[9] is it too late?

Ryutaro overheard their conversation.

Ryosuke: That smile is great huh.
Shiela: *laughs* Thank you.
Ryosuke: neh, Shiela. What if Ryutaro could remember you?
Shiela: *smiles* so? I think it would be late. You snatched me away from him. *laughs*
Ryosuke: baka *laughs* seriously.
Shiela: I would be gone if he found out my real identity.
Ryosuke: naaah! I already told you, right?
Shiela: okay². I won’t.

He closed the door again and cried silently..

/Ryutaro/: She’s already happy with him. I know that she might not accept me again. I’m stupid and cruel. How could she love me again?

He walked away from the door holding the box tightly.

…[NEXT DAY]…

/Shiela/: This may be one of my treasures.

They talked under the sakura trees. Shiela sat on the wheelchair as Ryosuke pushed it.

Ryosuke: sou neh.

He stood in front of her and knelt. He grabbed something from his pocket..

Shiela: What’s that?
Ryosuke: Before I go, will you please accept my love for you?
Shiela: huh?
Ryosuke: I am not asking you to marry me. This is my confession. Shiela, I would never be tired of saying this. My love for you cannot be counted, so as I say ‘I love you’ isn’t finite.
Shiela: I have moved on but I still can’t forget him. I accepted your love and I truly loved you. Please help me to forget him.
Ryosuke: I would.

He grabe her hands and put the ring on her finger.

Ryosuke: It suits you. *both smiled*

He then gave her a kiss. Their sweetness always remained.

…[RESTAURANT; night]…

Mai: Ryutaro. What is bothering you?
Ryutaro: nothing.
Mai: Are you okay?
Ryutaro: uh.
Mai: mom and dad will be here in five minutes. Is that okay?
Ryutaro: uh.. My dad is busy, so my mom would be alone coming.
Mai: I’m really excited to meet your mom.
Ryutaro: uh.

Ryutaro couldn’t stop thinking about Shiela until his mother came to the place..

Ryu’s mom: Konbanwa. Am I late?
Mai: oh, hello. Not actually. My mom and dad isn’t here yet, too..
Ryu’s mom: oh, I see.. Ryutaro, why aren’t you smiling?
Ryutaro: mom *looks at his mom*
Ryu’s mom: What is it my son?
Ryutaro: I can’t.
Ryu’s mom: Let’s talk about it later, not here. Okay?
Ryutaro: uh *bows down*
Mai: oh! Mom and dad are here!..
Mai’s mom & dad: Hello~
Ryu’s mom: oh, hi..
Mai’s mom: I’m sorry, we’re a little bit late..
Ryu’s mom: It’s okay..
Mai’s dad: So, I heard you two will soon be engaged huh..
Mai’s mom: That would be great, we saw Ryutaro would be a great son-in-law and husband to our daughter.
Ryu’s mom: Thank you. *to Ryutaro* Ryutaro. Are you okay?
Ryutaro: uh *fake smile; looked at his mom* Mom, I think I’m not feeling well today. My head aches..
Mai’s dad: That’s bad. You should take a rest.
Mai: dad’s right. Should I take you home?
Ryutaro: oh no. Thanks.
Mai’s mom: Please go home safe..
Ryutaro: Thank you… *departed*
Ryu’s mom: He’s really busy these days.
Mai’s mom: He should take a rest. Maybe sometime, we could talk to him.
Mai’s dad: I’m looking forward to that.

Outside, Ryutaro dialed Ryosuke’s number..

*Ryosuke’s phone rings*

Ryosuke: hello?
Ryutaro: Ryosuke.
Ryosuke: oh, Ryutaro..
Ryutaro: May I talk to you for a while?
Ryosuke: uh. sure. where?
Ryutaro: I’ll just go where you are..
Ryosuke: I’m still in the hospital right now.
Ryutaro: okay. I got it..

*call ends*

Ryutaro went to where Ryosuke is. He sighs deeply before he entered the room..

Ryutaro: anoou..
Ryosuke: oh, you’re here..
Ryutaro: uh. May we talk for a bit outside..

Ryosuke stood up and they both went outside..

Ryosuke: So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?
Ryutaro: Shiela.. gomen Ryosuke..
Ryosuke: Why are you saying sorry to me?
Ryutaro: Why is it that I’m so cruel to her? I even hurt her. I think she can’t accept my apology.
Ryosuke: Ryutaro. You already knew?
Ryutaro: uh. Why is it that you didn’t tell me?!?! huh?! Why is it that it needs to come up like this before I would know? Do you know how hard it is? To be happy by someone else and I felt that there’s something missing in me but still, nobody told me?
Ryosuke: Because she wanted you to remember her in your own way. She don’t want us to interrupt you and if you would be happy with somebody else, she’ll keep supporting you.
Ryutaro: Why?
Ryosuke: Because she don’t want you to cry at the end… She’s so good that she don’t even want to hurt. It’s better to hurt herself that to hurt you.. Can’t you see her sacrifice for you?
Ryutaro: How could I see if I don’t know?
Ryosuke: Can’t you feel it?

Ryutaro couldn’t answer.

Ryosuke: Please make her happy whenever I’m away. I think I would never come back.. *tears flow from his eyes*
Ryutaro: Where are you going?
Ryosuke: To a place where nobody could follow me.
Ryutaro: Why are you saying stuffs like that..
Ryosuke: Do you know why I hate you? Because Shiela can’t even forget you. She can’t even love me more that she loved you.. The world is so unfair..
Ryutaro: But, it seems that she’s already happy with you..
Ryosuke: uh. We talked fun stuffs but your name is still there..

………. [silence]

Ryutaro: Ryosuke..
Ryosuke: ?
Ryutaro: Where are you going? What happened to her? What’s her illess? Why is it that she stayed in that room for many months? I thought it’s not that serious but why she stayed for so long?
Ryosuke: She might not forgive me for telling you this..
Ryutaro: Why? What’s wrong?
Ryosuke: She might say goodbye at anytime. But, I’ll give my heart to her in one week and I won’t let her give up on you. I’ll sacrifice myself for her love to you..
Ryutaro: Heart disease?
Ryosuke: uh..
Ryutaro: How come you didn’t tell me?
Ryosuke: Only Yuuri knows.. We don’t want to bother you.. Eventhough you knew, you would still don’t care..
Ryutaro: How dare you to say stuffs like that?!
Ryosuke: Why? Would you leave Mai for her if you knew!?!? huh?!?! Eventhough you didn’t knew, you proposed to Mai.. What if you knew? Won’t you propose to Mai?

Ryutaro went home late.. When he opened the door, he saw his mom waiting for him patiently in the living room..

Ryu’s mom: Where you came from?
Ryutaro: I talked to Ryosuke. Mom, is it too late?
Ryu’s mom: There is no word such as late.. You could still sacrifice many things for her. It’s up for you to decide. *departed and went to her room*

/Ryutaro/: Sacrifice for her? I should decide? She would be gone soon. I don’t know what to give her.. If I would spare my time for her, she would just be hurt thinking about me and Mai. But, If I would tell her the truth.. I know, she would rather sacrifice herself for me.. Shiela.. I want to turn back time with you. I don’t want to leave by your side…

-End of Part 9-