112 TERRA DILEMMA

"What the…" 

Erin's eyeballs bulged out as she immediately pulled her wet clothes so it would not stick to her skin. 

"You know I still got a game to coordinate!"

As quick as lightning, Erin ran to get change.

"Wait!" 

Zoe tried to keep up but Erin was faster than her.

Her shoulders drooped as she realized what a messy situation she was in. 

"What would I do now?!"

She stomped her feet vigorously and rumpled her long lustrous hair.

"Is there a problem, Ms. Cheng?"

"Oh, Koby. I'm okay. I told you to just call me Zoe."

Zoe smiled at him even though she was screaming a different thing in her mind.

'I would love to be alone right now!'

"I thought you're busy with the mini store." She reminded him.

"I just took a break and was on my way back there."

Zoe narrowed her eyes on Koby.

'But then again, Koby has been here for years. Maybe I could get a hint which would help me make the right decision.'

He was about to go back when she stopped him on his tracks.

"Uhm Koby, you said you've been here for more than two years, right?"

"Yes, Zoe."

He emphasized the word 'Zoe' as he chuckled and put his hands behind his back.

"Are you familiar with a hidden city somewhere over there?"

She asked as she pointed out the Ball's Pyramid from beyond the beach.

Koby's eyes sparkled at Zoe's question and immediately faced her.

"I-I heard it from the taxicab driver that drove me to the hospital. I-I'm just curious to know."

Zoe immediately defended herself. 

"Yes, I'm familiar with that."

Zoe's eyes widened. "Have you been there too?"

Koby's eyebrows furrowed at her question.

"I-I mean how did you know about it? You said you're familiar with it. Of course, I don't believe the story. It is so impossible. How could there be a city there, right?" 

Zoe laughed nervously.

'Zoe Cheng, you're insane! Think straight! He couldn't have an idea that you've been there!'

"I see," Koby nodded in a casual tone. 

"I have heard about it from the town folks. They said it's a filthy rich city filled with precious stones that aren't even seen on earth."

His eyes glistened as he talked about it. 

"The citizens don't have to go out because their land produces everything that they need to survive. They are even ageless. It's a perfect place to live in."

"Wow, that sounds promising,' Zoe responded in a positive vibe.

"Do you want to live there? If there is such a place, that is."

"I don't really know. How about you?" 

She asked Koby. 

"I don't think so. It is just like a prison no matter how beautiful it is."

Zoe froze for a few seconds. He has a point. 

'If I agree with Raigon's offer, there is no turning back. I would be locking up myself voluntarily if I do that.'

Koby continued to voice out his opinion.

"I really wonder why they secured that place for themselves when they can share their blessings with the world. But then again, why did you ask it all of a sudden?"

"Oh, I just got curious since we're leaving the island already after the game."

She replied sheepishly.

Koby offered his hand to shake hers.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zoe. I'm sure we'll meet again."

Zoe took it and beamed at him. "Sure! That would be great!"

"I better go back now."

"Me too."

'I thought it would be clearer to me. It just got more confusing!'

Zoe wailed to herself as she walked back to the team.

As she did so, Erin was rushing back to her with her phone in her hand.

All of the castaways left it to her care during the start of the game. But she promised she will give it back to them when there's an emergency call.

"It's your Uncle!"

"What? Did something happen to him?! Hello, Uncle Bo?"

Uncle Bo coughed at the other end of the line. 

"How are you, Zoe?"

"I'm having fun here, Uncle. Don't worry about me. How about you? Are you sick?" 

Even though she's angry at him for leaving her parents behind, he took care of her since then up to now. She was genuinely concerned about him.

"I'm fine. When are you coming back?"

"Uncle…"

"I don't know. Maybe this old man just missed his one and only niece."

He chuckled and coughed again. 

"By the way, where are you exactly at right now? You just told me you're having a vacation."

"Oh, I'm sorry I forgot to tell you. I'm at Lord Howe Island, just a little beyond Ball's Pyramid."

Uncle's sweet concerned voice transformed into a monstrous one as he shouted at her.

"What are you doing there?! Don't you know how dangerous it is for you to be there! Get out of there this instant!"

Because of the strained effort that he must have exerted, he dropped the phone while talking to her.

"What was that? Why would my life be in danger here?"

She was about to handle the phone back to Erin when it rang again.

"Zoe, this is Cayden. I'm sorry about what happened."

"Don't sweat it. Is Uncle okay?"

"He was with his nurse now. He keeps on saying that you must get out of there. Are you all right? Is someone threatening you?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll be back soon. I'll visit you and Uncle."

"That's a relief."

"By the way, could you schedule an appointment with Dr. Xiong for Kristie Wu? I know how hard it is to book one with him."

Dr. Xiong was her mentor neurosurgeon when she was still in medical school. She recently learned that he transferred to Cheng Hospital where Cayden is also working.

"Sure, no problem. Anything else you need?"

"Hmm.. Also, does Uncle still send me money every month?"

Zoe has no idea because she never looked at it. 

Ever since she left, she started to live off her own money. 

His uncle does not want her to refuse it so she just put it in a bank at the safekeeping of Cayden.

"Yes. Why are you asking?"

"I would like to sponsor a child."

"What?!"

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Decisions are hard to make

Especially when it is between where you are needed to be

And where you want to be.

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