty and Justin followed along. They were non-culinary school students and felt a bit insecure with these well-taught culinary students.

"I'll make the Chicken Satay. Beauty, you a.s.sist me," said Candice.

She deliberately ordered Beauty what to do. The latter did what she as told, but when she heard that there would be five or more chunks in a stick she thought it would be too much.

"Candice, this is only an appetizer. Why not stick to three pieces only?"

"No, this is a delicious appetizer, what's wrong having five?"

"Our main course is already made of meat. It might overwhelm or confuse which one is the entree."

"Beauty, if you're envious that I was a.s.signed and not you then do it yourself." Candice left the team and sat somewhere, leaving the team disappointed.

"Beauty, why are you making a fuss? Candice is a culinary student while you're not." Luisa believed that she was trying to steal the scene from the latter. She also thought that they were better as culinary students when it comes to knowledge and understanding the art.

"I'm not making a fuss. I want our team to win. We're supposed to be a team, right? Why can't I speak then? So what if I'm not a culinary student now?" She huffed with frustration and annoyance for being looked down, so she pointed her finger at Candice's direction and said, "If she's that good, why can't she understand that an appetizer is just an opener? Why is she trying to compete with the entree?"

Understanding what Beauty said, Luisa had no words to rebut. She also felt ashamed for her haughty remarks earlier.

"Jimmy, why not let Beauty do it since Candice is not a team worker." Justin's words revealed his discontentment with the latter's att.i.tude from the start. Luisa's discriminating words insulted him too.

"Go ahead, Beauty. What you said was right. We need to finish this on time." He gazed at Candice with disappointment then he told Luisa, "Let her be, the judges saw her bad att.i.tude. They will decide what to do with her." Jimmy's decisive words shamed Luisa all the more. She then realized their sole purpose now was to win.

"Will our team be okay if the judges saw us disagreeing? Will our points be affected if I take over?" Beauty spoke her fears.

"I don't think the judges will side with her. Just do it. I got your back."

"Fine, I'll make Spicy Pan Seared Scallops. Two or three for each judge. I'll just prepare them and cook 12 minutes before the judging time." She directly brought all the ingredients she needed from the storage, dried the scallops on a towel and prepared the sauce.

Candice was mooning with her self-importance for quite some time now. When she saw no one followed or even coaxed her, she went back worried knowing the judges were looking at her. As she went near their workstation, she saw Beauty prepping scallops. In anger, she took wide heavy strides and wanted to blow up on the other. She slammed the worktable with her hand and shouted. "Hey, you really wanted to mess things up for me, don't you?"

Now the judges were surprised with her actions and dissatisfaction revealed on their faces.

"Team 2, who's your leader?" asked John the judge.

Jimmy raised his hand."It is me, Sir."

"Please take charge. Your team's disturbing the others."

"Yes, Sir…," He sighed and faced Candice and Luisa. "You two, don't look down on them and learn to listen to their suggestions. Beauty and Justin pa.s.sed the first round for they have abilities too."

"But she is taking over my work now without my permission," countered Candice.

"I gave her the go signal. We don't have enough time. There's only 40 minutes left. Your Satay won't make it. What we need now is to win this round. Do you understand?" Jimmy was indignant with her stubbornness.

"But…"

"If you keep on insisting then I'll make a complaint against you…," he pointed his trembling finger to her, "so stop this argument." Jimmy's jaw was tensed in anger but he made sure his voice was low. His patience was now on the edge.

"Fine. Frustrating, really frustrating…what will I do now? Just sit and wait while judges are looking at me?"

"Find some work to do. a.s.sist the others. Help in making the dishes presentable then clean our workstation."

"I came to show my ability. Now, I became a maid." She continued to complain, pulling down the team spirit.

The time was up and each team took turns presenting their three-course meal to the judges.