A Toast to Secrets and Surprises

Clark stood in the doorway, his face slowly relaxing into a warm, broad smile.

A big grin spread across his youthful, handsome face.

He leaned against the doorframe and turned to catch Soren's gaze.

He had already heard his friends' voices on the way back home.

Though Clark had the ability to listen to everything around Soren at all times, he respected his privacy.

He only used his super hearing when it was necessary to check on him.

When he picked up the sound of his friends earlier, he tuned in, focusing his super hearing to listen closely to their conversation.

That's when he realized—Soren had been planning this for him for over a week.

During the week, Soren had been secretly busy with this plan.

He contacted their childhood friends and classmates, inviting them to Clark's small apartment to celebrate Clark's 21st birthday.

Soren had a smile on his face, and his handsome, delicate features seemed to glow softly in the dim hallway light.

His lips curved into a heart-melting smile, with the slightest pout like he was asking for a kiss, "Happy 21st birthday, Clark!"

As he said this, he handed over the bag he had been carrying, eagerly urging, "Come on, open your gift! I picked it out for you months ago!"

Clark felt like his heart was melting.

He took the gift bag and pulled out a box wrapped in shiny blue paper.

His friends around him started to cheer and whistle as he unwrapped the box, revealing a heavy Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera.

Clark was almost speechless.

His breath caught, and the camera in his hands felt even heavier than he imagined.

This was the gift Soren had given him.

Just knowing that filled his heart with a warm, sweet feeling.

It was like his heart had been cracked open, and a wave of emotion flooded over him.

Soren's bright blue eyes were focused entirely on Clark, and under the soft yellow light, he flashed a wide grin, his face slightly flushed with excitement. "Clark, do you like it? They said this camera is perfect for a journalist. You're going to be the best reporter at <The Daily Planet>>!"

Clark's thumb brushed along the edge of the camera lens, feeling the solid, textured surface beneath his fingers.

He looked down at Soren's beautiful blue eyes, smiled warmly, and said, "I love it. Thank you."

Their friends laughed, gathering around Clark and Soren as they all moved inside.

The room had been decorated with birthday balloons, streamers, and lights.

Soft country music played in the background, and a huge 20-inch birthday cake sat on the table.

Clark's friends all seemed to be having a great time.

Surrounded by their happy faces, Clark blew out the birthday candles while everyone sang "Happy Birthday."

He cut the cake and shared it with everyone.

Some people had brought food, and others came with champagne and other drinks.

After handing out the cake, everyone started popping open champagne bottles.

The corks popped one after another, and golden champagne flowed into glasses.

The group playfully insisted that Clark should have the first drink.

This was Clark's 21st birthday, the day he could finally drink alcohol legally.

So, for the first time in his life, Clark accepted a glass of champagne.

He looked at the golden drink in his hand and, with full confidence, decided he could down the whole thing with no problem.

He tilted his head back and drank the champagne in one big gulp.

Soren watched in alarm, gasping.

He quickly rushed forward, grabbing Clark's arm, "Clark!"

Soren was really worried!

Clark, a Kryptonian, had never had alcohol before, and he probably thought drinking was as easy as having water.

Maybe he learned from some bad example and just gulped it down like he was from Kansas!

This was going to end badly.

Sure enough, as soon as Soren called Clark's name, Clark turned his head, but his eyes were already foggy and unfocused, "...Soren?"

"You can't drink like that! You'll get drunk!" Soren scolded, snatching the glass from Clark's hand and shooting an angry glare at Pete, who had encouraged Clark, "You're going to get tipsy!"

Clark blinked slowly at him.

"Oh..." Clark mumbled, pulling his hand back and deciding not to drink more.

But to his right, one of his college buddies, Johnson, was grinning and egging him on.

He handed Clark another full glass of champagne, "No way, Kent! You've waited 21 years for this. You've got to drink some more!"

Everyone around them cheered, laughing and raising their glasses toward Clark.

"Yeah, have some more, Clark!"

"Let's toast to our Boy Scout, Clark Kent!"

Someone even put an arm around Soren's shoulder and handed him a slice of pizza, "Come on, Soren. You're the youngest here, so you can't drink yet. Just eat more! I got this special tomato pizza from that authentic Italian place downtown. Try it, come on!"

Soren: !!!

The delicious smell of the pizza was too tempting.

Soren couldn't help but take a bite of the pointy end, momentarily forgetting to stop Clark from drinking the second glass of champagne.

When he saw Clark chugging another glass, Soren quickly swallowed the bite of pizza and rushed forward, holding the half-eaten slice, "Stop drinking like that... Clark!"

"Uh..." Clark put down the glass.

He seemed fine, still looking calm, but his normally bright Kryptonian blue eyes were now clouded over, as if a layer of fog had settled over them.

He glanced at Soren, who was frowning with anger, and tilted his head slightly, confused about why Soren was upset.

Clark's super brain, now a little foggy from the alcohol, worked like an overloaded machine, creaking and struggling for a moment.

Suddenly, a spark of realization hit him—Soren was mad because he had been keeping a secret from him all this time!

Clark had to tell Soren the truth about who he was, or Soren would stay mad!

Feeling excited, like a dog wagging its tail uncontrollably, Clark grabbed Soren's hand.