85 THE AGREEMENT OF THE EYES AND HEAR

Finally, Zoe stopped walking. She already reached a spot that pleased her. She beamed as she put down her fishing equipment and prepared to fish.

Raigon slowed down his pace as he gazed at Zoe. She was too busy assembling the rod that she didn't notice that he was already beside her.

"What did you use in choosing this spot? Is it your eye or your heart?" He asked her in a deep and calming voice. 

As much as Zoe wanted to get angry at him, her lips twitched upward as she heard his question. He really knows how to have his way with her! 

Still, she clamped her lips and furrowed her eyebrows. She doesn't want to let him know that he could easily get away with his actions.

'Is Nella his type then? Why is he helping her out instead of me? I thought he would have wanted to spend more time with me after what happened in the tent. Or am I not really his type?' Zoe thought furiously as she remembered why she was angry in the first place.

"How about you? What do you usually use when you choose?" She put down the rod tilted her chin and put her arms on her waist. 

He will not get away with this!

"Both. And you?" He abruptly answered without batting an eyelash. 

He drew near to her until he was only a few inches away from her, making Zoe step back and nervously check the surroundings if there were others who were looking at their direction. 

She glanced at him again. She didn't expect he would answer that. 

'Does that mean that he likes her both physically and emotionally?'

And surprisingly, the question bounced back to her. 

She tried to be honest with herself as she gazed at Raigon from head to foot. She admires him physically. He's the most attractive male figure she has ever encountered. Not just his physical aesthetics but his oozing appeal that make her heart palpitate whenever he is around. 

But her heart? Is she already in love with him? Of course not! It couldn't be!

Zoe shook her head. She did not even know this man and his background! 

"Your answer, your Majesty?" He teased her as he saw her dumbfounded by the sudden rebound of question and answer. 

Zoe cleared her throat. "The heart." She defiantly answered him. "If the heart does not agree with the eyes, I choose the heart." She grinned as she was satisfied with her answer. 

Yes, until her heart was clean of doubt and suspicions and they both agreed, she will not allow herself to fall over. She picked up the rod again and positioned herself to fish. 

Raigon also picked up his equipment and fished with her. They were both silent. As they stayed in that awkward moment, they tried to assess each other if they were silent because they did not want to disturb the fish or they were in deep thoughts.

Breaking the ice, Raigon questioned her in a soft and sad tone. "What would make the heart agree with the eyes?" 

It made Zoe peeked his way to see his features. He was also looking at her and he had this sincere and melancholic look on his face.

It softened her heart that she was trying so hard to solidify. She answered him honestly. "Openness and truth." 

Raigon gulped and stared far away. "But what if that truth will hurt the heart? Then both of them, the eyes and heart, will agree to hate the truth." This time he was not looking at her anymore. 

'What does he mean by that?' Zoe's eyebrows knitted together. 'Why would the truth about himself hurt her heart? And make her hate his presence as well? Is that what he means? Is that the reason why he can't open it up that easily? Was he scared that it would happen?'

"I don't know what you're talking about. I can't say if it would happen or not. But I guess we won't know the answer unless it happens, am I right? If not, then the heart would continue to warn the eyes and they won't come to a decision at all," Zoe answered him. 

Hearing her answer seemed to pacify his anxious heart as he drew in a deep breath and seemed to come to a conclusion. 

"You're right. I will just probably ready myself whether the heart will agree with the eyes or not."

Zoe smiled. He seemed resolved to finally reveal himself to her. She waited with eager anticipation as to what Raigon would tell her.

Raigon drew in a deep breath and faced Zoe. "The truth is… This is not the first time that I met you." 

His eyes darted from one of her eyeballs to the next. He was assessing her reaction from his statement.

Meanwhile, Zoe's eyebrows knitted together as she stared at Raigon in shock. 

'Wait, what is he talking about?' She uttered to herself. She was thinking about him coming out into the open like he was a runaway son of a conglomerate. Or perhaps he's a NIA agent who couldn't reveal himself to anyone so his cover will not be exposed. 

"What do you mean? You knew me before we met on this island?" She asked him, with tears welling in her eyes. It was not so much as to when and where and how. But why? Why is he telling this only now?

Raigon closed his eyes as he got hurt, seeing Zoe react that way. And it was only the tip of the iceberg. He brushed his hair away from his face and clenched his fist. His fingers were trembling as he could not see that look on her face again. 

'Should I really start this conversation? Or will I just shrink back and let her think only about this present time? At least she will not get hurt like this.' 

Raigon clutched his chest as he was having a hard time breathing. 

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What is better?

To tell the truth and make her cry

Or tell a lie and make her smile.

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