Is no news good news?
Diano was running up and down the platform trying to find someone. As the train pulled out and picked up speed, he spotted Andy in the car passing him. Diano ran with the car, waving and shouting at Andy to catch his attention. But Andy was looking in the other direction. Diano couldn’t run beyond the walled end of the platform. He slowed down to a stop and sank to the floor. His heart pounded on at great speed and tears ran down his face. The train rolled out of sight.
Somewhere an alarm went off. It kept on ringing for attention. It was a tune he recognized. It was ringing to wake him up. Wake up, Diano thought. Wake up.
Diano sat up with a rush. He’d been dreaming again. The alarm on his cell phone had gone off. That meant it was 7.30 a.m. already — time to get up and go to Andy’s place. He turned the alarm off. There were no missed calls or new messages. What a bad way to begin a day, he sighed.
“What’s up?” Norman stirred.
“Time for me to go.”
“What time is it?” He squinted at Diano.
“7.30 a.m. You look funny.”
“Gosh. That’s early! Sleep some more lah.” Norman continued to squint at him. “Let them sleep too. You can go after breakfast. It’s included in the package.”
“When is breakfast? Now?”
“Yes. Are you hungry?” Norman smiled.
“More sleepy than hungry.”
“Then sleep some more. We can go down for breakfast later.”
Diano reset the alarm to 8.30 a.m. and went back to sleep.
After gorging on a Shanghainese buffet later in the morning, at the Grand Cafe on the 54th floor, Diano was ready to leave.
“So I’ll see you around,” he said.
“What do you mean?” asked Norman.
“Gotta go now.”
“I can come with you if you want. I’ve got nothing to do anyway.”
“Are you sure? I don’t wanna burden you any more,” said Diano.
“No problem.”
“If my friend’s back, we’d be going to Hangzhou.” Diano wanted to make it clear his priority was Andy.
“Of course.” Norman looked at him. “What if he isn’t back yet?”
Diano didn’t know. He had no answer. Do what? Wait for Andy at his place. What else could he do?
“Sorry, that’s a stupid question. I’m sure he’d be back by now.”
They went downstairs and took a cab to Andy’s place. The troublesome old lady wasn’t around. Diano knocked on Andy’s door. He wasn’t sure whether the doorbell worked at all. He hadn’t heard it ring on earlier visits.
A minute later, Samuel opened the door.
“Hi.” He looked sleepy.
“Hi. This is Norman.” Diano introduced them. “Samuel.”
“Hello.”
“Is Andy home yet?” asked Diano.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you guys come in?” Samuel stepped back to let them in.
Diano took his shoes off and went to the attic. It was empty. The bed looked like nobody had slept in it.
“He isn’t here.”
“You guys are supposed to go to Hangzhou today, right?”
“Yes. I’ve been trying to reach him for two nights already. He doesn’t answer his phone.”
“Really? That’s strange. Let me call him.” Samuel looked worried. “When did you arrive in Shanghai?”
“I landed last night but you guys were out. I left two notes asking him to call me back.”
“Oh, yes. I saw them. Sorry, I came in very late last night, drunk. Those notes were from you. How stupid of me. I’m sorry. I remember picking them up but I can’t remember reading them.”
“That’s okay,” Diano said.
“No answer. It’s going to his voicemail. That’s strange. I mean, he doesn’t stay over at anybody’s. Now that I think, I don’t remember seeing him on Thursday night either. Since it was Valentine’s Day, I guessed he was out with his friends.”
“Yes, he had planned dinner with his ex.”
“I see.”
“Dim suen ar?” Diano looked at Norman.
“Do you have his friends’ phone numbers?” Norman asked both.
“No.” Diano replied. Samuel shook his head.
“Hmm. I’m just hoping he hasn’t been involved in any accident or… sorry.” Norman said. “Shall we check the news or go to the police?”
“Police?!” Samuel jumped. “I can scan the news on the Internet.” He jumped onto his bed and typed on his laptop.
“Do you want to stay and wait for him?” Norman asked Diano.
“I don’t know. I guess so. I hope he’s okay.” Diano felt panicky.
“Nope. Not here. Nothing in the news about a young man in an accident. At least not yet,” Samuel said.
“Do you think the police can help?” Diano asked him.
“Er… I’m afraid of the police.”
“Why?” asked Norman.
“They warned me only two weeks ago. We had a party here and so we were playing music. I swear, it wasn’t loud. But the old lady next door called the police and complained about how we were doing something illegal here.”
“Oh, no. That lady is trouble,” Diano said.
“Yes. She is. So I wish to avoid further trouble with the police.”
“Understood,” Diano said. “What do I do then? Shall I just wait upstairs?”
“What about Norman?” Samuel asked.
“I’m fine. I can wait or leave if you want me to,” Norman said.
“Let’s go upstairs for some time,” Diano said.
“Okay.” Norman followed Diano up to Andy’s room. They sat down on the bed.
“Let me tidy up this mess. Things are out of place.” Diano started with the table.
“Hey. Have you guys had breakfast yet? I’m going out to get some. Wanna join?” Samuel shouted from downstairs.
“No, we’re fine,” Diano said. “Don’t be gone too long.”
“Be right back.” They heard the door open and shut.
“This is strange.”
“What is?” Norman asked.
“Andy’s clothes. His accessories. I don’t see all of them.”
“How can you tell that?”
“I’d helped him pack when he moved here. I know all his favourite clothes and accessories. His laptop is missing too.”
“Does that mean he may be traveling?
“I don’t know. He’d have packed a light bag for Hangzhou. But the stuff that is missing would probably fill up a large suitcase…”
“Don’t be alarmed. He probably had to leave in a hurry. May have had an emergency?”
“You’re right. I need to calm down.” He smiled. “I hope his mom’s okay. May be he had to rush back to Guilin. But he’d still be able to receive my messages, right?” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Depends lah,” Norman said. Maybe he’s very busy. Maybe you needn’t worry at all.”
“His mom may be sick. I’m worried.”
“What I was trying to say is we have no control over this situation. We can either wait here or go,” Norman said.
“Go where? You’ll go back to the hotel or go out with your friend. I’ll stay here.”
“Well, you could come with me,” Norman said.
“To the hotel?” asked Diano.
“To Hangzhou,” Norman said. “Well, that was your original plan anyway. I’d love to go to Hangzhou.”
“Are you sure? What about your friend?”
“Don’t worry about him. I’ll call him and let him know.”
“What about your stuff? Don’t you need to carry something?”
“Well, if we hurry, we could be back tonight.”
“Okay, let’s do it.” Diano was excited. Traveling to Hangzhou was a better option than worrying to death. He’d worry on the way. He had his phone with him, in case Andy called back.
They heard Samuel return.
“That was quick,” Norman remarked.
“Yes, just bought back some zhou. My stomach doesn’t feel great.”
“Take care,” Norman said.
“We’ve decided to go to Hangzhou,” Diano said. “Please let Andy know if he returns or calls. Give me your number.”
“Okay. Sure.”
Diano handed his cell phone to Samuel, who punched his number in. Diano gave him a missed call.
“There. That’s my number.”
“Thanks. You guys have a good time in Hangzhou.”
“I’ll call you when we’re back in the evening.”
