Look at how shocked Clark looks after Lana says "Clark, you never had to try" and leaves! He really tried hard to be the right guy for her, but it turns out she already loved him. It's so sad they couldn't end up together.
I remember watching this episode for the first time years ago. When I got to this clana last scene there was something in it that me made play it over and over again. Maybe it was the background soundtrack in combination with the acting or maybe it was my imagining what it was like to be the characters. I don't know what it was that made me replay this scene over 20 times but I loved it. The whole scene just works, and for me, it's one of the most memorable scene of the whole 10 seasons.
Clark could tell Lana _’Yeah, I have a big secret but can’t tell you because someone could be hurt’._ But instead of it he just confirmed he _was_ himself I’m Metropolis (when Lana on the contrary stated he _wasn’t_ ). And I understand why he did that. His parents used to forbid him a lot from his very childhood. He even couldn’t explain his actions to his beloved ones (who didn’t know his true identity) with what I write above 👆🏼 By the way, at the end of season 9, Lois demand Clark to tell her the truth too, because his secret was gonna ruin their relationship. But he refused to do it. Then she nearly betrayed him. Coming back to Lana. She understood from the very beginning Clark’s secret would prevent them to be together, that’s why she wanted him to be honest with her. At the end of ‘Visage’, she said she didn’t care if he had any secrets. And she kept her word until season 2 when he left all his beloved ones. Lana realized it happened due to his secret. Then she started asking him again to be honest with her. Here when Clark said he _was_ himself in Metropolis, Lana was upset but still didn’t rejected him. As we saw in the following episodes, Lana wanted to be with him no matter what. That is, Clark’s statement she wouldn’t like to know his true identity didn’t freak her out. _She would accept him who he was no matter what._
Who's Ross and Rachel? Clana was much more of a good couple then them. Even though Lana was annoying at times it was mainly because of her wanting to known Clark's secret.
Lana wanted to know Clark’s secret because it prevented them to be together. She understood it from the very beginning. Then at the end of ‘Visage’ she said she didn’t care if he had any secrets. Lana kept her word until the end of season 2 and the beginning of season 3 because she realized he broke up with her because of his secret. That’s why she started asking him again to tell her what exactly happened. Do you remember the end of season 9? When Clark’s secret was about ruin his relationship with Lois, she wanted him to be honest with her too. And when he refused to do it, she nearly betrayed him.
