A Cowboy´s Patience, A Princess´s Drama
1342 Words
Levi kept blowing on her tiny, burning hands, now swollen and increasingly sore. She wanted to cry from the pain, but tears couldn’t take it away—and unfortunately, she had no ointment with her.
What had been barely bearable earlier now felt much worse after all the cleaning. Her hands were starting to go numb, and her skin was unfamiliar with this kind of wound.
“Arggghhhh! Too painful!” she groaned, on the verge of tears, when a sudden knock on the door startled her. She rolled her eyes in annoyance.
“Did I miss a spot to be cleaned?” she asked sarcastically, masking the sting in her voice.
“Lumabas ka na dyan, kakain na tayo!” came the familiar, calm voice.
Levi’s eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with relief and excitement. She looked as if she hadn’t eaten in a decade.
Levi eagerly reached for her spoon, but the moment her fingers touched it, a sharp jolt of pain shot through her burned palms. She flinched, biting her lip to stop herself from yelping.
Khaleb’s eyes immediately narrowed as he noticed the hesitation. “What’s wrong with your hand?” he asked, his voice low and controlled, though a flicker of concern softened his tone.
Levi waved her hands dismissively, forcing a grin. “Nothing! Totally fine. Just… my hands are being dramatic, that’s all.”
But when she tried to pick up the spoon again, she winced violently. Khaleb didn’t miss it this time. He set his own fork down, stood, and calmly moved her chair closer to him.
“Sit here,” he said, guiding her gently but firmly. Then, without another word, he picked up her plate and began feeding her small bites, placing the spoon carefully into her mouth.
Levi froze, caught completely off guard. “W-what are you—?” she started, but Khaleb’s calm, steady gaze silenced her before she could finish.
Her bratty facade didn’t vanish entirely. She tried to push back, letting out a small huff. “I… I don’t need help! I’m fine! I can do this myself!”
Khaleb didn’t argue. He simply continued feeding her, his movements precise and careful, each bite met with Levi’s sharp little protests. “You don’t argue when I say eat,” he said quietly, his tone firm but no anger in it.
Levi grumbled, cheeks puffed, but couldn’t deny the relief flooding through her. Deep down, she hated showing weakness, but the pain in her hands left her little choice.
Khaleb’s eyes softened as he watched her eat, the thought of her hurting clearly settling in his mind. He didn’t speak, didn’t hover—he just made sure she got her food without further pain.
Levi finished the bite, snatching the spoon back into her own hands, albeit gingerly. “Okay… okay, that’s enough! I can manage now!” she declared, voice sharp but trembling slightly, her bratty defiance shining through.
Khaleb nodded, returning her plate to the table and moving back slightly. “Careful,” he said simply. “Don’t push it. Your hands need rest.”
Levi huffed, hiding the small sting of gratitude under her usual sarcasm. “Yeah, yeah. I got it. No need for heroic rescuing,” she said, rolling her eyes, though secretly aware he’d saved her from further pain.
He returned to his own plate, silent but thoughtful, his normally cold demeanor softened by the quiet knowledge that she had been hurting—and he’d been there to make it just a little easier.
“Ako na ang maghuhugas. Tsaka ka na pag magaling na ’yang kamay mo!”
He said without looking at her, already turning toward the pile of dishes.
“And why would I?”
She asked, as if he didn’t just state the obvious.
“Kung ayaw mong dahon ng saging ang gagamitin mong plato.”
He replied dryly.
A what?
A banana leaf?
Her face twisted into a mocking expression.
“’Wag kang mag-alala, dadating din tayo doon—kapag di mo ko tinigilan sa kaartehan mo, princess.”
He shot back with the same mocking tone.
Levi rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her brain, then decided to focus on her food. When she finished, she washed her hands and stormed straight to her room.
She threw herself onto the bed with full force, bouncing twice, maybe thrice. A flashback instant replayed in her mind. She blinked once. Twice. Thrice. Trying to process what just happened earlier.
Khaleb fed her.
“That was so shhhhiiiiitttt!”
She almost screamed in pure disbelief.
A few minutes later, another knock came.
Seriously? What now?
“Change of mind? You want me to wash the dishes now?” she started as she opened the door.
For the third time today, she was caught completely off guard when he walked straight into her room like it was his, pulled a chair beside her bed, and sat down.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
She asked, clearly vexed.
“Wala akong oras makipagtalo sa’yo, brat princess. Come here and sit down.”
He ordered, sounding exhausted.
Despite her confusion, she did what he said. He gently took both her hands and placed them on his leg. She was about to pull them back when he clicked his tongue.
“Wag kang malikot kung ayaw mong idiin ko ’tong gamot. Shut up and stay still.”
Levi jerked when the cold ointment touched her skin.
“Aray!” she flinched, trying to pull away, but Khaleb tightened his hold.
“Sabi ko wag kang malikot.”
His voice was firm, but not harsh—just exhausted.
Levi huffed, blowing air upward in annoyance.
“Ang lamig kasi! And ang sakit! And—ugh—this place is so boring I’m literally dying. No WiFi, no signal… parang naputol ako sa mundo! Sino ba nabubuhay nang ganito? I feel like I’m dead, like a ghost without internet!”
Khaleb paused mid-ointment, slowly looking up at her.
“Really? Nasusunog na kamay mo pero internet pa rin iniisip mo?”
“YES!” she snapped dramatically. “Do you know how miserable it is?! Kanina pa ako gusto mag-post ng rant tapos wala! Wala kahit isang bar! Even dinosaurs probably had better signal!”
Khaleb let out a long, drained sigh as he resumed dabbing the ointment.
“Ang ingay mo. Akala ko nasasaktan ka, ’yun pala nag-iinarte ka dahil walang WiFi.”
“Hindi ’to arte! This is survival!” she insisted. “I’m suffering twice—my hands AND my social life!”
He stopped again, stared at her for a full second, then muttered,
“Kung pwedeng bandage-an pati bibig mo, ginawa ko na.”
Her mouth fell open. “Excuse me?!”
“Shh.” He gently wrapped her fingers. “Kung nag-iingat ka sana, ’di ka napaso. Pero hindi, mas importante magreklamo sa signal.”
Levi rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.
“Whatever. I’m still dying. Digitally dead.”
“Good,” Khaleb said under his breath. “Tahimik ang mundo pag offline ka.”
“Did you just—”
“Tumigil ka.” he cut her off, tugging the bandage snugly. “Tomorrow, wag ka hahawak ng mainit. Naiintindihan?”
She scoffed. “Yes, Dad.”
“Levi,” he warned.
“Fine! Yes, naiintindihan ko,” she grumbled.
When he finished, he placed her hands on her lap gently, despite everything.
“Next time, sabihin mo kaagad pag masakit. ’Wag mo tiisin.”
She didn’t look at him.
“I didn’t even ask for help.”
“Exactly,” he muttered. “Kaya mas nakakainis.”
He stood, stretching tiredly.
As he walked to the door, she called out—barely audible.
“...Thanks.”
He paused, just for a second.
“Good. Marunong ka palang magpasalamat.”
The door closed.
Levi glared at her bandaged hands.
Still hurting.
Still annoyed.
Still offline.
“Ugh. This place sucks.”
- Writer
