BXBX NOVEL Chapter 194 - Cotton Candy
He held Scarlet's hand and reached Jaden.
«Now, it's time for ice cream,» Scarlet reminded them.
«Yes, sure,» Nate chuckled.
«Also, I'll tell my mommy what the doctor said. Do you think she will be happy, daddy?»
«She will be, certainly.»
Jaden watched them from the side, silent like that morning. Why could Scarlet become friends with everyone so easily? Just because she acted cute and harmless?
«What about you, Jaden? Would you like to have ice cream?» Nate asked, offering his hand.
Jaden just observed him without moving, his face cold and detached.
«Why are you asking? Do you even care?»
«Of course, I care. You're my son, after all. I happen to have only one son now, don't I?»
«You only like Scarlet. And you want my mommy.»
«Oh, well...» Nate sighed, in part relieved it was a matter of jealousy.
He was worried there was something more severe, but if it was just that...
«You already knew I was after your mother,» Nate pointed out, starting to walk towards the door.
Jaden followed by inertia, in the darkest mood he could remember.
«But you don't have to worry about Scarlet. You are her twin brother. No one could be closer than you. She won't forget about you just because she has a little fun with other people.»
Jaden's pout worsened even more. Was it possible that that man was so dumb? What had his relationship with Scarlet to do with their conversation?
Only his mommy could understand him...
«Hey, don't worry,» Scarlet said. «Nate is just clumsy. He forgot to tell you that he likes you as well.»
She held her brother's hand and pulled him closer to them.
«And he can buy you something else if you don't like ice cream. But you have to ask him, Jaden. Just like I do.»
«You don't like ice cream?» Nate repeated, dumbfounded. Was that the problem?
«It's not that,» Jaden said, sighing, dejected. Still, he followed them.
On the way, Nate had an idea.
«I know, I know,» he said. «You pups like ice cream, but that's only because you haven't tried cotton candy.»
«What is cotton candy?» Scarlet inquired.
«You will see. You'll see and even try it. And then, tell me if you still like ice cream more.»
Even though they were in a dangerous situation, the kids needed to go out and have some fun. He couldn't just lock them in the residence and pray they grew up well.
«Since the doctor said your teeth are all right, we can risk eating something sweet,» he chuckled, finally grabbing Jaden's hand.
The three followed their path and reached a stand that sold food. Among popcorns and sandwiches, there was also a cotton candy machine.
«Give me a minute to warm it up,» the man said while turning it on.
The pups observed curiously, their eyes following each of his moves. They even stood on tiptoes to glance inside. There was nothing! How was that cotton candy thing going to appear out of nowhere?
The man took a spoon and poured the sugar in the centre, where a dark pan was being heated.
When a tiny web started forming on the sides of the huge pan, the man collected it on two wooden sticks. First with one, and then with the other. The colour was green, and it was only the beginning.
The man repeated the process with a different type of sugar. The cotton candy became blue.
He continued with other colours, realising two huge clouds that reminded Nate of the rainbow. Oh, have the pups ever seen a rainbow? He doubted it. He could bring them on vacation to a place where those appeared often...
Scarlet observed with interest, surprised by the show. She liked colours, and the clouds were pretty. But... What was she supposed to do with that?
Jaden, on the other side, was lost in contemplation. Other than wondering how that thing worked, he also didn't know what it was for. If Nate said they would like it more than ice cream, they were supposed to eat it... Most likely.
But how can people eat a cloud?
When the man was done, he delivered the sticks to the twins. They accepted, their eyes shining. They looked up at Nate, all happy, and he couldn't help but smile back. His kids were so cute when they were content.
«But... What do we do now?» Scarlet muttered. «Do we put this in our room? Like a doll?»
«No,» Nate chuckled.
He then noticed Jaden's excited expression. He reached out and fixed his hat before the ears could appear.
«What do you do with it, Jaden?» he asked, sure the boy was dying to tell it.
«We eat it!» he exclaimed.
«But... How?» Scarlet asked.
Jaden shrugged, trying to give a bite to the cloud. It was so soft, and his teeth sank into nothingness. Then, the sugar melted in his mouth.
It was so, so sweet.
«Delicious!» Scarlet exclaimed.
She started biting her own stick, remembering about Nate only after half was gone.
«Oh, do you want some?»
Seeing how Nate accepted the pink piece of candy she passed him, Jaden pouted again.
«Nate, do you want to try the blue one too?» he shouted, trying to force his way in the conversation.
«Sure,» the man said. He didn't like cotton candy. It was as sweet as to be nauseous.
Yet, he ate even the second piece Jaden delivered, the green one.
«What is your favourite?»
Not just that he was sharing his food, but he also wanted to talk about it.
«The blue part,» Nate replied. Well, to him, they tasted all the same.. The pups, though, seemed to feel some difference.