When Love Break Ties

Chapter 14: A Romantic Getaway

The sun had barely risen over the horizon when Nathan and Abby boarded the train bound for Hakone, a picturesque town nestled in the foothills of Mount Fuji. The plan had been in the works for weeks-a romantic getaway to escape the busyness of Tokyo and spend some time away from the distractions of the city. For Nathan, it was a welcome reprieve from the writing workshop, which had become more of a burden than a passion lately. For Abby, it was an opportunity to deepen their connection, to solidify the bond they had formed over the past few months.

As the train sped through the countryside, Nathan found himself staring out the window, watching as the concrete jungle of Tokyo gave way to green fields and distant mountains. The quiet hum of the train and the rhythmic clacking of the tracks soothed his mind, offering a temporary escape from the thoughts that had been weighing him down for weeks. Beside him, Abby rested her head on his shoulder, her hand intertwined with his, the warmth of her touch grounding him in the moment.

"You okay?" she asked softly, sensing his distance.

Nathan nodded, though he wasn't entirely sure if he believed it himself. "Yeah, just thinking."

"About your family again?" Abby asked, her tone light but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

He hesitated before answering. "Kind of. I don't know, I guess I'm still trying to figure it all out."

Abby sat up slightly, shifting so she could look at him more directly. "You don't have to figure it all out right now, Nate. This trip is for us-to get away from all that noise. Let's just focus on us for once, okay?"

Nathan smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You're right. I'm here with you, and that's what matters."

They spent the rest of the train ride in a comfortable silence, with Abby occasionally pointing out scenic spots along the way. Nathan tried to stay in the moment, to push aside the growing tension in his chest, but it lingered-an unspoken unease that had been gnawing at him ever since his family's calls had gone unanswered. He knew they were worried about him, and part of him felt guilty for cutting them off. But another part of him, the part that had been influenced by Abby's perspective, resented their concern. He wasn't a child anymore; he didn't need their approval or their constant checking in.

When they finally arrived in Hakone, the crisp mountain air hit Nathan like a refreshing wave. The town was quaint, with narrow streets lined with traditional ryokan inns and small shops selling local crafts. The towering presence of Mount Fuji in the distance added a sense of awe to the setting, and for the first time in days, Nathan felt a flicker of excitement. This was their escape-just him and Abby, away from the pressures of the city and the expectations of family.

Their ryokan was perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Ashi, offering stunning views of the water and the surrounding mountains. The room was minimalist but elegant, with tatami mats, sliding shoji doors, and a private onsen bath on the balcony. As soon as they arrived, Abby's face lit up with delight.

"This is perfect," she exclaimed, spinning around in the center of the room. "It's exactly what we needed."

Nathan smiled at her enthusiasm. "Yeah, it's beautiful."

After unpacking, they decided to take a boat ride across Lake Ashi, a popular activity for visitors to Hakone. The water was calm, reflecting the bright blue sky above, and the cool breeze carried the scent of pine trees from the surrounding forests. As they sat side by side on the deck, Abby rested her head on Nathan's shoulder, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his arm.

"You know," Abby began, her voice soft, "this is the kind of life I've always dreamed of. Just the two of us, away from everything else."

Nathan glanced down at her, sensing the depth of her words. "Away from everything else?" he repeated.

"Yeah," she said, lifting her head to meet his gaze. "No drama, no pressure, no family telling us what we should or shouldn't do. Just you and me, making our own decisions."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Nathan felt the weight of them settle over him. He had always believed that family was the foundation of everything-of identity, of purpose, of belonging. But Abby was offering him something different, something that challenged the very core of his beliefs. The more time he spent with her, the more he found himself questioning whether the values he had been raised with were truly his own, or if they had been imposed on him by his family.

"I've never really thought of it that way," Nathan admitted, his voice low. "I guess I've always just accepted that family is supposed to be there, no matter what."

Abby frowned slightly, her hand resting on his knee. "But what if they're not? What if they're the ones holding you back, Nate?"

Nathan looked out at the water, the gentle ripples reflecting the sunlight. He wanted to argue, to defend his family and the bond they shared, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, all he felt was a growing resentment-a sense that maybe Abby was right. Maybe his family was holding him back, in ways he hadn't even realized.

As the boat glided across the lake, Nathan's mind wandered back to the last conversation he'd had with his mother. She had been concerned about his decision to stay in Tokyo longer than originally planned, questioning whether it was really necessary for his writing career. At the time, Nathan had brushed it off, assuring her that everything was fine. But now, as he sat beside Abby, he couldn't help but feel that his mother's concern had been another attempt to control him, to keep him tethered to the life she wanted for him.

"Do you ever feel like your family just doesn't get you?" Nathan asked suddenly, surprising even himself with the question.

Abby looked at him, her expression thoughtful. "All the time," she said quietly. "That's why I had to distance myself from them. I couldn't live under their expectations anymore-it was suffocating. And honestly, I don't regret it for a second."

Nathan's chest tightened at her words. The idea of distancing himself from his family had once seemed unthinkable, but now, it didn't feel so far-fetched. Abby had shown him a different way of living-a way that prioritized personal freedom and happiness over loyalty to traditions and expectations. And as much as it scared him, part of him was drawn to that way of life.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. They hiked through the lush forests of Hakone, visited the ancient Hakone Shrine, and soaked in the natural hot springs that dotted the area. Abby was radiant the entire time, her energy infectious as she led Nathan from one adventure to the next. But despite the beauty of their surroundings, Nathan couldn't shake the growing tension inside him.

That evening, as they sat together in the onsen bath on the balcony of their ryokan, the steam rising around them in thick clouds, Nathan found himself staring at Abby, wondering how much she had changed him. She was everything he had never expected to find-bold, independent, and unapologetically herself. But she was also the catalyst for the growing distance between him and his family, a distance that, for the first time in his life, felt permanent.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Abby asked, her voice breaking through his thoughts.

Nathan sighed, leaning back against the edge of the bath. "I don't know. I guess I'm just trying to figure out where I stand... with everything."

Abby moved closer, her hand resting on his chest. "You stand with me, Nate. That's all that matters."

Her words were meant to be comforting, but instead, they only intensified the conflict raging inside him. He wanted to believe her, to trust that their relationship was all he needed. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore the growing resentment he felt toward his family-the feeling that they were holding him back from the life he wanted to live.

As the night wore on, Nathan found himself torn between two worlds-the world of his family, with its expectations and traditions, and the world Abby was offering him, a world of freedom and independence. And though he didn't yet know which path he would choose, one thing was certain: the bond he shared with Abby was growing stronger, while the ties to his family were slowly unraveling.