บท 30: Chapter 30 (edited)
"Damn it?"
Kara, who had just returned home, didn't care about resting or freshening up. She turned around and sat on the sofa next to Clark, pulled her younger brother to sit down, and asked with a curious look, "What trouble could he possibly cause? Dad trained him to be cautious."
Jonathan rolled his eyes, knowing she was accusing him of having been overly strict with Clark since childhood—keeping him from playing with other children until he could control his powers.
Clark's lack of friends growing up and his difficulty opening up to others were largely due to Jonathan's protective measures. However, those efforts were meant to shield Clark and were not without reason.
Martha interjected gently, "Kara, that's not a nice way to put it. Don't describe your brother like that."
Kara rolled her eyes in response. Mom, did you just call Clark a dog without realizing it? Am I the bad one here for pointing this out?
Jonathan and Martha began recounting the events leading up to this conversation, and Kara quickly caught up on what had transpired.
It turned out that just two days before Kara's return, a school bus Clark was riding in had an accident and fell into a river.
Faced with a life-or-death situation, Clark had used his super strength to push the bus ashore, saving everyone inside. However, two students witnessed his extraordinary feat, nearly exposing his secret.
Jonathan sighed as he explained, "During the investigation at the police station, the two kids said Clark saved them. But because what he did seemed impossible, they found it both incredible and frightening."
Jonathan worried about the possibility of Clark's and Kara's true nature being discovered. If word got out that they were aliens, humanity could panic, knowing Earth was not alone in the universe and that beings with powers far beyond their comprehension existed.
But Kara, unbothered, said, "Clark did the right thing, Dad. He's an adult and knows what he's doing. Saving lives is more important than staying hidden. If I'd been there, I'd have done the same thing without hesitation.
"If Clark hadn't acted, and he'd been the only one to survive, he'd face accusations for letting everyone else die. Do you really think staying hidden is worth that?"
Jonathan opened his mouth to argue but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Jonathan? Martha? I know you're home. We need to talk," said a familiar voice.
It was their neighbor, Mrs. Ross. Kara recognized her immediately. She had a son around Clark's age—Pete Ross.
Clark shifted uncomfortably. At least two people had seen his rescue: Pete and another student, Lana Lang.
Kara smirked to herself. Lana Lang. Maybe Clark's first crush?
Martha opened the door, and in walked Mrs. Ross, a middle-aged woman with a warm but serious expression. She was accompanied by Pete, who glanced nervously at Clark.
"Clark, Kara, go upstairs," Jonathan instructed. "Kara, you can freshen up while you're at it."
As they moved to leave, Kara greeted their guest, "Mrs. Ross, long time no see."
Mrs. Ross smiled kindly, "Kara, you've grown so much! I heard you've been working out of town. You must be settling down soon, right?"
"Settling down? Why would I do that?" Kara replied with mock incredulity. "Work comes first, and besides, I doubt anyone's worthy of your humble neighbor's daughter."
Mrs. Ross looked taken aback by Kara's bold statement, while Martha quickly ushered her daughter upstairs with a resigned smile.
"Kara, go shower. We'll talk later. Also, your old clothes don't fit you anymore, right?" Martha remarked.
Kara raised an eyebrow. "Do you mean the sleeves are too short, or are you talking about the chest?"
"Both," Martha admitted with a grin.
As they went upstairs, Clark hesitated and looked back worriedly. Jonathan gave him a reassuring nod, so he followed Kara to the second floor.
Kara found her room untouched since she'd last been home. Though she'd been gone for years, even Clark hadn't moved anything. Her books, the furniture arrangement, even the bedding—everything was the same.
She realized her brother must have been maintaining the room for her return.
"Clark," Kara teased as she grabbed her things, "I'm going to shower. Don't peek."
Clark rolled his eyes at her joke and leaned against the wall.
Downstairs, the adults talked in hushed voices. Though Kara didn't care to eavesdrop, she caught snippets about Mrs. Ross telling Jonathan and Martha that Pete believed Clark was "special" or "chosen."
Her brother's growing frustration was palpable. She heard a faint whoosh and realized Clark had jumped out the window, unable to handle the pressure of their neighbor's words.
