The question hung in the air, creating a tense yet oddly calm atmosphere. Kodam whispered to Oda, "Who was that?"
Oda was about to respond, "It might be tre—"
"It's food, kid," the leader interjected. Kodam and Oda turned to see Lhasa standing in front of them, staring.
"It isn't," the female trekker suddenly said, hitting the leader playfully. With a smile, she added, "It's to reduce the weight of our heavy equipment."
"What weight?" Lhasa asked in the same calm, deep voice. The female trekker, still smiling, explained that their tools were heavy and, given the conditions, difficult to carry. To reduce the burden, they chose a lead box.
Lhasa's face grew cold. "You can't get away with talking nonsense. I know what lead can do."
"Lhasa, is that you?" Oda called from afar.
Lhasa continued, "You can't use toxic metals. If it's toxic, it's toxic. We've already had enough problems from you guys, and now you're using harmful products. You must be banned from here."
One angry trekker demanded, "Who are you to say this?"
"As a resident, I have the say," Lhasa snapped, and the trekker fell silent.
The female trekker apologized, "Sorry for using these products, but We'll make sure—"
"Don't say 'sure,' just leave," Lhasa interrupted harshly.
As they argued, the village chief arrived with his guide, alerted by an elder who had been watching the situation unfold. The female trekker smiled and said, "Okay, then—"
Lhasa ignored her and explained everything to the chief.
The chief said, "It is not legal to bring harmful substances here. Who let you pass for trekking while carrying these dangerous items?"
The female trekker, still smiling, explained, "We came to have some fun, so to make our camping easy and last longer, we used these. We got through by paying a little extra."
The chief frowned. "You are banned from entering again. Go back."
The female trekker looked at Lhasa with the same smile and said, "You're a smart kid." The leader apologized to the chief and commanded his team to return, and they walked back the way they came.
The village chief was left contemplating Lhasa's abrupt departure, his concerns mirrored in the furrowed brows of Kodam and Oda as they tried to catch up with their friend.
"Hey, Lhasa! Stop and talk to us," Kodam called out, his voice tinged with urgency.
They finally caught up with Lhasa, who seemed somewhat distant and aloof. Kodam voiced their shared concern, "Why were you being so cold and rude? It's not like you. The chief will be furious. And what's up with your voice?"
Lhasa sighed deeply, his expression softening momentarily. "I know the chief won't be happy, but I was stern from the start, so I decided to leave. As for my voice, it's just part of adolescence."
Kodam pressed further, "And the rest?"
Lhasa's demeanor hardened again, his voice dropping to a deeper tone. "They deserved it."
"Adolescence?" Kodam mused aloud, while Oda lightly tapped Lhasa on the head, saying, "You better apologize to the chief later."
In a moment of introspection and guilt, Lhasa quietly uttered in a hypnotic voice, "I will."
Kodam and Oda exchanged glances, sensing the weight in Lhasa's words. Kodam nodded reassuringly, placing a hand on Lhasa's shoulder. "We'll sort this out, Lhasa. The chief will understand once you explain."
Kodam added, "Lhasa, Adolescence doesn't happen overnight. Changes come fast at this age, but not that fast."
Lhasa explained, though his voice remained chillingly deep, "My voice started cracking yesterday, and eating cold food outdoors sped up the change."
"Now your voice matches your cold demeanor," Kodam remarked, noting the unusual juxtaposition.
Oda eyed Lhasa suspiciously, saying, "You seemed more than just 'fit' back there."
Suddenly, Kodam erupted into laughter, nudging Oda. "Looks like Lhasa's voice hit puberty at hyper speed!"
Oda chuckled along, agreeing, "Yeah, it's like he swallowed an ancient mountain's echo! And your personality shifted with it."
Recalling Lhasa's serious demeanor with the trekkers, Oda reflected, "It felt like that was the real you."
Lhasa was taken aback at first, but a small smile broke through. Kodam chimed in, "Well, at least now we know who can scare off bears with just a 'hello.' Did you see how those trekkers jumped?"
"Yeah," Oda agreed, "but why were you so harsh with them? I get it was for the village, but that's not like you. Was there something more going on?"
Lhasa nodded thoughtfully. "There was more to it, but it's taken care of now. Peace has been restored for the moment.".
