Chapter 1161 - In Danger Of Being Replaced

~ Los Angeles, the Cliffside villa ~

4:26 PM

Ade is with Bas and Wally in the playroom. The three of them are playing darts.

Few other kids are in the area where the pinball machines are.

Jamari entered and frowned when he saw Ade.

"Do you have time to play?", Jamari asked Ade grumpily.

Seeing Jamari's sour attitude, Bas and Wally took two steps back. They know that Jamari and Ade are best friends, and now that they are quarrelling, Bas and Wally don't want to be too close.

"I'm training and studying the whole day. I just took a break ten minutes ago.", Ade responded.

Jamari was not pleased with Ade's explanation. "How are your scores?"

"It's getting there…", Ade said vaguely.

Jamari understood that Ade's progress is not much. "If you need help, why are you not saying anything?"

Ade knows that Jamari wants to help, but Ade is too proud and embarrassed to ask for it. They studied together earlier, but it was different because then they were equals. And now, other than all regular assignments Ade has so much extra he needs to do and it's overwhelming. He is ashamed that he is trailing behind. The fact that he lost his privileges as a general is making things worse.

"I'm working on it.", Ade responded while avoiding Jamari's gaze.

Ade was aiming with the dart at the board, but Jamari's glare was distracting. He threw the dart randomly and turned to Jamari. "What?!"

"Nothing. I'm trying to figure out if you want to go back on missions or not."

Ade balled his hands into fists. "Of course, I want to go back!"

"It does not look like it."

Ade snorted in irritation. Jamari should know how much Ade wants to be a general. Why is he giving him a hard time? "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to realize that your behavior is impacting others as well."

"Yeah… whatever you say…"

Fury swelled within Jamari. Why is Ade brushing it off like it's not a big deal?

Ade is going from anger to indifference, and Jamari does not see that Ade is pushing himself enough. Ade messed up and he needs to do whatever he can, or he will be left behind. Jamari wants to help him out, but Ade is refusing him. What can he do to make Ade face the reality?

"Do you realize that everyone went on a mission, and I am the only one left behind because my partner is grounded? At this rate, I will look for another partner."

Ade chuckled. "What another partner? There is no one left."

"No one left? Look around you!", Jamari gestured toward Bas and Wally and then toward the boys who are busy playing pinball. Jamari sees that Ade is smirking confidently, and he wishes for nothing other than to open his eyes and make him face the reality.

"If I'm you, I would not be so confident, Ade. It seem you don't know that today Allen and Julius joined Nala and Haru. They are learning the ropes and soon they will have their own missions. How I see it, Allen and Julius are first of many and soon any of these boys can take your place. I am not picky. As long as they willing and able to go on a mission, I will take it."

Jamari hopes that his words hit Ade hard enough to wake him up. Of course, Jamari does not want a different partner, but nothing he said so far worked.

Actually, Jamari was hoping to switch partners, so that Imani becomes his. There is nothing better to get closer to someone than sharing a danger. Considering that four of them are close, Jamari was confident that with the right approach, Imani will accept to be his partner. Ideally, Masika would work with Ade but with current Ade's attitude and the fact that he is grounded, there is no way that is happening.

Jamari turned to leave, and Ade grabbed his hand.

"You are not serious about replacing me!", Ade said in disbelief.

Jamari looked at Ade and finally he saw traces of panic.

"The not serious one is you. How long do you think that I will sit at home and wait for you? Ade, I want to go on missions with you, but when I see you playing like this…" Jamari didn't finish his sentence. He shook his head disapprovingly and left the playroom.

Ade looked after Jamari and he knows that he is trying to be helpful, but can't he be nicer about it?

"Are you still playing?", Bas asked Ade cautiously.

"No.", Ade flung the last dart from his hand toward the table and walked out.

Bas and Wally observed silently everything that played out in front of them and they both agree with Jamari. All nineteen kids from Sierra Leone want to be bodyguards and they don't understand Ade's behavior. How they see it, Ade was there, going on missions and doing super-secret spy stuff while beating up bad guys who are threatening their boss. They all dream to be in that role. Yet, he is taking it all for granted, and when he messed up, instead of doing his best to fix the wrongs, he is sulking.

Another thing that stood out: Allen and Julius went on a mission?!! Those two opened the doors for all others to step into the mystical world they describe by two words: personal bodyguards!

Bas and Wally went to the boys who are playing pinball.

"Hey, do you know that Allen and Julius went on a real mission today?", Bas asked in a hushed tone, like it's an important secret.

All boys froze for a second and their eyes were glued to Bas who just threw a bomb at them.

"Really?", one of the boys asked breathlessly.

"Yes. They went with Haru and Nala. Real mission!", Wally confirmed.

"What else you know?", another boy asked with excitement apparent in his voice.

"Even knowing this much is a lot. Missions are super-secret.", Bas said in a mysterious tone.

They all exchanged glances and nodded in understanding. Missions are super-secret and super-awesome and only the top performers get to go on them!

The boys from the playroom spread out to share the exciting news with other boys who are not currently present: Allen and Julius are bodyguards!

All nineteen boys from Sierra Leone spent more than a year in the diamond mine. Before that they were all together in the orphanage for most of their lives and they are all familiar with each other.

Ah, if Allen and Julius are here, they would find out that they became idols to seventeen hopefuls who dream of becoming bodyguards. But they will find out, when they get back because all those boys are itchy to find out the details on what are the requirements to join the mission. Of course, they all know that Julius and Allen are top scorers, but they want to hear the information from their idols themselves. 

...

Ade walked aimlessly and wondered if the others are right. Maybe he is an immature 11 year old boy and he should just give up. But there is nothing else he wants to do other than to go on missions and come back victorious. Ah, it's hard to be a grown-up.

Ade knows that Sarah didn't punish him only because he failed a mission during the party at the Golden Ocean Resort. That failure was the drop which made already full cup overfill. He was always the first in mischief and teasing others, and unless he is out there fighting enemies he prioritizes fun. Heck, even fighting enemies he sees as a game. He is having fun, but at the same time others see him as non-reliable. Who would put their safety in the hands of a jokester?

Ade understands that this is about proving that he is not an immature boy, but someone who can be reliable. And he needs to start with his attitude.

Ade is not sure how he found himself in front of the door of Jamari's room. But since he is here…

"Come in…", Jamari called when he heard the knock on the door. His eyebrows shoot up questionably when he saw Ade.

"I'm sorry for being a jerk.", Ade said while staring at the carpet. "I'm struggling with a research for my essay about quarks. Can you help me?"

Jamari smiled. "Of course. Come in and tell me what you have so far…"

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