Is there still anything that love can do?
愛にできることはまだあるかい
Ai ni dekiru koto wa mada aru kai?
Tokyo, Japan; May 19, 2027
WHEN RAN arrived at the apartment where he and Eliana were living, he noticed that some of the girl's clothes were gone. But Eliana's books and drawings are still there. Ran couldn't help but be emotional but he had to be strong.
He will not leave the apartment instead he will stay there. He also told his manager that he let Eliana take a vacation in the Philippines. And the manager agreed because it was Ran's personal decision. Even though the girl resigned, Ran doesn't acknowledge that.
Later their group chat released a memo regarding VNL. He checked the location of the VNL and the quarterfinals will be held in the Philippines in July.
This gave him the motivation to do better in practice and in the upcoming tournament. He took his things and went to the arena.
But when he arrived at the arena, he saw Hana who was waiting for him. He sighed and faced Hana. Ran asks Hana to go to the nearest coffee shop to do the right thing he needs to do.
"Hana," Ran called and Hana is still drinking her coffee. "I will be cutting our ties for the sake of a truce."
Hana was surprised by the reason why her tears started to fall. "Wh-What happened Ran? You say that you love me!"
"That is before Hana when we are in a relationship," Ran said and tried to be calm. "And it's different now because I am in a relationship with someone who appreciates me for who I am."
"So what are you pointing out? That I just used you?" Hana asked and grinned. "I know that I still have a part in your heart, Ran. That's why you're still helping me."
"Yes, I know that you are just using me because your mother has an illness and using me to get money from me," Ran revealed. "So I helped you by paying the hospital bills of your mother."
"Wh-What?"
"I am helping you because Eliana changed my viewpoint in life," Ran said, which made Hana stop. "She's the reason why I was not afraid to face you even though you make me anxious after you leave me. And the time when Eliana came into my life, that anxiety that I felt, the fear of love again, she changed it. She always understands me and does not fear to correct my mistakes. Those mistakes that you've made to me," Ran said and he couldn't help but frown his eyebrows. "I was immature and insecure but I learned to trust a girl, to trust those people who truly appreciate me."
Ran remembered the day he and Eliana were not in a relationship, Eliana said that she would not use the opportunity of being a teacher to make her fall in love with him. Above all, the girl appreciates him no matter what happens. Even if he gets old or vulnerable.
Then his feelings go deeper like an ocean, especially since Eliana is more direct to the point if he speaks without meandering. That is the girl he truly likes.
Ran showed the pictures taken with him and Hana together at the hospital and cafe. "You didn't tell the truth to Eliana. I helped you out at the hospital because you asked for my help. And at the cafe, you asked me to join you because you felt ill and you needed company since you felt depressed. But the truth is you want to ruin my relationship with Eliana," Ran said and stood up. "Drop the masks you had Hana, we're already done before. So please . . . stop ruining my peaceful life."
He learned all of these from his cousin, Anrie since his cousin wants to know everything and help him out, especially with his brother. Anrie told that someone is messaging Eliana, an unknown person who is taking pictures of him and Hana.
So Eliana asks help to her IT expert friend to detect the unknown person and found that the person sending the messages was from Japan. So Ran did a little investigation and found out that it was Hana in addition to the information from Anrie and Rui.
Ran felt relieved to say those things. He did everything to settle all the misunderstandings. He just needs to focus on practice for VNL since Ryujin Nippon's goal is to win so they should come back stronger than everyone imagined. Also, VNL is the way he thinks about being with Eliana again.
"Wait for me, Eli."
Tokyo, Japan; July 9, 2027
"Keep on track so that we win again today!" their coach said. "Fighting!"
"Fighting!"
Ran still stayed alert to the updates regarding Eliana. He also takes care of Rampee-chan and when he goes away from Kyoto, Riri takes care of Rampee-chan.
Ran still continues to message Eliana through IG and Line. The young man was wooed tirelessly and never tired. But Eliana did not reply. The few people Eliana talks to are Riri and Anrie. Sometimes Rui too.
Ran really misses the girl but knows that Eliana is not ready yet. Ran knew Eliana's feelings every time he read what the girl wrote about him. When the writing is sad, Ran cries and tries to comfort Eliana using his anonymous Watt account. When happy and full of love he just keeps on commenting and the lady appreciates it.
Above all, Ran is always updated with Eliana through the lady's sister, Jay. He also learned that Eliana entered as a part-time teacher at her alma mater, PLSP. Ran is also relieved to know that there is no mutual relationship between Jeremy and Eliana because Jeremy only considers Eliana as his youngest sister.
"I see, I shouldn't get worried about that, Bebe."
"Just make sure that you will pursue her! She always mentions you in our conversation, so that means she's still into you," Jay said. "You're always been her topic and always telling how good you are." Ran smiled because of that. "And I think she's currently writing a story! So keep on track!"
"I asked . . . why she stopped messaging me year 2025?" Ran finally asked that question. He ventured to know the answer because he asked Eliana's friends but no one could answer.
Jay sighed. "Because she gets tired of pursuing you. The day you ignored her story, she was a bit sad but continued until she got busy and didn't think to message you. Also, she's hopeless about affording some things that may be the way to have greet from you. She's just a human, know how to get tired. Magpapansin kaya ikaw ng ilang taon, sinong hindi mapapagod?" Jay said causing Ran to get hurt. He thought of Eliana's struggles every time she is trying to get an attention of him. In every dedication of her writing even in its artworks those were the ways to express Eliana's appreciation to him. He is asking himself, do I deserve to be loved by Eliana? "The feeling of not being appreciated and wasting her time for nothing hurts a lot on her side. So when she met you in person, she was very happy. She always mentions you, how she admires you. You don't know that because she doesn't want to use the opportunity of being an English Teacher."
"Sorry Eli for struggling, and thank you for waiting for me," Ran said to his mind.
"That's why when you come here to the Philippines, make sure that you will pursue her! I got mad at you because you keep a secret from her but Ate is wrong too, she keeps a distance from you and keeps away from the problem! " Jay said annoyed. "She's sometimes immature you know! Not sometimes but always and she's being stubborn! But I am supporting both of you, being with one another makes you stronger and grow deeper."
"Thank you, Bebe! I appreciate your efforts and I give thanks to Tita for giving me the exact location."
"It's okay Kuya Ran, just hurry. Don't waste your time!"
"I will arrive tomorrow! Thank you again!"
After the talk, Ran and even his coach had a thorough discussion that Ran should go to the Philippines first because he has something important to do.
"Please Coach, let me get to the Philippines early. Give me three days. I promised you! I will do my best to play!"
The coach decides deeply about what Ran said. Yuki Ishikawa agreed and said, "Let him Coach, he just needs to pursue his girlfriend."
The coach frowned and suddenly laughed. "Having a girlfriend is quite hard, how about if you got married? I don't think you can find her."
"I will still find her because I love her," Ran said with enthusiasm.
"Fine! Just don't let other people know you, even in the Philippines you might get in trouble.
"Hai!" Ran said and bowed. "Arigatou, Coach!"