Is this destiny?

After Aiden left, Masika and Zack were eating in silence for some time.

"What do you think?" Masika broke the silence.

Zack was not sure from where that question is coming. "About?"

"About you moving in here." Masika explained.

Zack glanced around as if she asked him to move into the kitchen. "Are you serious about it?"

It's not that Zack opposes the idea, but he always felt like an outsider, not worthy to join this congregation of various characters at the Cliffside Villa. They are all here as a big happy family and he… is not.

Masika was oblivious to Zack's insecurities. "I think it makes sense. We will get to spend more time together and you can do most of your work from here. You anyway spend a lot of time with us and Sophia and staying here permanently will make things more convenient." Masika paused and saw that Zack is still conflicted. She knows that Zack and Michael are close as friends an in age, and she decided to mention him. "If you think that it's awkward, remember that Michael is here. And he and Oni are living in an apartment. We could do the same."

"Michael is here because his circumstances are different."

"True. But… don't we all have our circumstances? Some of us were rescued like me, some were discovered like Ron, some came voluntarily like Haru, and some came for a visit and stuck around like Bo, Souta, and Wing."

Zack agrees with Masika but… "This sounds like I'm about to move in with my in-laws."

Masika burst into giggles. "Only if you plan on marrying me."

Masika stopped her giggles when she noticed that Zack is looking at her seriously. He is not thinking of proposing, right? They started dating yesterday! This is moving way too fast!

She cleared her throat awkwardly. "I hope you will seriously consider moving in here. I would like that very much and if you put your pride aside, I'm sure that you will see how this works for everyone. Especially for the two of us. I want to be with you. All the time."

Zack smiled. "You want to be with me all the time?"

"Yeah." Masika admitted.

"Let's start with today. What do you want to do? Let's go somewhere."

Masika agreed right away. She had a few things planned for today, but now that Zack has a day off, nothing on Masika's agenda is urgent, and it can be postponed because a whole day with Zack sounds wonderful. "OK. But I don't have any ideas… how about you suggest some places?"

Zack's mind was blank in terms of romantic ideas, but there was something that needed to be done… "Call Anna. Let's meet with her and talk about contraception."

Masika blinked. "You are also coming?"

Zack confirmed. "On the way there, we can stop by a store and buy condoms. If that is fine with you."

Masika was flustered for a moment. If she acknowledges that she is fine with Zack getting condoms, it means that she wants to sleep with him again. But she can't lie… "OK"

Zack had a small smile at the corners of his lips as he watched Masika sending a text message to JoAnna. They are dating. Finally.

…

In the common room…

Imani walked to the sofa and plopped next to Jamari who was watching a TV show.

Jamari glanced at her empty hands. "I thought you went to get some snacks from the kitchen."

"Yeah."

"So? Where are they?" Jamari hoped that she will get some fruits, and maybe pistachios.

"I…" Imani paused while thinking about the conversation she overheard. Masika is asking Zack to move with her to the apartment at the Cliffside Villa!

Imani didn't think of eavesdropping, but when she heard voices her steps halted, thinking that she does not want to interrupt something important, and then she heard clearly as Masika asked Zack to move in. With Masika. In an apartment. Amazing.

Now that Imani thinks about it, Masika and Zack started dating yesterday and Zack slept in Masika's room and they are talking about living together! Sure, when Imani barged into Masika's room, she saw that both Masika and Zack were fully clothed, but they still spent the night together… and Imani is dating Jamari for more than two years and they never did such a thing. Sure, they hold hands and hug and kiss and… that's it. No matter how late it gets, Jamari always goes back to his room.

Imani turned to Jamari and she was frustrated that his attention went back to the television. As a doting boyfriend, he should be looking only at her!

She pinched his arm.

"Hey!" Jamari protested. "What's got into you?"

"Is that TV show more interesting than me? And why are you not asking me that we move in together?"

Jamari blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." Imani said with a frown.

Jamari scrambled for the remote and turned off the television. That solves the first dilemma, but for moving in together… "I am fifteen years old. I am too young to get married."

"What happened with the whole story of how you are a man when you turn twelve?" Imani asked mockingly. Before Jamari turned twelve, he would mention that every chance he got.

"That would be the case if I stayed in Africa. But I'm here now so… I'm young." Jamari said and paused. "You want us to move in together?"

"Moving in together is not the same as getting married." Imani grumbled and commented on Jamari's obvious shock: "Why are you surprised?"

Jamari shrugged while trying to sound cool. "Don't you think that it's too soon?"

"Masika and Zack are talking about moving in together. And Nala and Haru moved in together as soon as they started dating. The same goes for Michael and Oni and Al and Juju."

"They moved in together when they started dating… or when they started sharing a bed?" Jamari asked and his eyes widened.

"You want us to…?" Jamari was unable to finish his question. He swallowed hard. Imani implied that she wants to make love with him!

Imani puffed her cheeks. Living together is much more than just making love! But Jamari is focused on that part, so she should address it.

Did Masika make love with Zack? No way. They only started dating. But… does Imani want to make love with Jamari? It's not that she didn't think about it, and the fact is that if they continue dating, it will happen eventually. She will be sixteen years old this year, and both Nala and Oni were sixteen when they had their first time. Why is Jamari so flustered? "Don't you want to do it?"

Jamari stared at Imani without blinking for some time and then his lips stretched into a smile. "Yes, yes. Let's ask Sarah and Aiden for an apartment."

Jamari noticed that Imani is frowning. Can she read minds? Was she able to see graphic images from his mind of the two of them naked on the bed with their bodies intertwined? If so, he is in trouble. Maybe.

---

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