“Everyone, it’s time for the final culinary battle! These two competitors have made it far, give them a round of applause!”

As everyone’s hands collided together in front of their device we made our way to the kitchen that was big enough to be used by four people. Before, it was used by four different souls. But now, after we have beaten their asses, it’s time to compete against each other. This is going to be one exciting culinary battle, even though I would be happy for him to win, I won’t let him. He has to earn his spot as a great chef and get through me first.

I took a quick glance at her determined look while walking next to her to the kitchen, she probably plans on beating me. But no way, I won’t let her. She has to get through me first.

Because when I win, I will get to the national cooking contest and win the prize of three thousand dollars!

We set our steps in the kitchen and I could almost see our aura’s bumping into each other. I felt the tension growing.

The two chefs stepped ominously into the kitchen that was full of professional cooking supplies that were quickly forgotten and covered by a tense silence. They stared at each other determinedly and shook hands to walk off after and get to their separate spaces in the kitchen. The theme was ‘spicy and mighty’. But woah, the vibe was spicy and mighty too alright. These chefs were like two dogs on the street that were both as big as the other. Who had to fight and determine the more dominant one. They began cooking and both used a great amount of spices, but there was one that they both wanted to use at the same time, they reached out for it and their hands accidentally touched. They quickly shook it off and went back to combining the spices that matched together the best. Flaming hot sparks flew across the room. Both the sparks from the kitchen and their own senses matched together. Like an actual match and a box. A few minutes flew by and the sparks made a flame, they didn’t need to stare at each other to know they were both doing very neatly. The acknowledgment that the other was possibly doing better made them try harder and harder. Sparks met. And bounced back on top of layers of freshly cutted meat. Their eyes rarely met but when they did they would bounce back just like those sparks. They truly admired each other but kept hanging onto their drive to win. If one would lose their sense of pride they deeply smelled their dishes. One dish smelled like roasted bell peppers that blended into soft spicy pork. The other like crunchy chicken and a warm, sweet sauce that melted on top of it. They were both aiming for the top.

Spices smelled strong and the timer ringed. They put their dishes onto delicate plates and brought them to the judges. It was time for the judges to make the final decision. As they slowly picked up their utensils, the two participants waited with anticipation. When the judges tongue’s met the spicy taste of the dishes their faces remained tight. The chefs stared and hoped for the best. When the judges were done tasting they went to discuss the outcome in another room. The two looked at each other and finally, silently agreed to speak. “Your dish, it smelled good. But mine did too, don’t cheer too early.” the one said. “I guess we can agree on that,” the other replied, “but you won’t be cheering anytime soon too. I know we both won the last round, but I helped you a bunch, this time you had to do it alone.” The other sighed, “Glad you haven’t lost your spunk, but you can’t lie that I didn’t help you last round.” The other slightly nodded and kept silent.

The door to the other room flew open and the participants immediately turned to look that way. The judges glanced at each other and nodded, “listen up,” one said, “we have come to an agreement. “You both did great,” another continued, “but that’s the problem.” The chefs seemed relieved, intrigued and confused at the same time. “You both did as great as the other,” the judge told them, “but we can’t send you both to the finals, unless you become one team of two. And yes, that is possible.” The two looked shocked now, and one opened their mouth to speak but the other stopped them, “so, if we go as one team of two we can both go? That seems fairly simple.” The other looked a little annoyed but still made their voice come out of their slightly open mouth, “but wouldn’t we have to share the prize if we win then?” The judges all nodded, “unless one of you gives up now, but I doubt that will happen.” One claimed. “But if we don’t team up we will both lose or what?” one of the chefs said, while the other was dreaming off but seemed to come to a conclusion, “I don’t mind teaming up with him, I think we would have a greater change of winning.” The other waited a little but eventually nodded, “I feel the same way.”

The judges seem to agree, “alright, it’s settled then. We have two winners!”

The two winners stared at each other for a while, but eventually one of them spoke, “I knew I would nail it.” The other looked playfully pissed, “oh come on! We both won, now we just have to beat everyone’s asses again, just like last round.” The boy laughed, “deal.”