Alpha Culinary Love

The morning was far too calm, and Jiyeon sensed trouble brewing even before she stepped into the kitchen. Kang was already there, half-slouched over the counter, muttering at a cup of coffee that looked like it had been poured by an unenthusiastic intern at a gas station. Yura sat across from him, arms folded, a barely concealed smirk on her face.

"Kang, is there a reason you're staring at that coffee like it personally offended you?" Jiyeon asked, raising an eyebrow as she moved past him to grab a mug of her own.

Kang looked up with all the solemnity of a wronged prophet. "There is indeed, Jiyeon. This—" he pointed to the cup in front of him, "is a disgrace to caffeine."

Yura gave a little snort, barely holding back laughter. "You're a chef in a kitchen full of state-of-the-art equipment, and you're complaining about the coffee?"

Kang glared at her. "Yura, this machine—" he gestured dramatically to the massive, gleaming coffee setup that Jiyeon had insisted on— "has a soul as cold as a spreadsheet. It doesn't respect the artistry of a proper cup of coffee. This thing spits out bitter dishwater."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Jiyeon rolled her eyes, holding back a smirk. "Or maybe it's just too fancy for your instant-noodle brain to comprehend." Experience more tales on empire

Kang scoffed. "Fancy? This contraption is an insult to coffee beans. I've tasted better in the waiting rooms of used car dealerships. I just wanted a simple, honest cup of coffee."

Yura snickered, now leaning back with her coffee in hand, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Oh, please, Kang. I watched you add three spoons of sugar to your coffee yesterday."

"I'm sorry," he retorted, feigning a look of pure horror, "are we pretending that bitter equals better? Because last time I checked, palatable coffee was supposed to be enjoyable, not a punishment."

Jiyeon's shoulders shook with silent laughter as she sipped her coffee, savoring the moment. Watching these two squabble was a form of entertainment she hadn't realized she needed.

Jiyeon sat down, amusement in her eyes as Kang and Yura's banter escalated.

"Tell me, Kang," Yura drawled, spinning her cup thoughtfully in her hands, "how does one insult coffee beans, exactly? Do you whisper mean things to the grounds, or do you just scream into the cup until it's suitably demoralized?"

Kang's eyes widened in exasperation. "Laugh all you want, Miss CEO. Some of us have tastebuds that aren't dulled by fancy boardroom coffee machines and overpriced espresso shots!"

"Oh, excuse me for having standards," Yura shot back, raising an eyebrow. "I wouldn't expect someone who survives on convenience store ramen and microwaved leftovers to understand."

Jiyeon choked back a laugh, her hand flying to her mouth. She'd seen this dynamic between the two of them before — half-faux, half-real insults volleyed back and forth like some high-stakes ping-pong match. And it wasn't as if either of them would back down first.

Kang crossed his arms, looking at Yura with a mix of offense and disbelief. "Standards?" he repeated. "Says the person who thinks cold-brew and pour-over are the same thing."

"Oh, I know the difference. It's just that I value efficiency. Besides, some of us don't need coffee to taste good because we don't guzzle it like it's our life source."

Yura's nonchalant shrug only further fueled Kang's irritation. "See, that's your problem, Yura. You lack appreciation! You think just because you're rich, you're above actually enjoying things!"

"Enjoying things?" Yura gave him a pointed look. "If I let myself enjoy every single thing, I'd be broke. Like you."

Kang threw his hands up. "I can't believe this! Jiyeon, back me up here!" He turned to Jiyeon, gesturing wildly as if pleading for a fair judge. "Tell her that good coffee requires more than just tossing a cup under a glorified water dispenser!"

Jiyeon leaned back, hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just here for the show. And honestly, Kang, I don't think you'll win against someone who calls her coffee machine a 'business investment.'"

Yura chuckled, tipping her cup at Jiyeon. "Thank you. Finally, someone with sense."

"Oh, come on!" Kang groaned, slumping dramatically into his seat. "This is mutiny. Betrayal!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Kang," Jiyeon said, patting him on the shoulder. "You're not going to wither away just because we don't worship your coffee-making methods."

Yura took another sip of her coffee, perfectly poised, a small smirk still lingering. "Exactly. And maybe if you spent more time focusing on improving your palate and less on conspiracy theories about coffee machines, you'd actually have a shot at tasting good coffee."

Kang sputtered, words momentarily escaping him. Jiyeon could tell that he was doing his best not to outright curse — he'd gotten that much better at managing his words around Yura, but the effort was painfully obvious.

"Oh please, Miss 'I'll-Take-It-Black,' let's see you survive a day in a real kitchen without an entourage and fancy appliances," Kang finally managed, leaning forward with a devilish grin.

Yura raised an eyebrow, undeterred. "I don't need to prove anything to you, Chef Kang. My success speaks for itself."

Jiyeon jumped in with a grin. "How about this? Yura, you make the coffee tomorrow, and we'll see if Kang can live up to the standard he's apparently been setting."

