Há caminho na poeira

(1/3)

(1)

“Knock knock knock, knock knock knock knock.” A rapid knocking startled Qin Ke from his sleep. Lying still on the bed with his eyes closed, he called out, “Who is it?”

“Qin Ge, Luo Ge, there’s a call for you,” came the sharp voice of Xiao Mei, the receptionist at the guesthouse.

“Don’t answer! Just tell them we’re still asleep and have them call back in a few hours.”

“That won’t work! I already told him you two are sleeping, but he insists you must answer immediately. Seems urgent.”

“What kind of person loves trouble so much, waking people on a Sunday? Tell him we’ll come down later.”

“Then you two better hurry.”

Listening to Xiao Mei’s clicking high heels fading away, Qin Ke reached over to the bedside table for his quartz watch. It was already 7:30.

“Luo Tong, wake up, your phone’s ringing,” Qin Ke said toward the other bed.

“It’s for you. You answer it,” Luo Tong mumbled, pretending to still be asleep.

“It’s for both of us. This time you answer, next time I will,” Qin Ke replied.

“No way. I’ve answered every time so far. You never keep your word,” Luo Tong said knowingly, seeing through Qin Ke’s usual trick.

Qin Ke was reluctant too and said, “Luo Tong, let’s play rock-paper-scissors; loser goes. Deal?”

Luo Tong readily agreed, “Alright, but no cheating.”

Qin Ke sat up and extended his right hand. Luo Tong, still lying down with eyes closed, stretched out his left.

Best of three — Luo Tong won 2-1.

Luo Tong laughed heartily, “Dear Qin Ge, you better go now.”