A FRAGRANT DAY

"Are you sure you're okay even if I leave you?" Erin asked as soon as she discovered that Savannah and their batch-mates were on their way to Lord Howe Island.

"Give me one good reason I should not be." Zoe shrugged. She looked for what to wear on top of her tropical print knotted top swimsuit with cutout details.

Even if she would be alone, she wanted to go out and enjoy her remaining days at the isle. She put on a simple wide-striped sleeveless maxi dress with large pockets.

"Because you will not be lonesome. You have Red with you," She teased her while bumping her hips with hers. It made her almost fall on the polished floor.

Zoe glared fiercely at her longtime friend as she regained her balance. She let it go as he heaved a deep sigh. "I don't need a man to make me complete."

It is partly correct. She was living independently all her life. It's pleasant that she has dear friends like Erin and Cayden who appeared every so often. But most of the time, she was detached. And she's content with that.

"I'm still mad at you for injuring my olfactory nerves a while ago, you know." She mocked her as she tried to deviate from the topic.

Erin chortled without feeling embarrassed at all. "Why? Have you smelled a fragrant fart before?" She placed her forefinger directly under Zoe's dainty nose and made an evil laugh.

"Eeew! Go away!" Zoe grimaced and shoved Erin, who simply smirked as she bid her farewells.

"I already cast a stinking spell on you. Sincerely hope you have a fragrant day!" She grinned menacingly as she picked up her precious bag and left the luxury hotel room.

"Geez, what a splendid way to ruin a day! Hmph!" She stomped her shapely feet and stood up.

In a few more minutes, she properly packed her travel bag and left the luxury hotel to go to the Reeftastic Eco Tour. Fortunately, one tourist wasn't able to go to the island during her booking date, so she was able to squeeze in.

Reeftastic is a state-of-the-art Eco Tour vessel that provides a range of informative Eco tours.

Zoe remembered the legend about a hidden city above Ball's Pyramid that the taxi driver revealed to her. Because of it, she chose the Ball's Pyramid Excursion.

"Just in time," Zoe uttered as the boat is leaving the dock.

In her count, there must be twenty of them, 22 including the gallant captain and his assistant.

They look ordinary to her except for one mysterious-looking lady whose head is covered in a shawl.

'I wonder who she is,' she contemplated with furrowed eyebrows as she climbed down on the boat.

"Hello, you must be Ms. Cheng. I'm Koby Nevin. I'm one of the local crews of this expedition," one of the crews greeted her as he offered his hand to assist her in getting to the boat.

She accepted it with an amiable smile. "Much appreciated."

"That good-looking big guy over there is Nicholas Crowe. But we merely call him Captain. Nicky."

Capt. Nicky tenderly lifted his peaked cap and nodded in cheerful greetings to her.

'The staff here are genuinely nice.' She muttered to herself as she looked for an unoccupied seat.

"I guess I am really free from Erin's crappy curse. I'm absolutely having a fragrant day today!" She concluded as she gazed at the vast ocean.