Nathan pedaled furiously on the tricycle, the wheels wobbling under the strain. The humid night air clung to his skin, making every breath feel heavy, but he couldn't stop. Not now. He had to reach Arnold's Fried Chicken as quickly as possible. For all he knew, Bernard could've already left, and the thought of his father wandering aimlessly in the streets or pulling another dangerous stunt made his stomach twist with anxiety. Time was running out.
As he pushed forward, his mind wandered back to the MRT ride from the day before, a memory resurfacing like it had just happened.
It was just yesterday, and Nathan was standing in the aisle of the MRT train when a small boy next to him tilted his head and asked, "Hey, aren't you the guy with the weird old man?"
Nathan blinked, looking down at the boy, unsure of how to respond. The child's curious eyes were wide and eager, like he'd just seen someone from a storybook.
"I saw you yesterday. You were with him on this train," the boy continued, his small hand gripping the metal pole for balance.
Before Nathan could reply, the boy's mother swooped in, gently scooping him up into her arms. She flashed an apologetic smile at Nathan. "Don't bother people, sweetie. Let's go sit down," she said softly.
The boy, however, craned his neck to keep his eyes on Nathan as they moved down the car. "Where's the old man?" he asked, his voice fading as they moved toward the far end of the train. Nathan never got a chance to respond, watching as the boy's curiosity disappeared into the crowd.
Nathan remembered seeing the same family later that night as he wandered near Ophir Road, which connected Arab Street to Shaw Tower at 100 Beach Road. He had been running around aimlessly, trying to figure out where Bernard might have gone, when he passed a row of old shophouses.
That's when he heard a voice call out from a nearby doorway, stopping him in his tracks. "Hey! Are you lost? I could give you directions if you want!"
Nathan slowed and turned, unsure if the voice was directed at him. Standing there, leaning casually against the doorframe, was the same woman from the MRT train. This time, she wore a bright pink shirt that boldly displayed "Mom Power!" in colorful letters. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, and she wore simple pink silk pajama pants and grey slippers, looking as though she had just settled in for a quiet night.
Nathan blinked, not immediately recognizing her, but the voice and the situation felt familiar. "I'm not lost," he said, his tone rushed, betraying his urgency. "I know where I'm going, but I need to hurry. I don't have much time to waste."
The woman raised her eyebrows, smiling kindly. "You sure? I've seen you running around for a while now. You look a bit lost, if you ask me."
Nathan sighed, realizing he might as well take the chance. He needed to get to Arnold's Fried Chicken quickly, and walking wasn't cutting it. "Would you happen to have a car by any chance? I'll pay you if you can give me a ride."
The woman chuckled and shook her head. "No car, I'm afraid. But I've got something even better." She paused for a moment, leaning against the doorframe. "Would you pay to have a ride on a tricycle instead?"
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "A tricycle?"
Before he could respond further, a small voice popped up from behind the woman. The boy from the train peeked his head out the door. "Just don't take my tricycle! I wouldn't want anything to happen to it!"
The boy squinted at him, clearly recognizing him now. "Wait… aren't you the guy with the old—"
Before he could finish, a pair of arms wrapped around him, pulling him back inside. The voice, much younger and more teasing, rang out as a teenage girl stepped into view. "Let's not get involved in other people's conversations, Kiran. It's not polite," she said, pulling him back inside, despite his protests.
Kiran tried to hold onto the doorframe, his small hands gripping tightly. "Wait, no! I never got my answer!" he called out as the girl dragged him away.
Nathan stood there, briefly zoning out as he pieced it all together. The woman was indeed the same one from the train.
But there wasn't time to dwell. He refocused, urgency creeping back into his voice. "How much for the ride?" he asked, not wanting to waste any more time.
The woman laughed softly. "I'll tell you what—no charge. Just make sure you return it in one piece."
Nathan nodded, relieved. "Thank you." He watched as the woman disappeared briefly into the garage attached to the side of her shophouse, emerging moments later, pushing a large tricycle. It was brightly colored, but it was clearly not a child's tricycle because it was large enough for an adult to sit comfortably on it. The vibrant blues and reds of the tricycle stood out against the dim light of the street, and Nathan realized this tricycle was probably something she didn't ride often with how good the condition of it seemed.
Nathan sighed in relief. "Thank you. I'll return it, I promise." He climbed onto the back of the tricycle, feeling the tension ease slightly. "What's your name, by the way?"
"Aisha," she replied,
Nathan gave her a nod. "Thanks, Aisha. I really appreciate this. Hopefully, I can return the favor someday."
The flashback faded, and Nathan returned to the present moment, his hands gripping the handlebars of the tricycle tightly as he pedaled down Ophir Road. The glow of Arnold's Fried Chicken was just ahead, the neon sign flickering in the distance.
His heart pounded in his chest as he finally spotted the fast-food joint, its brightly lit interior visible from the street. Nathan scanned the area, but his stomach dropped when he didn't see Bernard anywhere inside.
A crowd had gathered outside, their phones raised, recording something up above. The soft murmur of voices filled the air, and Nathan's eyes followed their gaze up to the rooftop. His heart stopped.
Bernard was hanging from the edge of the roof.
Up on the roof, Bernard's legs dangled precariously over the side as his hands clutched the edge. His face was twisted with effort, his knuckles white from the strain. "Come on, Bernard!" Jiawei's voice was loud in his ear, full of manic energy. "Don't chicken out now, lah! Look at the crowd! They're waiting for you. Just pull yourself up and do the double front flip into a safety roll. You'll be an icon!"
But Bernard's arms were trembling, his strength waning. The adrenaline that had once surged through him was fading, leaving him in a precarious position. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his grip was slipping.
"Jiawei," Bernard muttered, his voice strained, "I don't know if I can..."
"Of course, you can!" Jiawei's voice urged. "Just a little more, don't let them down, don't let me down!"
Below, the crowd was growing more anxious. Some were still filming, but others had begun to shout, their excitement turning to worry. The height wasn't high enough to be fatal if he fell and hit the ground, but they were aware that'd it'd probably injure him pretty badly.