Kara sighed as she entered the bathroom. Clark, you can't run from this forever.
บท 31: Chapter 31 (edited)
In the evening, the finally reunited family of four sat around the dining table, enjoying a sumptuous dinner. After all, Kara had finally come back after a few years, and the occasion called for celebration.
However, the atmosphere at the table was somewhat heavy. Clark's recent struggles, especially his growing questions about his unusual abilities, weighed on everyone's minds.
"Maybe I'm cursed?" Clark muttered, voicing his concern.
Kara didn't agree. "Why would you think that?" she asked.
As she spoke, she casually used her telekinesis to levitate a scoop of mashed potatoes from the bowl, floating it directly into her mouth with an air of ease and satisfaction. Her time traveling the world had left her far more relaxed about displaying her powers openly.
Jonathan gave her a disapproving look. He had been drilling the importance of secrecy into Clark for years, and now his daughter was blatantly disregarding that lesson at the dinner table.
Martha sighed and plucked a spoon from Kara's plate, pressing it into her hand. "Use your utensils properly, Kara. You're home now."
Kara shrugged nonchalantly, then turned to Clark. "Why do you think you're cursed?" she asked again. "If that's true, then what about me? But I don't see it that way.
"Maybe right now, these powers feel like a burden because Dad's been asking you to hide them to protect you. But one day, when you want to help someone in need or protect someone you care about, you'll understand just how incredible it is to have the strength to make a difference."
Her tone softened as she continued. "Clark, I've been to the farthest corners of the world. I've braved freezing conditions in the Arctic and the Himalayas, fought off wild animals, and even stood up to the worst kinds of villains. Without my powers, I might not have survived half of those experiences.
"Carrying great power comes with responsibility. Think of this as a test of your character, Clark."
As an older sister who had faced so much, Kara felt it was her duty to help her brother navigate his own struggles.
But Clark wasn't so easily pacified. He locked eyes with her, determination flickering in his gaze. "I just want to know why we're different. Why is it that you and I have these abilities, but Mom and Dad don't? Why us?"
Kara looked away, avoiding his gaze, clearly uncomfortable. "Does it really matter?" she asked, trying to shift the subject. "Just eat. I've been craving Mom's cooking for years."
This time, she reached out and tore off a piece of roast chicken with her hands, drawing another sharp look from Martha.
Martha crossed her arms. "We have tableware for a reason, Kara."
Jonathan sighed but remained silent, watching his daughter with a mix of understanding and exasperation.
Finally, after a long pause, Jonathan spoke. "Kara, you said Clark has grown up. Maybe it's time to tell him where you and he come from."
Clark blinked in surprise. "What do you mean, where we come from?" He looked at his mother, then his father, and finally at Kara, who remained silent.
Kara bit her lip and tore into the chicken with a crunch, chewing on the bone absently as she processed her thoughts. Finally, she sighed and turned to face Clark.
"Since Dad thinks you're ready, I'll tell you," she began. "Clark, you and I… we're not from Earth."
Clark froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Kara continued, her voice steady. "We're not Mom and Dad's biological children. They adopted us and raised us as their own, and they've been amazing parents to us."
Jonathan and Martha exchanged a glance, touched by Kara's acknowledgment.
Clark, however, felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders. "So… what are we?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kara took a deep breath. "Your real name is Kal-El, and my real name is Kara Zor-El. Your father, Jor-El, was my father's older brother. That makes us cousins, not siblings.
"Our home planet was called Krypton. It was destroyed long ago. Before its destruction, your father and my father sent us to Earth in separate ships to save our lives. We're the last of our kind, Clark."
She paused to let the words sink in before continuing. "Kryptonians gain incredible abilities under Earth's yellow sun. Combined with Earth's lower gravity and its unique environment, our powers grow stronger over time."
Kara glanced at Clark, gauging his reaction before adding, "When I traveled to the Arctic, I found an old Kryptonian ship. It's part of an exploration mission Krypton sent out over 20,000 years ago. You'll be able to access it using the crystal your father left you. The AI onboard can tell you more about Krypton, about our people, and about who you really are."
Clark sat in stunned silence, struggling to process everything.
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