"Yes, sonic boom. I learned this trick from a guy in a red suit. Once speed breaks the sound barrier, it creates a highly destructive sonic explosion, which has unexpected effects for chasing or subduing your enemies. What do you think, Clark?"
Eric asked Clark, who was sprawled on the ground.
It was still mercilessly sharp-tongued sarcasm.
"Alright, Eric, you win. This was what you expected, wasn't it?"
Clark gasped for air, stood up from the ground, and glared at him angrily.
Although he was shocked that Eric's speed could break the sound barrier, his heart was now filled with more anger and unwillingness.
"But I'm not canceling the party, even if you lock me in the house, Eric."
Clark stubbornly refused to compromise with Eric.
"I hate your lectures, which are stricter than Dad's. You always stand aloof, pointing fingers at me, or acting as a gypsy with a crystal ball, or being the one who cleans up the mess in the end. Maybe you're always right, but Eric, that's the problem between us."
Clark blurted out all his thoughts, "I'd rather have a younger brother who treats me as an equal, not a younger brother who acts like an elder or a father. Like this party, if you were my father, I'd understand your opposition to me, but you're not; you're my younger brother, even younger than me. If you always interact with people this way, Eric, no one will like you like this!"
Facing Clark's accusations, Eric was silent for a few seconds.
The air also fell silent.
"You can host the party tonight at home, but you cannot invite Lex Luthor. He's recently gotten into trouble. If you invite him to the party, I don't think it'll be an easy problem to solve."
After speaking, he turned and left immediately.
Leaving Clark stunned in place.
Clark regretted his last sentence as soon as he said it.
He knew how hurtful that statement could be, especially when spoken to the person closest to him.
With a look of annoyance and regret on his face, he heavily punched a nearby fir tree.
The broad leaves on the tree rustled down.
Clark's mood instantly plummeted.
"So, you told Eric, 'no one will like you like that'?"
Chloe asked a dejected Clark in surprise.
"I think that must be the most hurtful thing to say, with a destructive power comparable to 'You think you're one of us? Don't dream, we never considered you one of us.'"
Chloe shook the freshly bought coffee in her hand and said to Clark, "I thought, Clark, given your personality and character, you wouldn't say something like that. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ "
"I agree."
Pete chimed in, "That doesn't sound like something you'd say. It's more like a huge outburst from long-standing resentment. Clark, you're clearly not the type to be blinded by anger, so I also think this doesn't fit your personality."
"I don't know."
Clark shook his head blankly, "We had a conflict, and I was angry at the time, so after I said something like that, I immediately regretted it. I don't know how to apologize to him, I..."
"Uh-huh, I understand."
Chloe nodded, patting Clark, who was a head taller than her, on the shoulder, "But sometimes those words are the most hurtful, aren't they? They make people mistakenly believe that those are a person's truest thoughts. Lies aren't daggers; truth is the sharpest blade."
"We know why Eric stopped you—it's because of Lex Luthor. What are you going to do next? Continue with the party but don't invite Lex, or cancel the party?"
Chloe asked the question that she and Pete were most concerned about.
"That's why I came to you. Lex wants to change the party venue to his Manor, and I don't know if I should go. After all, Eric has always thought that Lex is a vortex of trouble right now."
Clark said hesitantly to Chloe and Pete.
"That's a really strange mindset. You just had a conflict with Eric over the party, and now you're starting to consider Eric's opinion again."
Chloe shrugged, "But my opinion is, why not? As a reporter for a quirky town searching for quirky news, I've always walked a tightrope, so I don't have any resistance to trouble vortices. What about you, Pete!"
Facing their inquiring gazes, little Pete nodded excitedly, pulled out his phone, "I'm also very interested in the legendary Luthor Family's high-society party. I'll inform everyone right now that the party location has changed to Luthor Manor."
""
Watching Pete continuously make calls to inform everyone that the party location had changed to Luthor Manor, Clark was a little speechless.
Could it really be as Eric said, that Pete would invite the entire school to the party?
A sudden sense of relief rose in his heart. Fortunately, he hadn't hosted the party at home, otherwise, it might really have been "destroyed" as Eric said.
That night.
Kent Farm.
Eric was in the living room dealing with pizza and broth when the telephone suddenly rang.
After connecting, his mother Martha's voice came from the other end of the line.
His mother, who was on her honeymoon in Metropolis, called to inquire about their safety and eating habits because she was worried about them.
"Clark?"
Facing his mother's question, "Is Clark not there right now?" Eric looked up and glanced at the lively Luthor Manor in the distance of the town.
"Clark is at a classmate's party right now."
"Attending a party? Clark really is expanding his social circle. Eric, aren't you going to the party? Staying home alone, cold and quiet, isn't a pleasant experience."
His mother Martha suggested to him.
Eric replied helplessly, "You know, Mom, I'm not really interested in parties or socializing."
"Sometimes you need to make changes, don't you? Just like Jonathan changed his stance before to go watch Clark's game at school. Eric, sometimes you can be like your father, even though he's a stubborn man."
"I know, Mom, I know who I am. Don't worry about me."
After comforting his mother for a few moments, Eric hung up the phone.
He had no interest or motivation in changing his inherent stance, as his mother had suggested.
His earlier compromise with Clark was because he was too lazy to bother with him anymore. Since Clark didn't like his methods, he couldn't be bothered with him.
As for Clark's comment, "No one will like you like that," he didn't take it to heart.
Since his previous life, he had never been someone who cared about others' opinions.
Eric, who was putting the remaining pizza back in the refrigerator, suddenly heard a "bang" of an explosion outside!
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