Eric, No One Will Like You Like This!

"Yes, a sonic boom. I learned this move from a guy in a red bodysuit. Once your speed breaks the sound barrier, it creates a highly destructive sonic explosion. It has unexpected effects when chasing down or subduing enemies. What do you think, Clark?"

Eric asked Clark, who was lying on the ground.

His mercilessly sharp tongue remained as cutting as ever.

"All right, Eric, you win. That was what you expected all along, wasn't it?"

Clark drew a hard breath and climbed to his feet, glaring furiously at him.

Though he was shocked that Eric's speed could break the sound barrier, what filled his heart now was even more anger and unwillingness.

"But I won't cancel the party, even if you lock me in the house, Eric."

Clark still stubbornly refused to compromise with Eric.

"I hate your lectures that are even stricter than Dad's. You always stand apart, pointing fingers at me from some distant place, either acting like a gypsy with a crystal ball or the one who cleans up the mess in the end. Maybe you're always right, but... Eric, that's the problem between us."

Clark suddenly poured out everything he had been holding inside. "I'd rather have a younger brother who gets along with me as an equal, not one who acts like an elder or a father. Just like this party—if you were Dad, I'd understand why you opposed me. But you're not. You're my younger brother, younger than me. If you keep treating people this way, Eric, no one will like you like this!"

Facing Clark's accusation, Eric fell silent for several seconds.

The air fell silent as well.

"You can hold the party at home tonight. But... you can't invite Lex Luthor. He's gotten himself into trouble recently. If you invite him to the party, I don't think it'll be trouble that can be easily resolved."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Leaving Clark standing there in a daze.

Clark regretted his words the moment he finished that last sentence.

He knew how hurtful those words were, especially when said to someone closest to him.

His face filled with frustration and regret, he punched the cedar tree beside him hard.

Broad fallen leaves rustled down from the branches.

Clark's mood instantly sank to rock bottom.

"So you told Eric that no one would like him like that?"

Chloe asked the dejected Clark in surprise.

"I think that might be one of the most hurtful things you could say. Its destructive power is comparable to, 'You think you're one of us? Dream on. We never considered you one of our own.'"

Chloe swirled the coffee she had just bought and said to Clark, "I thought someone with your personality and image wouldn't say something like that."

"I agree."

Pete chimed in from the side. "That doesn't sound like something you'd say. It sounds more like a massive outburst after a conflict that had been building up for a long time. Clark, you're obviously not the type to be blinded by anger, so... I also think it doesn't fit your personality."

"I don't know."

Clark shook his head helplessly. "We had an argument, and I was angry at the time. The moment I said it, I regretted it. I don't know how to apologize to him. I..."

"Mm-hmm, I understand."

Chloe nodded and patted Clark's shoulder, though he was a head taller than her. "But sometimes words like that hurt the most, don't they? They make people think that's what someone truly feels deep down. Lies aren't blades. The truth is the sharp knife."

"Now we know why Eric stopped you—it was because of Lex Luthor. So what are you going to do next? Keep the party but don't invite Lex, or cancel it?"

Chloe asked the question that she and Pete cared about most.

"That's why I came to you two. Lex wants to move the party to his manor. I don't know whether I should go. After all, Eric has always thought Lex is a vortex of trouble now."

Clark spoke to Chloe and Pete with hesitation.

"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 Smallville reporter searching for strange news, I'm always walking a tightrope, so I'm not exactly averse to a vortex of trouble. What about you, Pete?"

Under their questioning gazes, Pete nodded excitedly and pulled out his phone. "I'm also very interested in a high-society party held by the legendary Luthor family. I'll let everyone know right now that the party's been moved to Luthor Manor."

"..."

Watching Pete continuously call people to tell them the party had been moved to Luthor Manor, Clark was speechless.

Could Eric really have been right? Had Pete invited the entire school to the party?

A sudden sense of relief rose in his heart. Fortunately, they hadn't held the party at home. Otherwise, as Eric had said, their house might really have been completely "destroyed."

Night fell.

Kent Farm.

Eric was dealing with pizza and meat stew in the living room when the phone suddenly rang.

After he answered it, his mother Martha's voice came from the other end.

His mother, who was on her honeymoon in Metropolis, had called because she was worried about the two boys' safety and whether they were eating properly.

"Clark?"

When his mother asked, "Is Clark not there right now?" Eric raised his head and glanced toward the lively Luthor Manor in the distance beyond town.

"Clark is at a classmate's party right now."

"At a party? Clark really has broadened his social circle. Aren't you going to the party too, Eric? Staying home all alone in such a quiet house isn't exactly a pleasant experience."

Martha suggested.

Eric replied helplessly, "You know, Mom, I'm not interested in parties or socializing."

"Sometimes you need to make changes, don't you? Just like Jonathan changed his stance and went to school to watch Clark's game. Eric, sometimes you can be more like your father too, even though he's a stubborn man."

"I know, Mom. I know what kind of person I am. Don't worry about me."

After comforting his mother for a few moments, Eric hung up.

He had no interest or motivation in changing his established stance as his mother had suggested.

He had compromised with Clark earlier only because he couldn't be bothered to argue with him anymore.

Lex Luthor had already caught the Owl Council's attention. Whether Clark got dragged into it was up to him.

As for Clark saying, "No one will like you like this," he didn't take it to heart.

Since his previous life, he had never been someone who cared about other people's opinions.

As Eric put the remaining pizza back into the refrigerator, he suddenly heard a booming explosion outside!

Thanks to "Nine Hours 0" for the reward.

Thank you all for your votes!