"No need to lament over spilled milk, let's start cooking," announced Clarence.

"What will you be cooking? I never thought the ingredients we'll gather will be like this kind of… weird." Rene was so unforgiving with his words making Sayuri ashamed. She wanted to cry.

"Sorry," Sayuri said again.

"Rene, stop that. Be kind to her, you were all in a hurry." Beauty wouldn't want their team to fight or let a member feel down.

"Why did you picked banana out of all the ingredients there? Just asking, at least, we would know if you have a plan in mind." continued Rene.

"Actually… sorry, when I saw it was nice looking I just grabbed it. I just wanted to run fast and take back our advantage but lost instead." She started to cry now.

"Ah, never mind. Let's think about what we can do out of these instead of talking about something we can't change. Shall we?" b.u.t.ted in Clarence.

"I'll make grilled pork cuts with banana and cabbage in foil," said Beauty.

"I'll make pork adobo using grapes and light soy sauce," Clarence followed.

"I'll sautee pork meat with grapes, soy sauce, cabbage and… use grilled banana fritters as a side dish," said Zennia.

"Nice thinking there, Zen?" praised Beauty.

"Thanks, I just want this banana to be used well."

"Then I'll make ground pork b.a.l.l.s with banana and cabbage… oops, no oil so can't fry, just…" Rene scratched his head.

The other boy, Lucas, just blurted, "why not boil it first and grill or sautee. We can get little oil from the pork fats."

"Good thinking, buddy. Thanks. How 'bout you?"

"I'll think first while you all start. Don't worry, I'll do it without fail."

"How about you, Sayuri?"

"I'll make ground pork banana patties and grape sauce."

"Okay, people, let's start, we only have 45 minutes left," said Clarence.

They all worked efficiently and tried to help each other in their own way with only one thing in mind, WIN. If they win then the whole team would face the next round while the other team would be eliminated.

"Okay, people, you only have 5 minutes left," said Sheila as one of the staff.

As Beauty was about to get her dish which was still in the foil on top of the red-hot coals, a strong wind blew in her direction. Dust of hot coals flew with the choking smoke toward her. She closed her eyes instinctively as the smoke was about to smother her face. However, none came. She peered and saw Clarence's strong chest in front of her, protecting her from being hit by the hot specks of dust.

Everyone was shocked. Clarence was standing about three meters from where she was grilling, but he reached her on time before the dust came in contact with her.

"Are you okay?" asked Clarence with concern in his eyes.

"What okay? I'm totally fine, it's your back you should be worried. Let me see your back." She was trying to make him turn around but he wouldn't budge. He was only wearing a sleeveless s.h.i.+rt with partly opened back.

"Ugh, I feel pain." He seemed to be feigning pain and being hurt with a ghastly face.

"What? Turn around now, let me see your back." Beauty now started to get frantic.

"I… only need…"

"What do you need? I'll get it for you. Move aside so I can check your back."

"I only need…," he whispered in her ear, "a kiss from you and it will be cured."

Beauty's eyes opened wide. "You…"

"Yeah, handsome as always. I know, my kiss, my Beauty?"

"Ahem, guys, lovers, lovebirds, pecking chicken and rooster, please, time is almost up." Rene scolded the two while the rest were giggling as they witnessed Clarence's teasings.

"You, we're in the middle of a compet.i.tion. Behave." Beauty glared at him.

"Clarence, time check, 3 more minutes. If you want your team to lose, just continue teasing Beauty," said Sheila. Their relations.h.i.+p got better after their talk at the parking area.

Clarence just shrugged his shoulders and helped Beauty, who was blus.h.i.+ng red by now.

. . . . .

Back to the present.

Clarence and Beauty were startled after the deafening gunshot sound.

"What was that?" asked Beauty.

Both of them got alarmed. Before Clarence let go of her, he kissed her hard on her lips and said, "tell me what you want to tell me later. Don't go out." He darted toward the door.

"No, I'll go with you." She pulled his hand.

"You should stay here. We don't know what happened outside."

"But, I don't want you to get hurt again because of me. Remember the time your back got burnt?" She recalled that time Clarence's back got burnt protecting her from the hot coal dust. Part of his s.h.i.+rt got tiny holes and his exposed skin got red blisters. It was painful to see what more with the person got burnt.

"It was simple burns. But what we heard was a gunshot. You hear me? Stay here while I'll check."

"What if you'll get hurt or got hit by a bullet if that was a gunshot."

"I have a bullet proof vest in my office. I'll go there first and wear it. Are you a.s.sured now?"

"I'll go with you to your office."

"Fine, but stay close. Don't leave my side."

As he opened the door, they heard screamings and a girl's voice shouted, "Clarence, where are you? I'm here. Be ready with my retribution."

"Cathy?" Clarence exclaimed. "I think that's her voice."

"Cathy? Why is she here?" Beauty was alarmed more to hear it was her. She heard from Jenna what she did at the Busay Palace Hotel during the regional trials. She couldn't believe this girl was that extreme. She never thought Cathy would come today after the humiliating incident during her debut party.

"I don't know. Come." His office was near the kitchen and they had to pa.s.s through the dining area where they heard the commotion came from.