บท 41: Under the Weight of Loss [41]

Clark drove towards the school, the sound of the engine filling the silence in the car. Chloe sat beside him, looking out the window, lost in her thoughts. The atmosphere between them was calm, but there was a sense of something unresolved in the air.

Vruuum!

"If you want, if anyone asks, you can say it was you who broke up with me," Clark said, breaking the silence, his voice gentle but firm.

"There's no need, Clark. I don't owe anyone an explanation. But if you really want to avoid problems for me, keep it a secret until the end of the break," Chloe replied, turning away from the window to meet Clark's eyes for a moment.

Clark nodded, a light, melancholic smile on his face. He understood Chloe's request. He knew she was trying to avoid complications and rumors at school, and he would respect her wishes.

....

"Jor-El, are you there?"

[Yes, Kal-El. I am here.]

"If the weather continues as it is, there'll soon be a tornado storm. I need the best way to stop it. Of course, I also have to worry about the consequences."

[Interfering with the weather is risky, Kal-El. You could alter the course of the tornado by using your super speed to create a countercurrent, but you must consider the repercussions. Forcing nature to change its course can have unforeseen effects.]

Clark ran a hand over his face, pondering the information. "I can't just let people be in danger. If there's a way to minimize the damage and prevent anyone from getting hurt, I have to try."

[If you decide to intervene, do so with caution. Try to disperse the tornado in an open field, away from populated areas. This will reduce the risk of destruction and harm to others.]

"Can Arctic breath on the tornado end it?"

[Yes, Kal-El. Your freezing breath can weaken the tornado by lowering the temperature of the warm air that fuels it. However, this also requires precision. You'll need to act quickly to avoid causing other weather problems.]

Clark took a deep breath, reflecting on the best way to handle the situation. He knew that intervening in nature's course was a dangerous decision, but he couldn't just stand by. Destroying Smallville wouldn't benefit anyone.

Clark stepped down from the loft and looked at the darkening sky.

"I just want to protect everyone, Jor-El. I don't want to be the cause of the world's end."

[I trust you, Kal-El. Just remember to act wisely and not to underestimate the power of nature.]

Clark noticed a car approaching the farm. He frowned, trying to identify the vehicle in the distance. "Who would it be at this hour?" he thought.

The car stopped near the farm's entrance, and Clark activated his x-ray vision. He recognized Roger Nixon, a reporter he'd seen with Lex a few times. Roger seemed to be observing the house intently, as if searching for something.

"Jor-El, it looks like we have an unwanted guest."

[Precaution is necessary, Kal-El. I suggest you find out what he wants without arousing suspicion.]

Clark took a deep breath, making a decision. He moved quickly, using his super speed to approach Roger's car without being seen. Within seconds, he was behind the vehicle, listening to Roger murmur to himself.

"Lex must be right. Something strange is happening here, and I'm going to find out what it is," Roger said, adjusting the camera he carried.

Clark turned intangible, phasing through the door of Roger's car without making a sound. He entered the vehicle and approached the reporter, touching his head gently.

"You found nothing relevant here, Roger. Never look for the Kents again," Clark murmured as he precisely manipulated Roger's memories.

Roger blinked a few times, his eyes becoming glassy for a moment. Then, he relaxed, as if the entire purpose of his investigation had been erased from his mind. Clark watched as Roger turned off the camera, a confused look on his face.

"What am I doing here? Must have been a mistake," Roger said to himself, starting the car and preparing to leave.

Vrooom!

Clark exited the car, still intangible, and quickly moved away. He watched from a distance as Roger turned around and left the farm, with no intention of returning. Clark let out a sigh of relief.

"Problem solved, Jor-El."

[Well done, Kal-El. Just remember, some problems are best resolved without conflict.]

....

Whitney entered the Talon, his eyes downcast and his expression desolate. He looked distant, as if carrying an unbearable weight. Lana, who was behind the counter serving customers, immediately noticed Whitney's state and approached him, concerned.

"Whitney? Are you alright? You look..." Lana paused, trying to find the right words. "You look sad."

"Lana... my dad passed away." His voice was choked, laden with emotion.

Lana's eyes widened, feeling her heart tighten. "Oh, Whitney... I'm so sorry." She quickly came around the counter and hugged him, holding him close. Whitney returned the embrace, his body trembling slightly as tears began to roll down his face.

