When Love Break Ties

Chapter 32: Abby's Attempt to Reconcile

Nathan sat by the window, staring out at the busy streets of Tokyo, his mind swirling with confusion and unease. The workshop crisis had put even more strain on him and Abby, but now, another issue loomed even larger in his life: his family.

It had been weeks since their tense visit to Tokyo, and the unresolved tension still weighed heavily on his heart. His parents had left with more questions than answers, their disappointment palpable. In every message or call since, Nathan could hear the strain in their voices, the unspoken concern about his relationship with Abby.

Abby had noticed it too. She wasn't one to easily admit fault, but even she couldn't ignore the obvious tension. After their last argument, Abby had come to him with a proposal: she wanted to make things right with his family. It was a gesture Nathan hadn't expected, and while part of him appreciated it, another part of him feared the worst. He knew his family well enough to anticipate the challenges ahead. Abby's confident, headstrong personality had always clashed with their more conservative, traditional values.

But she was determined, and Nathan, torn between hope and fear, agreed to let her try.

The day of the call had arrived. Abby had decided to reach out to Nathan's family via a video call, knowing that a face-to-face meeting would be impossible given the circumstances. They had scheduled a time that worked for both Tokyo and Manila, and Nathan sat next to Abby, his heart pounding in his chest.

Abby exhaled deeply, her fingers lightly tapping on the table. "Are you sure about this?" she asked, glancing sideways at Nathan.

"I don't know," Nathan admitted, feeling the weight of the moment. "But we have to try."

The screen lit up with the familiar faces of Nathan's parents. His mother, Rosalyn, wore a hesitant smile, while his father, Victor, remained unreadable, his eyes narrowed as if already preparing for a confrontation. Nathan's younger sister, Irene, hovered in the background, looking nervous.

"Hi, Ma. Pa," Nathan greeted them, his voice tight with tension. "Thanks for agreeing to this."

Rosalyn nodded, her smile forced. "Of course, anak. We've been wanting to talk." Her eyes flickered toward Abby. "It's good to see you, Abby."

Abby smiled, though Nathan could sense the nerves behind it. "Thank you, Mrs. Salvador. I really wanted to talk to all of you and... well, clear the air."

Victor raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his silence already feeling like a judgment. Rosalyn, ever the mediator, tried to ease the tension. "We appreciate that, Abby. It's just... we've had some concerns."

Nathan knew this wouldn't be easy, but the way his mother phrased it stung. They were concerned—about him, about his choices, about Abby. He had heard it all before, though never so directly. It felt like an accusation more than anything else.

Abby, however, remained poised. "I understand, and I want you to know that I care about Nathan. I care about his family too. I know our relationship hasn't always been easy, but I'm willing to make an effort."

Nathan could feel the tension rising in the room. His father finally spoke, his voice sharp. "Effort is good, but it's more than that, Abby. We've seen how much Nathan has changed since he met you. He's more distant, more... disconnected from us."

"That's not true, Pa," Nathan interjected, trying to defend himself. "I'm still the same person."

Victor shook his head. "No, you're not. We hardly recognize you anymore, Nathan."

Abby's eyes flickered with emotion, her voice softening. "I never meant to come between you and your family. I just... I've been through a lot, and Nathan's been there for me. I know we've both changed, but that's part of being in a relationship, isn't it? You grow together."

Rosalyn sighed, looking conflicted. "It's not just about growing, Abby. We feel like we've lost our son. And maybe it's not entirely your fault, but... it's hard for us to see him like this."

Abby's attempt at reconciliation was faltering, and Nathan could feel the conversation slipping into dangerous territory. He wanted to step in, to shield her from the brunt of his family's disapproval, but he also knew that their concerns weren't entirely unfounded. He had changed. Whether it was for better or worse, he wasn't sure anymore.

"I'm still here," Nathan insisted, his voice cracking with frustration. "But I have a life too, one that's different from the one you imagined for me."

Rosalyn looked at him with sad eyes. "We just want to be part of that life, Nathan."

Abby, sensing the emotional charge of the moment, leaned forward. "I want you to be part of his life too. I know I haven't been perfect, and I know I'm not exactly what you expected for Nathan, but I love him. And I'm willing to work on things, with all of you."

Victor's expression softened slightly, but his words remained pointed. "Love is important, Abby, but respect is too. And we don't feel like you respect us, or where Nathan comes from."

Abby stiffened at that, clearly taken aback. "I... I didn't mean to disrespect anyone."

"It's not always about what you mean," Victor said sternly. "It's about how you act. And from what we've seen, we're not sure you understand the value of family the way we do."

Nathan watched as Abby's face shifted from calm to hurt. He could tell she was trying to hold back her emotions, but his father's words had struck a nerve.

"I do value family," Abby said, her voice a little shakier now. "But my own experiences have been... complicated. I've had to learn how to protect myself."

"Protect yourself?" Victor repeated, his tone skeptical. "From what, Abby? From us?"

Nathan could see the frustration building in Abby's eyes, but before she could respond, he jumped in. "This isn't helping," he said, his voice raised. "I brought Abby here to try and fix things, not to tear them apart even more."

Rosalyn looked at her son, her voice softer now. "We're not trying to tear anything apart, Nathan. We just want to understand. We want to know that you're making the right choices."

Nathan exhaled, feeling the weight of both Abby's and his family's expectations crashing down on him. It was like standing on a tightrope, knowing that if he leaned too far in either direction, he'd fall.

Abby glanced at Nathan, her eyes pleading. "I'm trying, Nathan."

He felt torn. On one side was his family, the people who had raised him, loved him, and given him everything. On the other side was Abby, the woman who had been his anchor in a foreign city, the person who had been there for him when everything else felt uncertain.

But now, it seemed like he had to choose between them. The reconciliation Abby had hoped for was falling apart, and Nathan didn't know how to save it. Every word, every glance felt like another brick in the wall being built between them.

"I don't know what to do," Nathan finally admitted, his voice small. "I don't know how to make this work."

For a moment, there was silence. Rosalyn and Victor exchanged a glance, their expressions softening just slightly.

"You don't have to choose, Nathan," Rosalyn said gently. "We're not asking you to do that. But you have to understand where we're coming from too."

Abby looked down at the table, her hands trembling slightly. Nathan could see the disappointment in her eyes, the realization that no matter how hard she tried, she might never fully win his family's approval.

"I think I need some air," Abby whispered, standing up from the table. Nathan watched her leave, torn between following her and staying to continue the conversation with his family.

But as she walked out the door, Nathan felt the weight of a choice pressing down on him—a choice that no matter how hard he tried, he knew would hurt someone he cared about.