81 ALLOW ME TO PROTECT YOU

The bottle spun again and for the second time, its mouth pointed at Raigon.

"Just my luck," Raigon's hand flew to his head as it bent down. 

Zoe clapped her hands in glee. "I thought you love this game?" She gave him a mocking smile. She finds it adorable whenever he acted silly even with his colossal height and brawny physique. 

Strange, but he didn't conduct this way in front of others, but only whenever he was alone with her. He must have been comfortable around her. And she likes it. 

"I do, I do. It's just that…" Raigon trailed off as he heaved out a deep sigh and darted his eyes away.

Zoe watched as his cheerful face became sullen. She wondered how grave his reason was for hiding behind a mask in front of everybody. 

"You can choose to dare if you don't want the truth. I don't mind," Zoe responded hoping to cheer up his sad countenance. 

As much as she wanted to delve deeper into his identity, she doesn't want to upset him and cause him to move away if he felt like she was already forcing him. 

Still, she was hoping she could know more about her savior, why he was doing it, and if there is a possibility that they continue to have a connection even after they leave the island. 

"No, it's okay. I choose the truth. Ask away," Raigon seemed to resolve to himself as he drew in a deep breath and stared at Zoe with his eyes full of sincerity. 

Zoe was astounded for a minute as she gazed at them. He has the most earnest and heartfelt eyes she has ever seen.

Her heart was thumping wildly as her eyes trailed to his pointed nose and then to his thin sensuous lips. She recalled their last incident at the cave where those almost met hers. As she did so, her question came out unconsciously from her mouth.

"Why are you doing this?" Zoe was surprised to even hear herself asking. She could have asked about how he managed to get out from there. Or if he has found Mrs. Gong. Or better yet, where exactly does he live. Or how long he will stay on that island. Or if they could still communicate with each other even if they leave. 

Millions of thoughts came flashing through her mind. But they were all washed out with the wave of her pumping blood that is warming her whole body. All she wanted to know was why he kept reappearing in her life out of nowhere to save her from danger?

Does he pity her? Is it a humanitarian act? Does he see her as a damsel in distress? Or does he have feelings for her?

Even if this is the last question on this truth or dare, she doesn't mind. She doesn't care where he lives or what he does for a living, as much as her desire to know his intentions for her. 

She has not met a man who has shown her genuine concern in her entire existence, even with all the sufferings she has gone through.

She gazed at his face who was speechless at her sudden direct question for him. Embarrassed at her question, she blinked her eyes and twitched her lips upward. "Or I have another one?" She raised her hand, hoping to change the awkward situation they were in.

Raigon cleared his throat and spoke, "Truth. I chose the truth. And I will stick to it." He answered in a deep serious voice. He reached for her dainty hand which she just raised and clasped it with both his hands. 

Zoe was startled at his aggressive action, but she didn't pull it back. She drew in a deep breath and waited for his version of the truth. 

"First of all, I would like to apologize if my intentions for you seemed frivolous. I understand since I'm not being honest with my identity and I know you knew it too. I don't want to sway your feelings. I know that you just knew me recently." 

Zoe bit her lips as she listened to his confession. It was the most honest and contrite words she has heard from anyone. She gazed at him with glimmering eyes as he continued on. He pressed his hand on hers more firmly and caressed them with his fingers, sending a tingling sensation to her arm and her heart.

His eyes bore into hers. They were so mesmerizingly full of care and concern. Wait, are those tears that are starting to well up that she is seeing?

"Will you believe me if I say that you are very dear to me? I don't want to see you get hurt, much less your life be put in danger. I lose control of myself to the point of not caring for my own life or status anymore whenever that happens. So please, I ask for your permission. Allow me to protect you."

Zoe's own eyes seemed to be more sensitive than his. Tears started to drop one by one as she heard those words from him. All this time, no one had protected her but herself. She had no one to depend on anyway. 

The people that she had depended on left her and betrayed her. And she thought she's fine with it. Until the recent near-death experiences shook her belief. If she was destined to encounter more of those tough situations, she needed someone in her life if she wanted to survive.

But can she trust him? She has been living her life on her own. She pulled her hand, wiped her tears away. She sniffed and calmed herself in just a matter of seconds. She glanced back at Raigon and asked him. 

"Can I trust you?" She questioned him with a soft expression.

"Test me. I'm willing to do anything," Raigon answered back with strong determination in his voice.

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Whether friendship or relationship,

All bonds are built on trust.

Without it, you don't have anything.

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