"I don't know what to do now, Lana. He was everything to me," Whitney murmured, his voice barely a whisper.

Lana held him tightly, gently rubbing his back. "You'll get through this, Whitney. I'm here for you. We're all here for you." She looked at him, her eyes filled with compassion. "You're not alone."

Whitney nodded slowly, closing his eyes as he let Lana comfort him. "Thank you, Lana. I really need you right now."

"I know," Lana replied, her voice soft and full of care. "We'll get through this together."

....

Chloe sat on her bed, her eyes swollen and her expression weary. She held the phone in her hands, wondering whether or not to make the call. After a long sigh, she decided to dial the number she knew by heart.

The phone rang a few times before a familiar voice answered on the other end.

"Hey, cuz! What's going on? Are you okay?" Lois asked, the concern in her tone evident.

"Lois... I..." Chloe tried to respond, but her voice faltered, and the tears began to fall again. She swallowed hard, trying to compose herself. "Clark and I broke up."

"What? What do you mean, broke up?" Lois sounded incredulous. "Chloe, tell me I don't have to go down there and knock some sense into him for hurting you."

Chloe let out a short, sad laugh. "No need, Lois. It wasn't his fault. Actually, I think he was just being honest with me. He doesn't feel the same about me... and I guess it's for the best."

Lois was silent for a few seconds before sighing. "Still, Chloe, he had no right to put you through this. You deserve someone who truly loves you, you know?"

"I know, Lois. But... I still want him to take me to the spring dance. Even though we're not a couple anymore, he's still one of my best friends." Chloe smiled, though her heart was heavy.

Lois huffed on the other end. "You're way too strong, you know that? I don't know how you can handle all this and still want him to go to the dance with you."

Chloe wiped her tears, trying to calm down. "I can't just erase how I feel, Lois. Clark is still important to me. And I don't want to lose his friendship, even if it's not the way I hoped."

Lois sighed again. "Alright, cuz. I just want you to know I'm here for you, and if you need anything, you can call me. You're not alone in this."

"Thank you, Lois. I really needed to talk to you."

"Anytime, Chloe. And remember, you deserve someone who makes you truly happy, with no half-truths." Lois tried to offer some comfort to her cousin.

"I know. I'll be okay, I promise." Chloe forced a small smile, even though she knew Lois couldn't see it.

"Alright. Now go get some rest, okay? And if you need anything, call me again. Love you, cuz."

"Love you too, Lois."

....

The Smallville cemetery was quiet that afternoon, a solemn place marked by the gentle sound of the wind rustling through the trees and stirring the leaves. Whitney stood with his head bowed before his father's coffin, which was slowly being lowered into the ground. His eyes were red, but he did his best to stay strong.

Lana stood beside him, holding his hand tightly. She looked at Whitney, then at the coffin, feeling the weight of the moment. Around them, a few friends and family members stood in silence, offering their support with their silent presence. Clark, Chloe, and Pete were there, watching from a distance, respecting their friend's pain.

"I know he'd be proud of you, Whitney," Lana said, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft, trying to offer some comfort amid the sorrow. "You were a good son to him. And he always knew that."

Whitney took a deep breath, looking at Lana, trying to hold back the tears. "I don't know what I'm going to do now, Lana. He was always my role model, my hero." His voice broke, and he squeezed Lana's hand harder.

Lana moved closer, wrapping Whitney in a hug. "You'll find your way, Whitney. I believe in you. And you're not alone. I'll be here, always."

Clark had no particular feeling but stayed silent, using his sunglasses, respecting Whitney's pain. He looked at Chloe beside him, who was also visibly moved.

"It's hard to see a friend go through this," Chloe said, looking at Clark. "I wish I could do more for him."

"Being here makes a big difference, Chloe. Sometimes, it's all we can do," Clark replied, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Pete stood just behind them, observing in silence. "Whitney's a strong guy. He'll get through this, eventually. But for now, he needs all of us."

As the priest gave the final prayer, Whitney's friends stayed close. They all understood the pain of loss and the gravity of the moment. The sun began to set on the horizon, casting an orange glow over the cemetery, adding to the melancholy of the farewell.

Lana held Whitney's hand as the coffin was finally lowered. "You're not alone, Whitney. We're all here for you." Whitney only nodded, unable to find words, but grateful for his friends' presence and the strength Lana gave him.

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