Tom took a deep breath, exchanged a look with Duke, then sprayed the medicine he brought on Leena's hand. Leena screeched in pain. Tom knew she would, but he figured he had to treat her anyway.
"Ouch! It hurts, Tom! You lied to me! You said I wouldn't feel a thing." The sudden pain pulled not only a scream out of her, but her head from Duke's arms. She struggled to get her hand free, but it was grasped firmly by Duke. She had no choice but to look at Tom pitifully. Her tears were the silent allegation of Tom's lie. She felt something! A big something. It hurt so much. Throwing the fact that she was surrounded by many people to the wind, she began to cry sadly. At the same time, her eyes drifted around the crowd. The sight of Kevin somehow made her feel quite reassured.
But if I didn't lie to you, you wouldn't let me apply the medicine. What else could I do?" Then Tom took out a small bottle of white powder and sprinkled it onto Leena's injured hand. He did it so carefully, maybe because he didn't want to hurt Leena, or maybe because he was feeling reluctant to use the expensive powder. Anyway, with the medicine applied, Leena's pain went away.
Kevin was almost heartbroken to see Leena cry. So now he also looked at Tom worriedly, afraid he would use other painful medicines. Luckily, Tom packed up his medical kit after sprinkling the powder. That meant that Leena didn't need to go through anymore pain from the treatment.
Take a look at her foot too." That was the first time Kevin said something since they all came in. And his words were quite explosive as now all their attention shifted to Leena's foot. All of them waited, holding their breath, not knowing what other injuries they were going to see. "It's not necessary. I'm alright." Leena dreaded pain. She didn't want more done with her foot. She was tired of feeling pain -- she'd been through enough.
"Your foot got scalded too?" Duke cared about Leena so much that he held her foot up right away after hearing about any more injuries. When he saw her bruise, his eyes grew even colder.
"No." Leena murmured. She knew that Duke was already quite angry about her scald. Another bruise would only add insult to injury. She didn't want to see Duke fly into a rage and make a big deal out of her injuries. She was already in pain -- she didn't need to deal with him too.
"You must have been hit by something. But lucky you, it's not serious. I'll write up a prescription for you. You'll be fine." Tom smiled tacitly. He felt Leena's quivering foot and he knew what Leena worried about was more painful treatment.
"Okay. Thank you, Tom." Leena was relieved that she didn't need to be massaged like the treatment Kevin had given her. Yet when she saw the expressions on everyone's face, she sensed something bad might happen. 'Would Duke blame Kevin for my injuries? Hopefully not! I was careless. That's why I got burned and bruised. Kevin had nothing to do with it.
What kind of wife would I be if I let him take the blame? Justin will call me a trouble maker again then, ' Leena pondered anxiously.
Kevin, this is why you tricked my sister into marrying you? You just want her to get hurt? Is your so-called happiness purely based on injuries?" Duke questioned Kevin. Leena's premonition was right. Panicked, she embraced Duke tightly in case he stood up and picked up a fight with Kevin.
"Sorry. It's all my fault. I will be more careful." Kevin didn't explain. He took all the blame willingly. For him, it was kind of his bad for not taking care of his wife Leena well. Even if Duke didn't pound him for her being hurt, he would blame himself for it.
"Humph. Sorry? You think a sorry is enough? Kevin, you should know that I have never let Leena get hurt, not even for once, let alone the serious scald like today. And you think a sorry could wipe all these efforts off? How can I trust you with my sister again?"
Duke's words were aggressive and domineering, maybe because he hadn't quite gotten used to their flash marriage. That was why he was never kind to Kevin. Duke spent most of his time loathing the man.
"Duke, it's my own fault. It has nothing to do with Kevin. Please don't blame Kevin for it. Besides, he wasn't even at home when I got injured. He doesn't deserve your negative comments." Leena defended Kevin worriedly, hoping to dispel Duke's anger. She didn't want her mistake to worsen their relationship.
"Leena, do you mean that I am being nosy, that I am blaming the wrong guy? Or you think that I have been overprotective for all these years and that has made you not able to take care of yourself and get injured so badly?" Duke squinted his intimidating eyes. Did their twenty-odd years of bonding lose to her twenty days of life with Kevin? And why couldn't Leena see his love for her, and only thought about Kevin's feelings?
I didn't mean it. I'm just saying that it's all my bad. It has nothing to do with any of you." Leena caressed her forehead in relief. She felt this explanation was enough to clear things up and to smother Duke's rage.
"Duke, no one wanted this to happen. The most important thing is to let Leena rest and recover. So if we're done here, maybe we should all go home now. That way she can get as much rest as she needs."
Daisy tried to smooth things over after sensing the tension. She sounded like she was letting Kevin off the hook too.
"Right. Uncle Duke, we should just go home. Remember, you need to drive me to school tomorrow. And we can't be late for our first day. If you are still mad, you can talk with Uncle Kevin another day. He's always there anyway."
Justin would support whatever Daisy did. So he joined his mom in rescuing Kevin.
"Justin, what are you trying to do? How come I feel that you just set a trap for them both?" Rain quipped to downplay the tension. He knew it was no use arguing over who was to blame and he didn't want everything to blow up.
"Well. No way. You saw through my trick so quick. I gotta hone my skills someday." Justin was smart enough to see what Rain was trying to do. So he echoed Rain's words. His foxy eyes revealed his sophistication.
"Huh. Hone your skills? You want to be a con artist or what? Focus on your studies, " Tom added, trying to lighten the mood. He didn't like the depressing atmosphere just now. Justin's words just helped save the day. Tom chuckled while he put other medicines on the table.
You can't stir up any trouble now. If you're resting, then you'll have no time to think of some other scheme, " Belinda said. Her words might have sounded as if she were gloating over Leena's injury, but that was who she was. In fact she cared Leena a lot. It was just that she showed her concern differently than other people.
No way. Belinda, you are still holding a grudge over me drugging you? So now you make sarcastic remarks when I'm hurt, too weak to fight back. Leena knew that Belinda didn't mean to make fun of her. But still she quipped back as revenge for Belinda not persuading Duke to go back home.
Cut the crap, you should spend more time taking care of your self and not getting hurt again. Duke, aren't you going back with me? Belinda frown and looked at Duke. Duke really loved his sister. You could see the worry in his wrinkled forehead after seeing Leena's injuries. He could have handled it better though. He has brought the group's mood down by blaming Kevin, Belinda complain to herself.
Don't worry Leena. It'll only takes a few days. We see this stuff in the Army all the time. So just take it easy, and e careful not to get your wounds wet. Daisy curled her lips into a smile. In the Army, you weren't really hurt unless you broke a limb. Bruises and scald were common on base. You just had to grit your teeth through every ache and pain. There were no wusses in the military -- every injury was a badge of courage.
Okay Daisy, I'll get some rest. Leena was already a big fun of Daisy. Now she admired her even more.
Then, all of them walked out of the house, totally oblivious to Kevin, just like when they first came in. Only Tom stop to talk to him, but just to tell him how to use the medication. Because he knew Leena wouldn't follow his directions, so he had better find another person to remind her.