30 ANGEL OR HUMAN?

"Is it really okay to leave him like that?" Erin asked with obvious concern in her voice.

Zoe peered out at the window to look back at the familiar stranger whom she has been randomly encountering these past few days.

At that moment, they were a few meters away from him, she could only catch a glimpse of his physique.

"He is well-built. He could protect himself." She reassured her, but more on herself. Deep inside, she was concerned that his assailant could still be out there.

"What happened there? Is he a robber or a druggist?" Erin asked continuously. 

Zoe didn't know the answer too and she was too tired to talk about it. "Get some sleep. I'll tell you later."

She pondered about the situation as she lay her head on the headrest of the seat and closed her eyes. 

In a little while, she fell asleep as well.

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Zoe slowly gained her consciousness but her eyes are still closed. She felt like she slept for a long time and she had a very wonderful dream.

She gently opened her eyes.

Two pairs of blue deep-set eyes were staring straight at her just a few inches away from her face. Her nose almost touched his. His long black straight hair caresses her face. She gasped.

"Who are you?"

She held her breath for a few seconds. She stared back at the face of the young man in front of her. A picture of a deep blue sea with its waves in gentle breezes is within his eyes.

"Are you my guardian angel?"

She lifted her left hand and touched his shoulders at the back while they were still in that close position.

Her hands searched for his wings. She has never been this up-close with an angel before.

"Stop!"

The "angel" was startled and stepped back. Zoe sat up from where she was lying.

Now she could clearly see him. He has no wings but he wore a white loose-fitting silk upper garment with sleeves lined with silver edges.

He also has the same white-colored skirt-like lower garment. A thick silver sash with jades held it in place. 

Zoe searched for a halo but found none. Though he looked just a few years older than her, he sure looked like a celestial being.

"It's okay. I'm not going to harm you. I just – " She said but suddenly stopped when the "angel" quickly cuffed her mouth with her hands.

Zoe's eyes widened. Then she heard voices from outside. She tried to listen and at the same time observed the place where she is in.

She was inside a tent but no ordinary tent. It was like a tent of a prince! It was enormous and extremely luxurious. It is designed with red and gold coordinated fabric including extravagant fabric tent liners, frame wraps, and tent pole wraps.

The impression of the room invited anyone who will enter to relax and enjoy the comfort of this luxurious chamber.

"Did you see them?"

"No."

"We must find them! They can't get out of this island alive!"

Zoe was distracted from observing by the conversation going on outside the room. What are they talking about?

She looked back at the stranger cuffing her hand. She now knew that he was not really an angel but a human trying to protect her. Or harm her?

She looked at his eyes. He didn't say anything but the blue ocean in his eyes is still and told her that everything will be alright.

"Zoe…" he suddenly spoke. She was expecting a deep and smooth voice but it's soft and high-pitched. She narrowed her eyes at him.

He repeated it again. "Zoe." This time in a firmer voice but still delicate and effeminate.

When she still wasn't answering him. He screamed at her with a pitch as high as the tallest skyscraper in the world. "ZOE!"

Her head and her body shuddered violently. She quickly opened her eyes and saw her friend Erin who was now hovering over her while her feet were standing on the ground outside the taxi door.