Clark suddenly confided his long-suppressed inner voice, leaving the couple unsure of what to say to comfort him.
"Son..."
This topic had been lingering within their family for quite some time. They hoped their son could conceal his true nature, fearing that the government might unexpectedly intervene and take him away one day.
However, as teenagers attending school, they yearned to be noticed on campus, a feeling the couple understood well, having gone through that stage themselves.
"I'm done eating. Let's go ahead," Clark declared.
The dinner table atmosphere grew somber. David, not particularly interested in the old-fashioned topic at home, gazed out of the window, barely listening. He got up, picked up his schoolbag, and left as though nothing had happened.
"Clark is frustrated +9, depressed +7..."
Another wave of strong emotions surged from his dear brother.
Chuckling to himself, David leisurely strolled outside the farm.
Not too long after, the school bus conveniently pulled up in front of him.
"Hi, David," greeted the students aboard the bus, their youthful faces exuding energy and vitality. Laughter and conversations filled the air as male and female voices mingled.
David nodded in response and found a seat at the back.
Leisurely turning his head, he looked out of the window.
The sky appeared washed in blue, with fluffy white clouds lazily drifting like cotton balls. Lush green grass extended as far as the eye could see, reaching towards the dense forest in the distance, evoking a sense of tranquility.
The rural town of Smallville in Kansas had one advantage: its natural beauty remained mostly intact, owing to its remoteness and lack of urban development. The fresh air was a pleasant consequence of its seclusion.
The school bus made a brief stop before continuing its journey.
"Where's Clark, David?" inquired a clear, lively voice from a neighboring seat, tinged with a hint of confusion.
Although the two brothers were typically inseparable, it was unusual for either of them to be absent when heading to school in the morning.
"He's behind," David casually replied without turning to see who it was.
Chloe, with short blond hair and a fair complexion, always squinted her eyes unconsciously when she smiled, revealing her canine teeth. Her eccentricity added a touch of charm to her character. As the school newspaper's reporter and editor-in-chief, she often sought out strange and interesting stories.
From her seat, she gazed towards the Kent farm, wondering what was happening.
"It's nothing unusual for teenage high school students to quarrel with their parents. You wouldn't find it interesting," David responded in a monotone.
"Oh, come on, don't always make yourself seem so mature, David," Chloe retorted playfully, while the slightly short black-haired Pete sitting beside her winked and grinned.
"It sets you apart and doesn't appeal to girls."
On campus, the Kent brothers were known for their aversion to various activities. Clark, although tall and physically imposing, was shy and lacked words, resembling an honest introvert.
In others' eyes, David appeared reserved and aloof, not one to socialize easily. His personality had a touch of introversion, with a hint of mystery.
"Looks like Clark won't be catching the school bus today," Chloe teased, turning her gaze away.
"If you weren't born on a farm, the rumor going around the school would be that you're a vampire from the Renaissance era, dwelling alone in a castle," Chloe quipped, laughter evident in her voice.
David and Chloe knew each other well, primarily through their association with Clark as his close friends. They had gotten to know each other over time.
Looking out of the window, David remained noncommittal.
Despite the new life he had embraced and the hormonal changes coursing through his body, he retained a certain level-headedness during adolescence, different from the impulsive tendencies of his peers.
Unlike his Kryptonian brother, Clark.
"Kryptonians also go through puberty," David sighed inwardly, observing a couple seated at the front of the school bus engrossed in conversation, laughter, and affectionate gestures.
Lana Lang, with sleek black hair and a slightly upturned nose, possessed both beauty and charm. She held the captaincy of the school's cheerleading team. Though not an outgoing type, she garnered admiration and secret admiration from many male students.
And there was her handsome blond boyfriend...
"It's no surprise that the captain of the rugby team and the cheerleading team, who shine like stars in our school, are in a relationship," David complained inwardly.
"Seriously, if Clark, who struggles to talk to girls, manages to win Lana from Whitney, it would make headlines in the next issue of the Torch News."
Noticing David's gaze, Chloe chuckled. "But we all know it's impossible."
It was generally impossible to conceal a crush. Clark's feelings for Lana were apparent to anyone who had observed their interactions, including Lana's boyfriend.
After all, when a boy is constantly caught daydreaming about a particular girl and becomes incredibly nervous and lost for words when conversing with her, it's quite obvious what's going on.
As a family who had grown up together for over a decade, if Clark truly loved football, David would support him.
"It's a shame young Superman is tangled up in hormones," David thought to himself.
Clark's desire to join the football team, to display his prowess on the field and capture his crush's attention, stemmed from his youthfulness.
"I want to follow suit, excel on the rugby field, and earn the admiration of my crush," David mused.
How young the thoughts are...
David silently shook his head.
"It seems like Clark's plan to join the football team might not work out after all," Pete remarked, shifting to a more serious tone after chuckling at Clark's crush. Pete glanced around before leaning closer to David and speaking in a hushed voice.
"David, what about you?"
"I've already told you I don't intend to join the football team," David replied. He had no interest in exerting controlled strength among a group of often boorish and arrogant football players.
"But it's the only way," Pete chimed in, his eyes displaying concern.
"What do you mean?" Chloe wondered. "Peter, why are you suddenly whispering like that? It's as if you're afraid of something."
Avoiding something out of fear, he spoke like a thief.
"What are you two discussing?"
"Chloe, you wouldn't understand," Pete replied, glancing nervously at the rowdy football players sitting in front, as though concerned they might overhear. He swallowed hard.
"We're trying to avoid becoming hapless scarecrows."
"Scarecrows?" Chloe questioned.
"It's a tradition on the school football team to pin someone from Smallville to a man's chest before a big game, hanging them up like a scarecrow," David explained, a smile playing on his lips.
It was akin to a morale-boosting ceremony before a military deployment—a display of camaraderie among a group of spirited and audacious young men.
"I guess I underestimated the savagery of football players," Chloe frowned, her expression a mix of concern and distaste.
"That's why Clark and I want to join the team. Even if we fetch their water bottles or guard their gear, we won't face their wrath," Pete, a slightly shorter African-American, stated.
He glanced at David, hoping to remind and persuade him.
"And you're still laughing, David. If Clark doesn't make the cut, it might be one of your brothers next time," Pete warned.
This wasn't just empty talk.
It was the reality on American campuses. Athletes were the center of attention, while so-called nerds remained nerds regardless of their academic achievements and were often the first targets of bullying.
Born and raised on a farm, the "nerdy" Kent brothers enjoyed a good reputation on campus for their excellent grades.
"You know what'll happen if Whitney decides to take action against you, Clark's younger brother."
"Stupid Clark," David muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes at the mention of this matter.
Clark believed his secret crush on Lana was well hidden, but anyone with even a little insight could see it, including Lana's boyfriend.
Despite appearing dull, shy, and inarticulate to outsiders, the young Superman possessed an imposing figure and rugged handsomeness, making him a formidable presence.
"Especially Lana, even though she has a boyfriend, her attitude toward Clark is different from others," David noted.
There was a risk of getting a green hat, Whitney, accustomed to being the star of the campus, couldn't help but feel jealous.
Just then, Whitney engrossed in conversation with his girlfriend, caught a glimpse of something, perhaps coincidentally, or heard his name and turned to glance in David's direction. His eyes conveyed undisguised coldness before he looked away.
"Is he coming for me?" David raised an eyebrow, freezing for a moment.
Would he start to intimidate now?
"At seventeen years old, with the physique of Thanos, should I be afraid of my classmates' violence?" David thought, brushing off any apprehension.