She clutched her chest in disbelief, "You… you and Clark…"
"That's not it! Please, let me explain… nothing happened between us!" Soren scrambled out of the bed, then realized he wasn't wearing anything.
His face turned red as he quickly pulled the blanket back up, "Nothing happened yesterday, I swear!"
Martha had clearly come to terms with the situation in the brief span of a few seconds—after all, being Superman's mother required a certain level of mental resilience.
She gently touched his sweat-covered face with concern, "Don't worry, child, I'm not accusing you of anything. Let me go and get you some clothes."
Soren felt tears welling up, convinced there was no way to explain this now.
He'd been caught by Martha in Clark's bed naked…
Who would believe nothing happened between them?!
Soren stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind utterly defeated.
Martha rummaged through an old chest and pulled out a set of clothes Clark had worn in middle school and handed them to Soren.
With a gentle smile, she said, "I'll make you breakfast. Jonathan just left, so once you're dressed, come down and eat… Don't be afraid, it's all fine."
Soren, barely holding his shame together, nodded his head while clutching the edge of the blanket.
Shivering slightly, he put on Clark's old hoodie and jeans—along with a pair of awkwardly-fitting, old underwear—and then, feeling as stiff as a newly unwrapped mummy, stumbled downstairs like his limbs didn't quite belong to him.
Martha poured him a glass of milk and made him an egg with two slices of toast.
Sitting across from him at the kitchen, she could clearly see Soren's embarrassment.
Sensing his discomfort, she didn't press him about what had happened earlier.
Instead, she smiled and asked, "Would you like some blueberries? I picked them fresh yesterday."
Soren hunched his shoulders and stared at the table, unable to meet her gaze, "No… no, thank you."
"Are you heading home later? Your mom and I have an appointment at the town's dental clinic this afternoon. I can call her for you if you like."
"I'm not going back," Soren shook his head vigorously.
He had just seen the text Clark left for him, "I'm taking the earliest flight back to Metropolis."
Martha sighed.
Soren seemed genuinely frightened; his pale complexion made her realize how deeply embarrassed and distressed he must be.
She had watched him and Clark grow up together, and the two boys had always been incredibly close.
Martha had had a vague sense that something like this might happen, so she wasn't too surprised when she saw Soren.
—What bothered her was that Clark had just left Soren here alone!
…She had never taught her child to do such things.
It seemed she and Jonathan needed to have a serious talk with Clark when they had the chance.
Martha took Soren's hand and gently placed her palm on his hand, looking at him with a tender and loving gaze. "…Soren, as Clark's mother, I've always taught him to love the world with sincerity, to be a person of integrity, courage, and responsibility. If he fails to live up to these values, you must tell me."
Soren avoided her gaze, "N-No, Clark is a good person… He's honest and kind. Please don't worry."
Martha gently stroked his hair, "You're like a child to me… Just as your mother wishes for your health, happiness, and joy, so do I for you. Don't let yourself be hurt because of others. Love is great, but it can also be painful. Giving your love before learning to love yourself can cause you hurt. Before loving others, you need to understand how to love yourself. Do you understand?"
"…I understand," Soren lowered his head and closed his eyes, "Thank you."
Martha gave him a hug, "When you head back to Metropolis, take some blueberries to Clark. He can make a lot of desserts with them, and you should ask him to make you something."
Soren took a deep breath, visibly moved, "Alright."
He returned to his normal size and regaining back the powers to evolved into Angemon form.
With the glass jar of blueberries Martha had packed for him, he flew back to Metropolis, heading straight to the Daily Planet's office.
He wanted to drop off Martha's blueberries with Clark first.
Even though the hoodie he was wearing was one of Clark's from his middle school days, it was still a bit too large for him.
The maroon hoodie had "Smallville" written in big, vintage yellow letters across the front, making him look like a college freshman.
After checking in at the front desk, the blonde receptionist curiously asked, "Are you Clark Kent's younger brother?"
He smiled awkwardly, "I'm a friend of his."
The receptionist's heart melted.
It wasn't often she saw such a sweet and polite young guy in the workplace; he was like a refreshing breeze in the cold, mechanical atmosphere of her daily grind.
She instantly liked him.
Shethen led him into the newsroom with happy mood, even fetching him a chair to wait while they finished their meeting.
Thoughtfully, she brought him a cup of hot coffee too.
Soren, feeling overwhelmed by the kindness, thanked her profusely.
She winked at him, "No need to thank me, sweetheart. Cute boys get special treatment wherever they go."
With that, she gracefully floated away.
Sitting in the chair, Soren felt a bit out of place.
The old hoodie he wore seemed to seal away his social skills, making him feel awkward and mismatched in the bustling office.
Holding the jar of blueberries, he sat there like a child nervously waiting for a parent to finish work, shaking his leg while anxiously waiting for Clark to come out of his meeting.
The sharp sound of high heels echoed crisply, "click-clack," as a woman in a light blue business suit skirt walked past him.
She paused, took a few steps back, and turned around, giving him a sharp, assessing look, "…And you are?"