"Hello, Dad! It's Eric."
"Eric, how are things in Gotham lately? I saw the weather forecast; it's been raining there these past two days, and the air quality isn't great with all the humidity. You need to be careful."
Jonathan instructed Eric from Kent Farm.
"I know, Dad. Everything's going well here. How about the farm?"
Jonathan hesitated, glancing at his wife standing nearby. "Everything's fine here. Your mother wants to talk to you for a bit."
After handing the phone to Martha, Jonathan sighed and sat down in a chair.
Martha, who had been chatting with Eric for a while, hung up the phone and returned to her husband's side, taking his hand. "We'll find Clark."
"It's not like last time, when Clark's running away was just to avoid an awkward silence."
Jonathan showed a helpless expression. "This time, his rebelliousness seems to have been magnified countless times."
"Do you think this is a good idea? Not telling Eric about Clark."
Martha was silent for a moment, then said, "If there's anyone in this town who can find Clark, it's only Eric. And if something were to happen, only Eric could handle it."
"That will drag things into an even more difficult situation, Martha."
Jonathan gently patted his wife's hand. "Tomorrow, I'll go to school. Maybe I can wait for Clark there."
"I hope so."
Martha nodded, but the worried look on her face did not fade.
The next morning.
Jonathan drove his pickup truck and stopped at the school gate, rolling down the window to watch the students coming and going, hoping to find Clark.
After waiting for half an hour, he heard a familiar motorcycle roar.
Looking back, he saw Clark riding with a girl dressed in a rebellious punk style, approaching the school gate.
Clark stopped his motorcycle, took off his sunglasses, and said goodbye to the girl, just as he ran into Chloe, Pete, and Lana.
"Whoa!"
Chloe, who had just witnessed the scene, exclaimed exaggeratedly, "The shy, reserved Clark is gone, and an enthusiastic, girl-charming Clark is online."
Clark hung his helmet on the handlebars, a slight smile on his lips. "I just gave her a ride to school. If you want, Chloe, I can give you a ride too."
Chloe froze, then exchanged a glance with Lana.
Although she had unusual feelings for Clark, she didn't want it to be in this setting, in this manner.
After glancing at Clark, she turned and walked away somewhat awkwardly.
Lana quickly followed her.
"Whoa, Clark Kent has become an electric charmer! So what's going on?"
"People always change, Pete!"
Clark put on his sunglasses and shrugged at him.
Thud!
The car door closed, and Jonathan got out of the car, walking behind Clark.
"Clark, we need to talk."
Clark glanced at his father, caressing the ruby ring in his hand. "Not now, Dad."
"What?"
"I said not now."
With that, he ignored Jonathan and walked straight into the school.
Jonathan's anger flared up. He grabbed Clark's leather jacket. "I told you to get in the car!"
"Tell me why I have to get in the car."
"Because I'm your father. Now, get in the car!"
Jonathan stared into Clark's eyes, speaking each word distinctly.
"No! You're not my father!"
Clark seemed annoyed by his father's persistence. He pushed his father in the chest, sending him backward.
Bang!
Although it seemed like a casual push, it had immense power in Clark's hand. Jonathan was directly sent flying.
He crashed straight backward, his back hitting the bed of the pickup truck with a "bang."
"Ugh!"
Jonathan let out a pained groan, clutching his chest, leaning against the truck bed, and slowly sliding down.
Seeing that he had pushed his father into the car, Clark was also stunned, but then his eyes became a few shades colder, and he turned and walked towards the school.
Pete couldn't stand it. He stopped and glared at the departing Clark, then came over to help Jonathan up.
"Are you alright, Uncle?"
In the school hallway, Clark met Ms. Aikins, the biology teacher, who was organizing things at her locker.
"Hey, Ms. Aikins!"
Clark greeted Ms. Aikins. "Ms. Aikins, your dressing style today breaks the impression you've given before, but I must say, it suits you very well, and it's very beautiful."
Ms. Aikins was wearing a light green, wavy, pleated Bohemian long dress, which increased her sex appeal by more than a notch.
"Wandering, freedom, uninhibited, decadent—these are the symbols of Bohemia."
Ms. Aikins turned around, facing Clark, who was leaning against the locker and smiling.
"Haggard and beautiful, dim and romantic, poor and fashionable—such Bohemian characteristics suit me perfectly, so you are very right."
Ms. Aikins exuded an aura that attracted high school students. She smiled at Clark, "Do you know why I'm haggard, Clark?"
"Perhaps you need a place of release that can free you from negative emotions."
Clark took a step closer to Ms. Aikins. "I know a very lively bar that makes hormones surge—frantic music, stimulating lights. Maybe it can help you get rid of your haggardness and gloom and pick up your bad mood again. Bohemia, Butterfly Print, Finity—you can choose any beauty you want."
"No!"
Ms. Aikins held out a finger, stopping Clark from getting closer to her.
"Because I'm missing my date, Eric Kent. Do you know? We used to date, and the experience he brought me was 'tingling,' 'a slight prickle,' followed by a rapid heartbeat. That was the taste of fear and anticipation intertwined. I was madly addicted to this feeling!"
She gently pushed Clark with her finger, pushing him away from her.
"Are you surprised? I know you're Eric's brother, but you two are completely different. I can't feel that captivating aura from your body that I'm so addicted to. Clark, I know about your recent outrageous behavior."
Ms. Aikins ignored Clark's increasingly ugly face and continued, "But whether you're quiet and obedient, or disguised as arrogant and reckless, you can never surpass your brother. So, your charm cannot conquer me. If you want a date, it will never happen."
After an outburst directed at Clark, Ms. Aikins turned and left.
Leaving her well-curved back to Clark, whose fists were clenched.
I'm not as good as Eric?!
This thought appeared in his mind, circling repeatedly.
Thud!
He punched the locker, deforming the metal locker and producing a loud bang.
A passing classmate was startled by him.
"Then we'll see!"
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