----
"Can't eat anymore", and the redhead American placed his spoon on the kitchen table, next to his dessert plate.
"Same here", his Japanese best friend said, doing likewise.
"Sorry Chang, I also can't...", was all that the dark-skinned man sitting next to Joe said, as he imitated both him and Jet.
"None of you ate even a half of it", the plump Chinese chef observed, rising his eyebrows.
"Chang, I can't eat all of this", Jet protested, and he grabbed a glass of water and gulped down the whole content of it. "Too sweet, I told you".
"Francoise, Albert and GB would eat everything, you see".
"Because they eat ANYTHING sweet. None of us do. We told you we have no sweet tooth", Pyunma told the older man.
"And that's why I asked you to help me!", Chang told the three guys. "I need to know if people who aren't that fond of sweets would consume my version of the Eight Precious Pudding (1) for the next celebration days".
Pyunma, Jet and Joe looked at each other. Chang, thinking that his restaurant's weaker spot was the lack of desserts apart of fruits or ice-cream, had settled down to introducing traditional Chinese sweets to the meals list. But when they agreed to help him, they never thought he'd choose the Eight Precious Pudding to start...
"But you had to choose THAT one?!", Jet protested. "Red bean paste, cherries, candied fruits... You want to kill us from sugar overdose?!".
"It's my favorite dessert, and the first one I was taught to cook". Chang told the men. "Sentimental reason, you could say, apart of traditions. So, I hope it's not too much to ask from you...".
"He's really into it, isn't he?", Jet asked his friends using his transmitter.
"No kidding", the other two replied.
"... Did you say something?".
"Nope!", the three said out loud.
"Hey!", a female voice called, and one of the new waitresses of the restaurant entered the kitchen. "Mr. Chang, we need you a little here...".
"I'm going!", and he turned to his three friends. "I'll be attending the customers. By the time I'm back, I want you to eat the rest of your puddings... Or else".
He looked at the men menacingly, then chuckled and left. Pyunma, Joe and Jet stared at each other almost in despair. The chef of the group was a very pacific and nice person, unless he dealed with enemies or people who didn't eat everything he cooked...
They had no escape from this Sugar Bomb, unless...
The kitchen's back door opened, and a deep voice shook them from their thoughts of woe.
"Hello, guys...".
They looked at themselves and then at Geronimo, who stepped in and stared at them quizically.
"Maybe...", Jet told them via transmitters. "We're saved!".
---
Chang returned to the kitchen. Man, managing the restaurant at times was a pain in the ass...
When he entered the kitchen, he saw Geronimo calmly washing the dishes. "Geronimo, you don't have to do it...".
"It's no problem, Chang", he said calmly, not even turning to face the chef.
"Joe and the others just left.
"If they left, I suppose they ate the rests of pudding... Tee hee. No one can resist my cooking!".
Geronimo, as he washed the dishes, couldn't agree more. He wasn't too fond of sweets, but this might be an exception...
---
Elsewhere, three men stared at each other. And the Japanese of the group broke the silence.
"I'm sorry for Chang, but... Hot spicy ramen, anyone?".
"YES!".
-- end.
A/N: (1) Eight Precious Pudding: A traditional Chinese sweet rice pudding, served mostly on special occasions.
