When Love Break Ties

Chapter 21: A Family Visit

Nathan had barely settled into his usual routine at the workshop when his phone buzzed. It was an unfamiliar number, but something in the pit of his stomach told him it was important. He hesitated before answering, a strange sense of foreboding creeping over him.

"Hello?" he said, his voice cautious.

"Nathan?" It was his mother's voice, soft yet anxious.

He hadn't spoken to her in weeks. Guilt washed over him immediately, but he buried it, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Mom? What's up?"

"We're here," she said, her words hanging in the air.

"Here? What do you mean, 'here'?"

"In Tokyo. Your dad and I flew in this morning. We're outside your apartment building."

Nathan's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. They were here. His parents were actually in Tokyo. Without warning. He glanced around the workshop, suddenly feeling trapped. A million thoughts flooded his mind-how he hadn't called, how he hadn't answered any of their messages, how he had distanced himself more than ever.

"You're... outside my apartment?" he repeated, struggling to keep his voice steady.

"Yes, sweetheart. We wanted to surprise you, but-" She hesitated, clearly unsure if the surprise was a good idea after all. "Is this a bad time?"

Nathan glanced at the clock. It wasn't about the time; it was about everything else. He had pushed his family to the side, embraced Abby's worldview that family was nothing but a source of pressure and control. Now, that very family was standing outside his door.

"N-no, it's fine," he stammered. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

He hung up before she could say anything else. For a few moments, Nathan just sat there, staring at his phone as if it were a bomb waiting to go off. His mind buzzed with questions. What would he say to them? How could he explain his absence, his emotional distance? How would they react to Abby?

"Everything okay?" Yuki's voice cut through his thoughts. She was standing nearby, concern etched across her face.

Nathan blinked, pulling himself back to reality. "Uh, yeah, just... family stuff," he muttered.

Yuki nodded but didn't press further. She had given up trying to get through to him after their last conversation, sensing that Nathan wasn't ready to face whatever demons were haunting him.

He grabbed his bag and left the workshop in a daze, his mind running on autopilot as he made his way back to his apartment. The Tokyo streets, normally bustling and full of life, felt strangely silent around him. The weight of the coming encounter pressed heavily on his chest.

When he finally arrived at his building, his parents were standing near the entrance. His mother waved as soon as she saw him, her face lighting up in that familiar, comforting way that Nathan had once relied on. His father, on the other hand, stood a bit further back, his expression more guarded.

"Nathan!" His mother rushed over to him, pulling him into a tight embrace. The warmth of her hug took him by surprise, and for a split second, he allowed himself to melt into it. But then, reality came crashing back.

"Hey, Mom," he said quietly, patting her back awkwardly before pulling away. His father gave him a firm handshake, the kind that conveyed all the words they didn't say.

"It's so good to see you," his mother said, her eyes searching his face. "You look... thinner. Have you been eating well?"

Nathan forced a smile. "Yeah, I've been fine. Busy, but fine."