Chapter 1924 - Back Home (3)

While many couples were enjoying their free morning and single souls got some extra sleep to compensate for their jetlag, Ade and Hande were up and ready to start their day like the last two months didn't happen.

Ade and Hande are not sharing a room (or an apartment), they are too young for that. Like every morning, Ade would wait for Hande in the common room, so that they can exercise together. He usually waits for a few minutes, and if she is late, he goes to her room and knocks on her door, just in case if she overslept. But he does not go in, because he knows that she is getting ready and he does not want to risk seeing something he shouldn't. His fifteen years old brain is imagining naughty things as-is and he does not want to add to it.

Hero, Luna, and Bella were happy to see Ade and Hande step out and dogs jumped around them while hoping that Ade and Hande will get a ball or a stick to throw for them to fetch.

During their morning run, Ade and Hande chatted about their plans for the next month.

Hande is too young for an internship in any of the companies, and Ade decided to stay by her side. That does not mean they will be idle. Other than taking several extra courses in computer science, the two of them will be helping out with the art gallery.

The art gallery officially belongs to Penny, but that is only in name because Sarah's kids are responsible for the artwork, sales, events, and overall management.

Since they took over the gallery, Francisca, Azra, and Merve were the main artists, Xiaohui and Zula were in charge of marketing and management, Rosa was the curator while Camila and Antonia handled website maintenance and online sales.

However, since the incident when the Cliffside Villa was under attack and Aiden got kidnapped, the kids were busy sorting out that mess and everything that happened after it, which was the cause of the art gallery being closed for the last two months. To make things worse, Francisca, Azra, and Camila stayed in the Voronin family with Hong (and their boyfriends), and Zula is super-busy with Heinelurgy which means that the gallery is short on staff, and that is where Ade and Hande will step in.

Neither of them is an artist, but they can help with marketing, management, and the website.

Aiden and Sarah approved them to use some of the artwork that is currently in their warehouses so that it can be put as part of exhibits. Sarah and Aiden started 'borrowing' artwork since their mission against Marcus, and their stockpile increased significantly since then (with the latest additions coming from the Voronin family).

Hande also had an idea that when the gallery organizes one of their events, she and Ade can perform on their violins. Ade liked that idea. He likes everything that involves him and Hande working together.

After their morning run (with dogs that followed after them), Ade and Hande headed to the training ground.

"This place looks deserted today…", Hande voiced her observation.

"There are a few people who are not slacking", Ade said and gestured toward the area with pull-up bars where Imani and Jamari were.

Imani and Jamari are up because unlike others, the two of them have things to do today.

After breakfast, Jamari and Imani will go to the hospital and meet with JoAnna in order to discuss Vasily's treatment. The plan is that they will help JoAnna while Vasily is in the hospital, and once the surgeries are done and Vasily's condition stabilizes, Vasily will be transferred to the Cliffside Villa where Imani and Jamari will be in charge of watching over him. 

Hande went there and greeted them cheerfully. "Do you know where is everyone? I can't believe that we are the only ones who didn't sleep in."

Jamari wanted to say that everyone is getting handsy, but instead, he cleared his throat and glanced at Imani who was visibly awkward. She would respond to Hande, but not with guys around.

"I am confident that not many are sleeping.", Jamari said, amused by Hande's innocence.

More than once, Jamari made adult-jokes and when Hande didn't get them, Ade warned Jamari that Hande is innocent and that Jamari should stop teasing her and not corrupt her pure mind.

Just like every other time, Hande didn't get Jamari's naughty insinuations.

"If they are awake, why are they not here? Or is there some event I am not aware of?" Hande glanced at Ade. "If there is an event, we should not allow them to leave us behind. I want to participate. Can we go and join others?"

Jamari opened his mouth to respond, but he swallowed his words when he saw Ade glaring at him.

"Less talking, more exercising", Ade said to Jamari curtly. "Don't be late for the hospital."

Ade put his arm around Hande's shoulders and tugged her toward the log which they use to practice jumps. "Let's come this way."

Hande looked at Ade and blinked. "Did I ask something wrong?"

"No. Jamari has no idea what others are doing, and he is messing around, as usually. Let's see who can do more side-jumps. You pick if we should start left or right side first…"

Ade didn't want to give any more chances to Jamari to tease Hande, and he didn't want to explain those things to her either. She is only twelve years old, and Ade promised that they will have those kinds of talks in three years… actually, in two years and seven months (he is counting).

Jamari grinned at the sight of Ade and Hande and three dogs that followed them closely, and he continued with his pull-ups.

"You enjoy messing with Hande.", Imani said when Ade and Hande were out of the earshot.

Jamari looked at her innocently. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Of course, you didn't…", Imani responded. "But I know you are doing this to push Ade's buttons. It's not fair that you are using Hande to get to him."

"I am giving him a chance to be her prince charming and to rescue her."

Imani rolled her eyes at the strange excuse he came up with. "Whatever you say."

Imani knows that Ade and Jamari thrive on teasing each other, and she does not like that Hande is in the middle of it. However, Ade developed thick skin and wits to the point that Jamari can't get an upper hand, and the only way for Jamari to ruffle Ade's feathers is to go through Hande.

"Would you defend me if someone teases me?", Imani asked.

Jamari lowered himself from the bar and looked at her seriously. "Who is giving you a hard time?"

A small smile sneaked on Imani's lips as her heart swelled. His reaction told her that he would defend her. It's not that she needs defending but knowing that he is ready to protect her was nice. More than nice.

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