Is this destiny?

At Disneyland…

11:01 AM

Twelve people entered through a secret passage, avoiding the long lines at the entrance.

They gathered at the closest park and confirmed their groups and that they will meet at this spot after the 9:30 fireworks end. 

"We will wait for everyone before heading back so that we go together." Michael said. "No one stays behind on their own because we don't want to risk that someone gets into trouble. It's one thing when we are out on a mission and we can go wild, but this is a public amusement park with a lot of witnesses. Let's not bring unwanted attention to us, Sarah and Aiden will not appreciate that. If someone provokes you, call for reinforcements and do your best to avoid a fight. No matter what your skills are, here we are all tourists who came to enjoy the rides."

Haru spoke to Ade: "Make sure to protect Hande well. And don't forget the first thing to do if someone is causing trouble."

Ade knows that Haru is telling him this because Hande is the only one non-fighter among them. But he will protect her well, alright? Besides, this is an amusement park, not a sketchy alley. 

"I will call for backup." Ade confirmed that he heard what Michael said.

Haru and Michael exchanged suspicious glances. Ade is always the first one who jumps into frail. But maybe he will use his head this time, because of Hande. Maybe.

After that, our group of twelve dispersed, following their maps they previously made.

Back to the present...

Imani and Masika are walking in front while checking out the map. Jamari and Zack are behind them.

"How about arcades next?" Masika asked. "We can play a bit and then grab lunch around noon."

Imani pouted. "Arcades? Really? So many rides and you want to play games in a dark room?"

"I need a break from all the rides if I want to be able to digest lunch…" Masika added in a low voice. She likes roller-coaster and all those wild spinning rides, but she could use a small break so that her insides calm down before a meal.

Jamari's face lit up. This is the opportunity he was waiting for! He nudged Zack and gave him a knowing look a second before he plopped on the ground.

"Aww…"

Imani and Masika halted their steps and turned to see Jamari sitting on the pathway and holding onto his ankle.

"What happened?" Imani was right next to him. She is the designated medic in the house.

"I think I twisted my ankle…" Jamari said with a painful expression on his face.

Imani saw that they are in the middle of the pathway and people are walking around them. "Zack, can you help Jamari move to the less crowded area?"

Zack hooked Jamari's hand around his neck and supported him while walking to the nearby bench. 

"I don't see swelling or a bruise…" Imani mumbled while checking Jamari's ankle. "Too bad we don't have icepacks. Rest a bit and it should be fine. If in ten minutes or so it does not get better, I will bandage it for extra support."

Jamari glanced at Zack. "There is no need for everyone to stay with me. Masika, you wanted to go to the arcades, right? Why don't you go with Zack and Imani can stay with me and check if I need bandaging?"

Masika's eyes darted from Jamari to Imani and then to Zack. She saw that Zack shrugged, indicating that he does not mind, but she was torn. Should she leave Imani? They agreed to move together.

Zack saw that Jamari is glaring at him and he got the hint. This is where they separate!

"What do you think? Want to check the arcades?" Zack asked Masika. "I wanted to see what shooting games they have. Imani didn't seem very excited to go to arcades, and this is a good chance for us to check it out instead of standing here."

Masika pursed her lips. She does not want to leave Imani, but Zack is correct. Imani was not willing to go to the arcades, and Zack wants to go.

"Is it OK if we go ahead?" Masika asked Imani.

Imani didn't think much of it. She needs to stay with Jamari on the bench for some time, and like this, she can avoid the arcades. "Sure, there is no need for everyone to be stuck here. Have fun."

"We can meet up later." Masika reminded Imani.

Imani agreed. "I will let you know when his leg is better."

While Masika and Imani spoke, Jamari secretly gave a thumbs up to Zack.

Imani sat on the bench next to Jamari and watched Masika and Zack disappear in the crowd.

"Let's wait a few minutes, so we are not found out and then we can go and hit the next roller-coaster." Jamari told Imani.

Imani looked at Jamari in disbelief. "What about your leg? You faked it? Why?"

Jamari gave Imani a knowing look. "What do you mean, why? Are you blind?"

Imani looked at Jamari suspiciously while trying to figure out what he is up to.

"Are you using this to get close to me?" She asked angrily.

Jamari ignored her question. "Didn't you notice that we are interfering with Masika and Zack?"

Imani frowned. "What?"

"Come on, you are not blind. Masika picked Zack for a reason."

"No. Imani picked Zack because he never went to Disneyland, and because she felt that she owes him…" Imani remembered the arguments Sarah gave to Masika when they were discussing Disneyland in the study of the Cliffside Villa.

Jamari bobbed his head. "Excuses. If he never went to Disneyland, why does she need to take him? he is old enough to go on his own, and don't tell me that he has no other people to go with. Also, if Masika owes Zack, there are many other ways to repay the favor than to spend a day with him."

Imani understood Jamari's hints. "You are saying that Masika likes Zack?"

Jamari smiled smugly. Yup, this is working just as he planned! "Not only that, I am also saying that it's mutual. Why else would Zack accept to spend a day with her? Didn't you see how eagerly he wanted to go to the arcades with her? Without us?"

Imani thought about how it makes sense. Maybe. "You have no intention to meet with them later, do you?"

Jamari thought for a second before responding: "If it's up to me, I would stay away from them and give them privacy. It seems to me that they are in the initial stages of liking each other, and this is the crucial time for them to spend together and to get to know one another. But I will leave it up to you."

Jamari saw that Imani is thinking about it, and he decided to give another push. "Let's not worry about them. I'm sure they will manage just fine and if they need anything, they can reach out to us." Jamari pointed at his ear stud.

Imani nodded in slow motion. She needs to agree that Masika and Zack are spending a lot of time together. Even during summer, Zack would come to the Cliffside Villa and Masika would go to the basecamp. Was it really only for knife-throwing? And even this... a unique opportunity to have fun, and Masika and Zack are together. She picked him, and he accepted. And what Jamari said, is true: if anything is wrong and Masika does not want to be alone with Zack, she can contact them easily.

Jamari took out the map of the park. "Where are we going next?"

Jamari saw that Imani is busy with the map and he praised himself for this idea. Now Imani will stay away from Masika and Zack because they need privacy, and at the same time, he gets Imani to himself. The plan is perfect!

It's not that Jamari thinks how he will manage to do anything like kissing and hugging, he is aware that he is very-very far away from that. However, without Masika around, Imani will not be caught up in girly chatter and Imani's attention will be on him. And he can show her how awesome he is.

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