A knock on the door.
"Runze? Are you in there?"
I can't answer, can't move. Bael's hand is firm over my mouth, his body pressed against my back, both of us frozen.
Another knock.
"Runze?"
Then another voice, farther away.
"Feifei? Have you seen Bael? Your father wants to do a toast."
"I... no. I'm looking for my brother, he hasn't come back from the bathroom."
"Oh." A pause. "Well, I'm sure they're both fine. Come, we should find them."
The footsteps retreat.
But we're not alone yet.
"Mrs. Li?" A male voice. One of the hotel staff? "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, fine. Just looking for my son."
"The restroom is occupied, ma'am. Perhaps he's in the other one? Down the hall?"
"Oh. Yes, of course."
More footsteps. Retreating this time.
Then silence.
Bael's hand slowly releases my mouth.
We're both breathing too hard, hearts racing for entirely different reasons now.
"How long?" I whisper.
"Ten minutes. Maybe fifteen."
"We can't stay here that long."
