Is this destiny?

While Imani and Jamari were picking their next ride on the bench, Masika and Zack headed toward the arcades.

"Are you sure it's OK to leave them behind? We could have waited for Jamari's leg to get better and go together with them." Masika said guiltily.

"How much I heard, Imani was not willing to go to arcades. Why make her do things she does not like?"

"Isn't that what you do when you move as a group?" Masika asked Zack. "We take turns in picking where we go, and others follow. It is normal for someone to compromise." 

"That is true if you want to force people to stay in a group. However, there is no pressing need to move in a group larger than two people and by splitting up, everyone can have their own fun. The day is too short and there are too many things to do." Zack saw that Masika is not convinced and he got an idea. "Besides, didn't you see how eagerly Imani stayed by Jamari's side?"

Masika shot a side glance at Zack. "Are you saying that she is interested in him?"

Zack nodded knowingly. "Based on how much I've seen, it's mutual."

Masika knows that Jamari has a crush on Imani. Everyone knows that. But she didn't know that Imani is reciprocating his feelings. Imani never said anything about Jamari other than he is persistent.

"You think that it's mutual?" Masika asked suspiciously.

Zack nodded confidently. "I'm an outsider. I see these things. It seems that Jamari is taking an active role in pursuing her, but if she is not interested, she would push him away decisively. Imani I know would not let Jamari stick so close to her if she does not like him."

Masika thought about Zack's words and concluded that they might be true. She started noticing at Sarah's and Aiden's wedding that Imani's attitude toward Jamari is softening up. The two of them spent most of the evening on the dancefloor. Even for today, if Imani is not interested in Jamari, she could have picked as her companion any other boy, or a girl. Merve is close to Imani, and so are many other girls because Imani is the designated medic, and all the girls are trying to stay on Imani's good side.

After a short deliberation, Masika agreed. "Let's play games and go for lunch on our own. Unless they ask us to join them, we can go our way. Like that, we will not be intruding. You said you want to see shooting games? How about a small wager? The winner gets to pick the next ride…"

Zack agreed. Of course, he did. How can he deny when Masika's eyes are lit up? And he can see that she is enjoying. Ah, this will be a fun day. He gets to spend the rest of the day with Masika at the happiest place in the world. Just the two of them.

On the other side of the park…

Ade noticed that a group of four older boys is following him and Hande for more than an hour.

Ade remembered Sarah's warning not to cause a commotion and he led Hande to take several twists and turns through the crowd and various passages, hoping to lose these boys, but he was not successful. Ade does not want to be involved in a scuffle with Hande by his side, she might get traumatized, but it seems that those boys are not willing to give up.

About one hour ago, the four boys stood in a long line and noticed that Ade and Hande took the ride without any waiting. Ade and Hande stood out from the others because they are barely tall enough for the ride, and they just walked past them like the line does not exist. The four boys expected to see Ade and Hande being rejected by the people who are letting customers on the ride, and they were surprised to see that two youngsters got in without problems after showing their passes.

When Ade and Hande got off the ride, the boys followed after them and saw them taking another ride without waiting in the line (again). Their curiosity was piqued. How can two kids go straight to the ride twice in a row? Who are they? They must be someone rich and influential, that was the only logical conclusion. One more ride later, the four boys confirmed that Ade and Hande are kids with special passes and without adult supervision, and that means easy targets. They really-really want to find out how can they take rides without waiting in line and if possible, they want to take those magical passes for themselves. Even if they take turns two by two, it will be much faster than to wait in endless lines.

Back to the present…

Ade touched his ear stud. "Is anyone nearby?"

"Trouble?" Ron asked after a few seconds.

Ade confirmed. "Someone is following us. Four of them, eighteen to nineteen years old. How soon can you be here?"

"Zula and I are close." Ron responded. "We can reach you in about five minutes."

"Oni and I just got off the ride and are about ten minutes away." Michael chimed in.

The message Ade sent went to everyone who has the ear stud.

Haru's voice sounded through swishing of the wind and screams from the background: "We are on a ride!"

Masika and Imani responded that they are need more than half an hour to reach Ade's current location even if they run.

"No problem." Ron told Masika and Imani not to bother coming, they are far away. "Zula and I are moving toward Ade. Ade, find a convenient location in case they are not giving up easily."

"We are also on our way, in case you need backup." Michael said under his breath, it was obvious that he is running.

Ade looked at Hande and he saw that she is anxious. Hande does not have an ear stud, but she heard what Ade said. And his words mean that four big boys with no good intentions are following them.

Ade smiled and gave Hande's hand a gentle squeeze. "It will be fine. Ron and Zula will come in a minute and Michael and Oni are on their way. Don't look back… Do you want cotton candy?"

Hande didn't respond, but she followed Ade to the stand with the cotton candy.

"Pick one…" Ade told Hande while he checked the map. He used this short stop to pick a convenient location where they can confront the boys, and in case of a fight, the chance of being seen will be minimal.

Hande was not sure which cotton candy to get, her mind was a mess. Ade took the biggest rainbow-colored one.

"This is too much." Hande said while accepting the cotton candy.

"We can share. Come on, this way. Stay close." Ade said casually and grabbed a piece of cotton candy with his fingers. "It's super sweet. Have some..."

Hande took a bite and she had to agree. It's sweet. 

Hande walked in the direction Ade led and her heart thumped wildly as they made their way through the crowd. She knows that they are in danger and that with every passing second it's coming closer and the only thing preventing her from screaming and running wildly was Ade who was cool and composed. He is amazing.

Hande was not sure how they found themselves behind a wall, close to a big bush that almost completely blocked the view of the path filled with people.

Ade looked at the map and spoke loudly: "It seems we took a wrong turn."

A boy snickered behind him and Hande stiffened.

"It's OK. Look at me." Ade spoke softly, only for Hande to hear.

She peeled her eyes from the four big boys who are grinning a few steps behind Ade and she saw that Ade is not shaken up at all.

"Stay behind me." Ade told Hande and he waited for her to confirm that she heard him with a nod, before he turned toward the boys.

"Did you take a wrong turn as well?" Ade asked innocently.

"No. We took all the right ones." One of the boys responded mockingly.

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