With a shared understanding, The three of them continued their journey toward the clinic, the tension gradually easing with each step. They had to pass through the school road quickly to avoid any teachers catching them out of class. However, fate had a different plan when Kodam collided with Hajim, one of his female classmates, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a chaotic heap of limbs and laughter.
As Hajim attempted to disentangle herself, she was surprised to hear a deep, unexpectedly captivating voice ask, "Are you okay?" Looking up, she saw Lhasa standing there with a hypnotic gaze that she found strangely attractive.
Blushing slightly, Hajim took Lhasa's hand and said, "Thanks for your help."
Kodam, meanwhile, scrambled to his feet and, with his usual nonchalance, dusted off his clothes and muttered an insincere apology, "Sorry about that," as if it were just another minor mishap.
Hajim glanced at Lhasa, noticing his concerned expression. "You look different, Lhasa. Your voice has changed, and so has your personality."
When Lhasa heard the word "change," his eyes widened, and he hesitated, feeling a bit shy trying to appear as before. "It's just a change," he said attempting to have casual talk.
Hajim smiled playfully, teasing Lhasa a bit, "This change is very attractive. Try to keep it."
"Attractive?" Lhasa, caught off guard and blushing slightly, glanced at Oda for support, but Oda, being Oda, simply ignored him, pretending not to notice.
Meanwhile, Kodam, still trying to redeem himself, continued in his usual carefree manner, "Sorry for bumping into you," brushing off imaginary dirt from his shoulder.
Hajim, amused by the contrast between Lhasa's newfound allure and Kodam's obliviousness, asked with a hint of sarcasm, "Yes, and why are you heading this way?" Lhasa hesitated, trying to come up with a smooth response.
Kodam jumped in with his usual lack of filter, "Are you hurt?" and Oda noticed it but didn't do anything.
Hajim, still ignoring Kodam's offbeat comments, turned back to Lhasa . "Shall we go, Lhasa?"
Kodam, persisting with his unintentional humor, added with a wink, "If you're hurt, then you deserved it —"
Oda burst into laughter, unable to contain himself at Kodam's comedic timing.
"Shut up!" Hajim said in mock frustration, shaking her head. "I've been waiting for a chance to talk to Lhasa, and you're talking like a bubble, non-stop."
Kodam, puzzled by the term "bubble," exclaimed loudly, "What bubble?"
Hajim rolled her eyes. "Yes, a bubble. Can't you just keep calm and let me talk to him?"
Lhasa walked away and said, "Sorry, I can't come along today."
Hajim felt embarrassed and a bit rejected, while Kodam couldn't resist teasing her about calling him a bubble earlier.
Suddenly, Lhasa's voice cut through the air, "But tomorrow, wait for me at the Great Statue of Sherpa!"
Kodam, without realizing the implications, chimed in, "Yes, tomorrow, wait!" Then it dawned on him what Lhasa had just said. "Wait, what did you say, Lhasa?"
Feeling a rush of emotions, Hajim replied enthusiastically, "Yes!" Then she turned and ran off towards the school, a mix of exhilaration and bashfulness evident in her steps.
Oda said from behind, "Don't tell Miss Lata that you saw us!" in a loud whisper to Hajim. With a knowing smile, he turned to Kodam and explained, "He's like that, Kodam. It's his first time talking to a girl and she got lucky."
Kodam replied defensively, "It's mine too, but I never talk like that."
Oda countered, "You always talk to girls like that who come to chat with us."
Kodam shook his head adamantly. "No, I don't..." Then suddenly, realization dawned on him as he remembered Oda's behavior in the classroom — polite with girls and sometimes brusque with boys. "Oh! But you—"
"As if," Oda cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand, refusing to entertain Kodam's accusation.
Hajim, feeling a rush of both excitement and embarrassment at this unexpected turn of events, exclaimed, "I guess I'll start preparing myself now — I'm his wife!"
With that declaration hanging in the air, Lhasa continued walking, gesturing for his friends to follow. Kodam and Oda trailed behind, watching as Hajim disappeared into the distance.
Kodam leaned towards Oda and whispered, "Looks like Lhasa's new voice is quite the hit."
Oda grinned knowingly, "Yeah, seems like he's got more than just bears and trekkers to deal with now."