When Love Break Ties

Chapter 1 - Nathan's Arrival in Tokyo

The moment Nathan Salvador stepped off the plane at Narita International Airport, the weight of his decision pressed against him. Tokyo was everything he had imagined—bustling, foreign, and impossibly fast. The air felt different here, cooler than Manila, tinged with the scent of fresh rain and pavement. Around him, the city buzzed with life, the sound of hurried footsteps, rolling luggage, and announcements in Japanese that blurred into an indecipherable hum. He fumbled with the strap of his bag, his eyes scanning the endless sea of signs and unfamiliar symbols.

This is it, he thought, his excitement mingling with the first pangs of loneliness. I'm finally here.

Nathan had been sent to Tokyo by a prominent Manila-based publishing house, one of a select few chosen for a prestigious writing workshop that could change his career. His editors had beamed with pride, and his parents had been overjoyed when the letter of acceptance arrived. But now, standing in the heart of an alien city, a part of him wondered if this was the right choice. His family wasn't here, and for the first time, the distance felt overwhelming.

As he stepped into the arrival hall, the contrast between Tokyo and his world back home hit him hard. Everything in this city seemed to move with a sense of urgency and efficiency. The trains were punctual, the people brisk in their movements, their expressions unreadable behind masks of professionalism. Tokyo was a city where everything seemed to have a place—except him.

"Nathan, you'll do great things there. Just remember, family is everything," his mother had whispered when she hugged him goodbye at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Her words echoed in his mind now, tugging at his heart like a tether refusing to let go. He had grown up in a family where every decision, every triumph, and every failure had been shared, and now, thousands of miles from home, he felt the gaping void of their absence.

He took a deep breath, shook off the sudden wave of homesickness, and hoisted his bag higher on his shoulder. He could do this. He had to.

The taxi ride to his apartment was a blur of neon lights and towering skyscrapers. Tokyo at night was both beautiful and alien—its streets lined with vending machines that hummed like quiet sentinels, while illuminated billboards screamed advertisements in languages he didn't understand. As the cab sped through the labyrinth of streets, Nathan stared out the window, his mind drifting back to the last few conversations he'd had with his parents before leaving.

His father's parting words had been practical, as always. "Focus on your work, son. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. Just remember to check in with us." And then his mother's last-minute advice: "Don't forget to eat properly. And Nathan... no matter what happens, always hold on to your values. Family is everything."

Family is everything. That phrase lingered in his mind, but now, in the glow of Tokyo's vastness, it felt distant. Did it really have to be everything? Nathan had always lived with that belief, never questioning it. But now, alone in a foreign country, he wondered if there was more to life than the duties and expectations imposed by family.

The taxi came to a halt in front of a modest apartment complex, its façade clean but unremarkable. Nathan paid the driver, who responded with a polite nod before driving off into the city's bustling night. With a heavy sigh, he approached the building, key in hand. This was going to be home for the next few months.

Inside, the apartment was neat, minimalist, and perfectly functional—yet devoid of any warmth. The small space consisted of a single room with a kitchenette and a narrow window that overlooked the busy streets below. Nathan dropped his suitcase on the floor and immediately began unpacking, more out of nervous energy than necessity. Clothes, books, a laptop, and a few personal belongings quickly filled the tiny space.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a photo of his family. It was a candid shot taken during his sister's birthday last year. His father's hand rested on his mother's shoulder, their faces glowing with pride. Nathan stood next to them, smiling at the camera, unaware of how much he would miss them. He placed the photo on the small table beside the bed, a piece of home in a world that felt anything but familiar.

The silence of the apartment pressed in on him, heavier than he expected. He had dreamed of this moment—the independence, the freedom to focus on his writing, the chance to prove himself in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. But now, the silence felt like isolation, and the unfamiliarity of Tokyo wrapped around him like a cold blanket.

His phone buzzed with a notification, breaking the quiet. It was an email from the publishing company, reminding him of the workshop schedule for the following week. The reminder filled him with a surge of excitement, but also anxiety. This was what he had come here for—to write, to learn, to grow. But beneath that, the gnawing question remained: Would this city, this experience, change him in ways he wasn't ready for?

Nathan stood by the window, gazing out at the city's lights stretching endlessly into the night. Somewhere out there, he knew, were the other participants of the workshop, probably as overwhelmed as he was. And somewhere, much farther away, was his family, their lives continuing without him.

Am I ready for this? he wondered. Ready to be away from everything I've ever known?

Tokyo felt like a new beginning, but also a test—of his resilience, his values, and his sense of self. As much as he wanted to dive headfirst into the adventure, something held him back. He wasn't just a writer here; he was a son, a brother, a Filipino. And in this city of neon lights and endless streets, he feared losing those parts of himself.

Nathan sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, I'll start figuring it all out.

He turned away from the window, his heart heavy with the weight of his own expectations, and lay down on the unfamiliar bed. The city hummed around him, indifferent to his presence. And as Nathan drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what Tokyo—and his time here—would make of him.