When Love Break Ties

Chapter 3: Meeting Abby

The streets of Tokyo had started to feel a little less intimidating after a few days. Nathan, however, still couldn't shake off the loneliness that clung to him like an invisible weight. He wandered aimlessly through the bustling city on the weekend, hoping that the sights and sounds would distract him from the gnawing homesickness.

As he stood on a bridge overlooking the Sumida River, watching boats glide through the water with the Tokyo Skytree looming in the distance, Nathan couldn't help but think how far away he was—not just physically, but emotionally—from the life he had known in Manila.

The breeze was cool, a welcome relief from the overwhelming rush of the city. Nathan leaned on the railing, staring into the water. His mind wandered to his family back home, imagining his mom at the kitchen table, sipping her coffee and scrolling through Facebook while his father read the paper. It was a comforting image, one that contrasted sharply with the sleek, modern landscape that surrounded him.

"Hey, are you Filipino?"

The voice was soft but clear, and it snapped Nathan out of his reverie. He turned to see a young woman standing beside him, holding up her phone as if she had just taken a picture. She had a warm smile, her long black hair flowing down her back in gentle waves. Something about her felt familiar, though he couldn't place it.

"Uh, yeah," Nathan replied, caught off guard. "You too?"

She nodded, her smile widening. "I thought so. I saw you standing here and had a feeling. I'm Abby, from Cebu. You?"

"Nathan, from Manila," he answered, still processing the unexpected encounter.

There was something about her presence that instantly put him at ease. Maybe it was her accent, or perhaps the way she spoke with that undeniable Filipino friendliness that he had missed so much since arriving in Tokyo. Either way, it was a relief to meet someone who felt like a small piece of home in this foreign place.

"What brings you here?" Abby asked, stepping closer to the railing beside him. Her voice was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity that told him she wasn't just making small talk.

"I'm here for a writing workshop," Nathan explained, gesturing vaguely toward the city behind them. "I've been here for a few days, and... well, I'm still getting used to it."

Abby chuckled, a light sound that somehow cut through the noise of the city. "Yeah, Tokyo can be a lot to take in. It's huge. Beautiful, but kind of overwhelming, right?"

Nathan nodded, grateful that she understood. "Exactly. I mean, it's an amazing city, but I've never felt so... out of place."

"I get that," Abby said, her tone softening. She turned to face the river, her eyes focused on the boats below. "It's funny, isn't it? We come from the Philippines, a place that's chaotic in its own way, but somehow Tokyo feels even more disorienting. Maybe because everything here is so... ordered."

Nathan smiled faintly. "Yeah. It's like the city has a rhythm that I can't quite catch."

They stood in silence for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. Nathan found himself feeling more relaxed than he had since he arrived in Japan. Abby didn't bombard him with questions or try to fill the silence with unnecessary chatter. It was a comfortable silence, one that spoke of mutual understanding.

After a few minutes, Abby broke the quiet. "So, you're a writer?" she asked, glancing at him with a raised eyebrow.

Nathan hesitated, not entirely sure how to answer. "I guess you could say that. I'm trying to be, at least. The workshop I'm in is supposed to help with that. How about you? What do you do?"