GROWINGS
25

Now it's time for the jury to do its job. That is to taste various types of food, and give the assessment. Here, there are three aspects that they will value. That is, taste, presentation, and cleanliness.

For what is the presentation of a food very luxurious and beautiful to the eye, if it tastes very bland and does not correspond to reality...?

But what if the presentation of the food itself looks very ordinary and simple, but it turns out to save a very extraordinary delicacy..?

"Calm down, guys. We'll win..." Dafa always encouraged and encouraged his friends.

Far away there, it looks like the five judges are still going around from one table to another. And the table with the number 13 that, became the last table they came to.

"Win or lose, it's commonplace in a children's competition.." Said Ms. Nuriyanti.

And while the judges were judging the tables of Dafa and his friends, two of the organizers ran towards the rows of audience seats, and it seemed like they were calling two people from the audience.

"They must be making fun of our homemade food.." Tita half-whispered.

And not until how many minutes, the jury returned to its original place.

"Kok they cheated anyway?!! Why don't they taste our food?!!" Dafa looked really upset. He felt his energy and effort, completely unappreciated by the judges.

And when the results of the race were announced, it turned out that was still in full control and out to be the first champion, is still Kinno and his team-mates.

While Dafa and his friends must be satisfied with not bringing any results.

"It's okay kids, it's important you've tried.." Bu Nuriyanti said encouraging the students.

"Hhhhhhhhhhhh.." Eka took a long breath. "At least we're not too bad, are we, guys?"

"really. No children from any other school would be condescending to us, because --" Sheila turned to Dafa. Finding his friend again pouting while angry is unclear.

"Already, Fa. The most important thing is that we're in the top 10." Gabriel said while embracing Dafa.

"Yep! And we all do not expect much, if we can enter the top 10 position! That means we're not ugly or embarrassing.." Tita is very enthusiastic.

"I was sprained by that old grandma! He's so arrogant, huh..!? I can cook it myself!"

"Good day, kids.."

Instantly their steps all came to a halt, as the figure of the old woman with her curly hair and wide hat, stood before them with several figures accompanying her.

"The cheating grandmother again apparently yes..." Tukas Dafa was without the slightest fear.

"Dafa, it's not good to talk like that." Bu Nuriyanti said softly.

"Yes, I want to go home tired."

"So, your name is -- Dafa...?"

Dafa has a waistline with a style that is like a tengil hero only. "Why indeed?!"

"May Grandma ask you a few things?"

Dafa looked at the red watch that was coiled around his right wrist. "Quickly yes. My time is not much.."

"Are you really one of Martin Luther's students?"

Dafa's eyes glared at him for a moment. "No! I've been out of that shitty school!"

"Is it because of Kinno's treatment back then?"

Dafa's attention was now focused on the foreign-faced man. His eyes barely flickered, as he looked at the man's pair of blue eyes.

Dafa felt like he had met that man before. But.., he couldn't remember.

"You don't remember me, Dafa?"

"Who is this uncle?"

"I'm Anthony. Anthony Grooberry."

"Ohhhh...." Dafa's eyes glared more and more. "I'm sorry, Uncle. I won't go back to that school again..! Until anytime, too!" He pressed his voice.

"Uncle here is not for--"

"Why do I have to meet a bunch of really annoying parents anyway...!?"

"Dafa, you can't talk rudely to them..." Tita hissed in Dafa's ear.

"Do you know who they are?" Eka whispered in Dafa's other ear.

"This is for you..." The old woman handed him a piece of golden-colored paper.

"What the hell? Some kind of lottery ticket, huh?" The original Dafa.

"Are you the team leader?"

Dafa shakes his head. "I'm a nobody, Grandma! Don't be so damn ignorant!"

"Good god, that kid..." Gabriel patted his own forehead.

"That's it, Julian. He is the greatest among us. You see, Tita said with Eka, Julian was working in a pizza shop, a bakery, a restaurant, the same as a cashier in a bookstore. Cool right...?!"

"Julian...?" The old woman threw a glance at the conscious figure of the teenager who was standing with her head half-down. "Take this ticket.."

"Ticket?" Julian gulped. His hands trembled as he received a golden-coloured rigid piece of paper from the old woman.

"This is a special ticket for the national cooking competition next week. And with this ticket, you don't have to spend money on registration anymore."

"It's free, isn't it, Grandma?!"

The old woman nodded while smiling at Dafa.

"Asikkk...!! I don't have to break my piggy bank anymore..!"

"Are you their teacher?"

"I Nuriyanti. SMK Principal Ellite Rovario." Said Bu Nuriyanti introducing herself while shaking hands with the old woman.

"I'm Stevie Wallerima. It's nice to meet great kids like them..."

"Great kids?" Tita barely blinked.

"Thank you for the compliment, Stevie's mom."

"Wait a minute!!"Dafa cuts. "If Grandma Stevie says we're great kids, and Grandma Stevie gives us free admission, why isn't our school a champion?!!"

"That's because of your status as a disciple of Mr. Martin Luther, Dafa.." Anthony answered.

The emotions of Dafa instantly overflowed. "I am not a disciple of Mr. Martin Luther anymore!! And I will never go back to that school!! Until I die, I won't forgive Kinno and his friends!!"

"Dafa--" Stevie Wallerima grabbed Dafa's hand. Until the eyes of the two meet. "I'm sorry Grandma. Because there's nothing Grandma can do.."

"Kinno is so mean to me, Grandma Stevie. And I can't forgive her."

"The cup of victory is yours. It's just --"

"It must be Kinno, right?"

"Back.."

"For God's sake, I swear that the food you're making is the most incredible food I've ever tasted."

"And we-the judges have agreed that you are the best of the best in today's race.." Said the half-bald-headed old man with his two small eyes.

Dafa shook off Stevie Wallerima's hand. He grabbed his phone, and contacted Danu right then and there.

"I WANT MY REAL TRANSFER CERTIFICATE!! IF OM DANU DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, I'LL JUMP INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAIN TRACK RIGHT NOW!!"

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