As he approached the scene, Laho's eyes narrowed upon seeing Kodam's father. He muttered under his breath, "Why is he here?" and sighed heavily.
Kodam and Oda greeted Laho warmly. Kodam's father nodded in acknowledgment, extending a polite hello. "It's getting late," he said, addressing the boys, "You should head home."
With reluctance, the three boys left, allowing the elders to converse privately.
"Nodam! Long time no see," Laho exclaimed, extending his hand cautiously. "I hope everything is fine."
Nodam shook Laho's hand firmly, a faint smile on his lips. "Yes, everything is running smoothly as always," he said, his tone measured. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "I'm involved in a new project now."
Laho's curiosity sparked instantly. "What project are you talking about?" he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Is it outside your usual trade business?"
Nodam's eyes widened imperceptibly and said "Oh, it's nothing. Just a minor side thing, nothing worth mentioning."
Laho raised an eyebrow skeptically. "A side thing? You don't usually take on projects outside your main business."
"Well, you know how it is," Nodam replied, attempting nonchalance. "Opportunities arise, and sometimes you have to seize them. But honestly, it's nothing significant."
Nodam then shifted the conversation abruptly. "Is your son Lhasa doing well?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes probing.
"Yes, he's fine," Laho replied cautiously, his cheerful appearance belying his internal tension. His mind raced, wondering why Nodam was suddenly interested in Lhasa. "He's growing up, as kids do."
Nodam nodded, his gaze still probing. "I see. Growing up fast, I suppose."
Laho forced a smile, his unease growing. "Yes, exactly. Just part of life."
"Let's catch up over drinks at my place," Laho suggested, hoping to divert the conversation away from his son and perhaps glean more about Nodam's mysterious project.
Politely declining, Nodam shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, Laho, but I really must be going. There are pressing matters to attend to."
"Are you sure?" Laho pressed, his tone light but persistent.
"Yes, quite sure," Nodam replied, already turning to leave. "But thank you. Perhaps another time."
Watching Nodam depart, Laho's troubled expression deepened. Something didn't add up, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Nodam's new project held more significance than he let on.
Oda said goodbye to his friends, waving as they headed home. As the group dispersed, Kodam's demeanor shifted dramatically. His face grew serious, and he turned to Lhasa, his eyes filled with a mix of confusion and hurt.
"Lhasa," Kodam began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper, "why does my father despise me?"
Lhasa was taken aback by the raw emotion in Kodam's voice. "What do you mean?" he asked softly.
Kodam took a deep breath, struggling to articulate his feelings. "He's so strict and shows no emotion towards me, but then he suddenly changes and shows emotion in front of others. When I react to the sudden change, he...he just...he just..."
His voice faltered, and he looked away, unable to continue. The pain and confusion were evident in his eyes.
Lhasa interrupted gently, sensing the depth of Kodam's distress. "You shouldn't..."
But before he could finish, a sudden, inexplicable sense of danger washed over him. His eyes widened, and he glanced around, feeling a chill run down his spine. Something was very wrong, and the air seemed to thrum with an unseen threat.
Kodam noticed Lhasa's change in demeanor and asked, "What is it?"
Lhasa shook his head slightly, still trying to pinpoint the source of his unease. "I don't know, but we need to be careful. Something's not right."
Meanwhile, Oda asked the neighbors one by one if they had seen his mother, but everyone shook their heads, saying they hadn't seen her today. Some suggested she might be in her room. Growing increasingly anxious, Oda asked his nearest neighbor if they had seen his mother.
"No, I haven't seen her leave the house today," the neighbor replied.
Worry gnawed at Oda as he ran towards his home, his mind racing with possibilities. As he neared the house, he suddenly caught the fragrant aroma of food wafting through the air. The familiar scent calmed his racing heart slightly, and he walked towards the kitchen, nostalgia washing over him. It was the smell of his mother's cooking from his childhood, a comforting memory amidst his worry.
He pushed open the kitchen door, and as he stepped inside, he heard his mother's sweet voice call out, "Oda."
A mysterious figure cloaked in a long, wide woolen shawl slowly made its way down the dimly lit road. Lhasa and Kodam, concealed behind a makeshift wall of sacks, observed in tense silence. The atmosphere was thick with apprehension as Kodam whispered, "What's going on?"
Lhasa's expression was grave as he urgently signaled for silence, pressing a finger to his lips. His keen eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the figure's movements.
There was something unsettling about the man. His silhouette seemed unnaturally bulky beneath the shawl, raising Lhasa's suspicions. Instinctively sensing danger, Lhasa seized a nearby rock and swiftly launched it at the figure before Kodam could react. The rock struck with a solid thud, eliciting a startled cry of pain as the shawl slipped off.
Beneath the shawl was not just any stranger, but the leader of the trekking group they had encountered earlier that morning.
The leader groaned, clutching his side where the rock had struck with brutal force. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead, mixing with the dirt on his face. His rugged features twisted in pain and surprise as he scanned the surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the unexpected attack.
Lhasa and Kodam exchanged a tense glance, their hearts racing. They had inadvertently exposed themselves to a dangerous adversary. Fear gripped them as they realized the implications of their discovery. The leader's presence here, under cover of darkness and concealed in such a manner, could only mean trouble.
"Why is he here again?" Kodam whispered urgently, his voice edged with concern.
Lhasa's response was low and deliberate, filled with tension. "If he's back again then, he's up to no good," he muttered grimly, his mind flashing back to the tense moment when he had caught the leader attempting to secretly draw a gun during their earlier encounter.
The scene was set with palpable tension as Lhasa and Kodam faced the unexpected return of the leader under mysterious circumstances. The air crackled with uncertainty and danger, setting the stage for the next unfolding events in their story.