Send Me In Orbit

First Date

Prompt from @ambivertshadow: Boy bakod Clark and CJ :)

"CLARK MEDINA! CLARK JUNIOR!"

Leah's voice thundered through the house and Clark and CJ exchanged a terrified look. They left their positions by the window and tried to make themselves look occupied by Clark's desk.

At seventeen, CJ stood a few inches taller than Clark. But when his mom stormed into the living room, he cowered behind his dad.

"Kayong dalawa ah, akala niyo hindi ko mabubuking ang pinaggagawa ninyo." Leah pointed at them.

"Wifey, nandito lang kami!" Clark protested. "Pinagbawalan mo kami na umalis ng bahay kaya eto o! Nagtatrabaho kami."

"Trabaho? Talaga lang?" Leah walked forward and wrestled Clark's cellphone out of his pocket. Clark tried to resist but couldn't fight against Leah, and CJ could do nothing to help his dad.

Leah held up the phone. On the screen was a live video from Axel at the restaurant where he was secretly spying on Claire and her date. CJ bowed his head in guilt but Clark stood defiant.

"Kumakain lang sila, Sir," Axel whispered. "Subukan lang ng demonyong bata na 'to mag-damoves kay Claire...lagot siya sa akin."

"Axel," Leah said.

Axel's face appeared on the screen, his eyes wide. "Ms. Leah?" He asked meekly.

"Abort mission," Clark said in resignation.

"Umalis ka na diyan, Axel," she instructed.

"Pero..."

"Axel," Leah said in warning.

"Sige po." He hung up the video call and Leah turned to CJ.

"Ikaw? Sino ang spy mo?"

"Mom, wala-"

"Huwag kang magsinungaling sa akin, Clark Junior," she warned. "Subukan mo lang."

CJ's shoulders dropped. "Si Henry," he admitted, referring to his best friend and classmate.

"Nasaan siya?"

"Nasa labas ng restaurant."

"Tawagan mo at pauwiin mo."

CJ hesitated and looked at Clark.

"Ngayon na!"

He nodded and left the room, already making the call on his phone. Left alone, Leah glared at Clark. He refused to be cowed however.

"Walang masama sa ginawa namin," he defended.

"Walang masama? Inutusan niyo ang mga kaibigan niyo na mag-spy sa date ni Claire!"

"Hindi naman niya malalaman eh. At gusto lang namin masigurado na safe siya, na walang gagawin sa kanya 'yan Marco na 'yan!"

"Marcus ang pangalan niya."

"Whatever," Clark muttered.

"Sinundo niya dito si Claire, hinarap ka ng maayos. Mukha naman siyang magalang na bata. At ang importante, gusto siya ni Claire."

"She shouldn't even be dating!" Clark argued, raising his voice in a way he almost never did to her. "She's only 16! And to be honest, I'm a little angry with you for letting this happen."

Leah sighed. And here was the root of the problem. She could admit that she overrode a rule that she and Clark had set in place for all of their kids. They were not allowed to have a serious relationship until they were in college and only if they could show they were responsible enough to handle one. Allowing Claire to date while still in high school...while not breaking the rule, was still severely bending it. So Clark had reason to be mad at Leah. She walked over to him and took his hand.