Yura looked amused. "Challenge accepted."

"Oh, you two think this is funny, don't you?" Kang grumbled, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. He knew he was losing the verbal battle, but he wasn't about to retreat just yet.

The rest of the morning continued in much the same way, with Kang muttering under his breath and Yura responding with more dry, elegant barbs. Jiyeon found herself enjoying the lighthearted energy in the kitchen, relishing the banter as a break from the usual stress that surrounded their work lives. Even Kang, despite his exaggerated frustration, seemed to be having a good time.

Later that day, Jiyeon found herself thinking about how close they'd all become. They might insult and irritate each other endlessly, but it was the kind of camaraderie she hadn't anticipated finding in such an unlikely mix of personalities.

As the morning moved on, the trio's dynamic only grew more chaotic. Jiyeon had assumed things would calm down eventually, but Kang and Yura's verbal sparring showed no sign of slowing, each one tossing out sharper and funnier jabs as they moved around the kitchen. She almost regretted not having popcorn; it was that entertaining.

Kang's arms were crossed as he leaned back against the counter, looking thoroughly exasperated. "You know, Yura, if you spent half as much time learning about good coffee as you do making it an accessory, maybe you'd actually appreciate it."

Yura didn't even look up from her work. "Some of us have evolved past the need to worship roasted beans, Kang. We're not still in some survivalist phase."

Jiyeon stifled her laughter, turning her attention to the ingredients in front of her. She could see Kang's left eye twitch slightly at Yura's deadpan comment, his annoyance somehow managing to look half-amused.

"Survivalist phase?" he repeated, mock-offended. "You're talking about coffee like it's some caveman ritual, but I'm sorry for respecting art." He gestured at his own cup with exaggerated reverence. "When you sip this coffee, it's an experience. Not just—"

"—an accessory, yes, you've mentioned that," Yura interrupted, not missing a beat. She casually took a sip of her own coffee. "We're all waiting for the experience to begin, Kang."

Jiyeon felt the need to step in before the two of them spiraled into a full-fledged coffee debate. "Alright, alright! We all have different tastes, remember? Yura appreciates coffee as part of her fast-paced lifestyle, and Kang here treats it like a religious ceremony. Both are fine." She patted Kang's shoulder as she passed him, barely holding back a laugh. "Not everyone needs an existential coffee experience at seven in the morning, though."

Kang let out a sigh, deflating somewhat but still unable to resist a final jab. "Fine, but don't come crying to me when you finally realize you've missed out on life-altering caffeine."

"Oh, believe me," Yura shot back, "if missing that means skipping thirty minutes of brew philosophy, I'll survive just fine."

Jiyeon chuckled, and they finally turned their attention to the day's real task — preparing for the restaurant's weekend showcase. The kitchen buzzed with activity as they began the prep work, each of them slipping into their roles like clockwork. Even with the morning's comedic chaos, the focus came easily.

A few hours later, Kang was setting up a perfectly plated dish while Jiyeon worked on the presentation for her newest experimental menu item. She'd decided to try something she hadn't dared before — a fusion of traditional Korean ingredients with French culinary techniques. Kang eyed her setup skeptically, raising a brow as she carefully arranged the components.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, nodding toward the unusual mix of ingredients. "This dish might just send half our clientele running for the hills."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Kang," Jiyeon said, rolling her eyes. "It's meant to be unique. It's called taking risks, something you might want to try."

Kang scoffed. "Oh, I take risks, but I also like to keep the restaurant afloat. You're flirting with disaster here."

Yura, who had been quietly observing from the side, leaned in with a smirk. "If you both manage to survive this experimental phase without burning down the place, I'll consider it a success."

Jiyeon raised an eyebrow, challenging him. "Kang, if you can't handle the heat, you know where the door is."

"Oh, please," he shot back, "I could cook you under the table if I wanted to."

Jiyeon grinned. "And yet, here I am, putting you to work."

Yura laughed, her usually composed demeanor softening as she watched the two of them. "Alright, let's see if your 'disaster' actually sells. If it doesn't, Kang, you're allowed one free 'I told you so.'"

Kang smirked. "You heard that, Jiyeon? One free 'I told you so.' I'll have it printed and framed."

"Oh, keep dreaming." Jiyeon winked as she turned back to her dish. "But if it sells, I'm revoking your coffee privileges for a week. How about that?"

The banter softened as the day went on, each of them immersed in the work, the playful tension replaced by a sense of shared purpose. They might tease and poke fun, but Jiyeon knew they all had each other's backs. It was their strange way of showing support, and she found it oddly comforting.

As the evening drew to a close, Jiyeon felt a pang of satisfaction. The experiment, chaotic as it had been, left her confident. Whether or not her fusion dish was a hit, she was grateful for the people by her side who pushed her forward — and who made the entire process an adventure worth savoring.