Modern Family: New Life-Chapter 97: Family Council II

[End of comment]

"Well, I'm all ears," Andrew said, waiting for the first bit of advice.

As if he'd just been given the opportunity of a lifetime, Manny couldn't hold back and was the first to speak:

"First of all, how do you feel, Andrew? Are you afraid of losing someone? Regina, Pippa... yourself?"

Andrew looked at Manny, raising his eyebrows. 'What kind of existential philosophical question is that?' he thought, confused.

He wanted solutions, not a therapy session with coffee and drama.

"Here we go..." Jay muttered beside him.

"Shut up, Jay! Let him talk. He's sensitive," Gloria snapped, giving him another killer look.

Jay raised his hands in surrender, though not without an exasperated sigh.

"So...?" Manny pressed, unfazed by Jay's usual complaints.

"Mm... I don't feel afraid of losing anyone, really. I care about Pippa, obviously, I like her. I don't think our relationship ended just because of this, that would be very weak and I don't feel that way. But she's being kind of childish about all this," Andrew said with a difficult expression. He's not the best at talking openly about his feelings.

"Regina's my friend. But it's not like she's a soul sister or anything. We run together, chat a bit, that's it. I'm not going to stop seeing her just because Pippa's upset. I didn't do anything wrong, and I'm not going to cave to an irrational request."

[Manny's comment]

Manny sighed and shook his head.

"My nephew has a different emotional structure... I'm not saying it's wrong, just that he processes things like he's reading a technical manual. Now I get why he and Jay get along so well. It's like Andrew's a kid raised old-school, maybe a little more emotionally open than Jay..."

Manny paused, hand on his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"But he's not lost! I must teach him how to open up and express his feelings with his girlfriend, his soulmate—"

[End of comment]

"Andresito, sometimes people don't say what they really feel. Especially at your age. Pippa might be feeling insecure, maybe it's something deeper she hasn't told you yet," said Gloria.

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"Noted. Next time I'll try reading her mind, oh wait, I don't have that superpower," Andrew replied with sarcasm.

"Sarcasm... The classic emotional defense mechanism of people who-" Manny began, but Jay cut him off with a raised palm.

"Alright, enough, Sigmund Freud! You want a couch too?" Jay scoffed.

"Okay, enough debates. Let's get to the advice. One at a time, please," Andrew said, phone in hand.

"I'll speak," said Jay, jumping in before Manny could start.

"When a woman's jealous, she won't say it. Never. She'll start a fight because you closed a door the wrong way. Or because you breathe too loudly."

He adjusted in his seat and pointed his coffee cup like it was a pointer.

"What do you do? You speak clearly. Try to fix the issue like rational people. If she says nothing's wrong, you take her word for it. If something is wrong anyway, that's not your fault. You don't read minds or facial expressions. But never grovel. Never give up your freedom just to have peace. That's not peace. That's being handcuffed without seeing the cuffs."

Jay finished like he had just delivered the ultimate life lesson.

[Mitchell's comment]

"That's my dad. A real sweetheart, huh?" Mitchell said, dripping with sarcasm.

He sighed, "That was exactly the problem with my mom. They never talked. Ever. And they stayed together because, well... divorce was frowned upon in their time. You were a failure if you got divorced. They never admitted it, but they were in a constant Cold War. I literally learned how to talk by mediating silent standoffs."

Mitchell looked off to the side, as if replaying an old memory.

"Oh, I remember once when Claire and I were teenagers, we were home and Dad—"

[End of comment]

[Cam's comment]

"Jay sees every argument like a chess match. Like every wrong move is a personal loss. No, no. The whole approach is wrong," said Cam, shaking his head.

"You have to see an argument like a musical. You'll have disagreements, but you resolve them with a big choreographed number, an emotional bridge, and a final note that makes everyone cry!"

He cleared his throat. It looked like he was about to sing.

"There's a song that captures this moment perfectly—"

[End of comment]

Andrew typed on his phone as he spoke, "Option three: make it clear I did nothing wrong, and if she insists there's nothing to talk about, then... I won't talk. I won't do anything. I won't grovel."

"Cons?" asked Manny, squinting his eyes.

Andrew typed: "I could lose my girlfriend. I could come off as insensitive. I could repeat Jay's emotional pattern."

"Look at me, I'm a success," Jay said with a shrug, radiating unnecessary but unshakable confidence.

"My turn," said Gloria, elegantly crossing her legs.

"I run with you two. I know Regina. And yes, she's pretty, and yes, she's stylish, and yes, she looks like she stepped out of a magazine... but she's also a good person. I've never seen anything suspicious between you two."

Andrew nodded, "Thanks."

"And I also know Pippa. I adore that girl. She's got spark. She's got character. And if she's feeling insecure... well, you need to talk to her. Not with logic. With your heart," Gloria said with emotion in her voice.

[Gloria's comment]

"Relationships aren't built on manuals or strategies. They're built on honesty and care," Gloria said with a warm smile, looking toward the camera.

"I know what I'm talking about. Many of my relationships ended because we didn't talk things through properly. I know both girls, and they're both wonderful. I wouldn't want either of them to get hurt because of—"

[End of comment]

Gloria looked at Andrew expectantly, "You're not going to write down my advice?" she asked, noticing he hadn't typed anything.

"No. Your advice is similar to my dad. Option one. Speak from the heart, clarify there's nothing going on with Regina..." Andrew replied, reading the first option aloud.

Gloria blinked, as if her pride had been slightly bruised. But before she could say anything, Cam walked over and solemnly extended a hand to her.

Gloria hesitated for a second... then gave him a firm handshake.

"The true sages of love speak from the heart," Cam said with a broad smile.

"Let's keep going. Manny, your turn, unless you're going to say the same emotional talk and bla, bla, bla," said Andrew, checking the time on his watch.

"No... My advice is similar, but with an upgrade," said Manny with a slight, mysterious smile.

"An upgrade?" Mitchell asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Are we talking about human relationships or smartphone apps?"

"You have to talk to Pippa emotionally, yes. But knowing she might deny everything. She might say she's not jealous. That nothing's wrong. So you need to avoid making her feel attacked or cornered," said Manny, earning Andrew's full attention.

"And how do I do that?" Andrew asked seriously.

"With a gesture," said Manny, as if revealing the meaning of life. "A letter. A drawing. Some flowers. Something sincere. That says: 'you matter to me.' That way, even if she says she's not jealous, even if she won't admit it... she'll feel safe. And then she'll open up. Words don't always reach someone, but a gesture... a gesture says more than a thousand words."

[Manny's comment]

"A well-done grand gesture can open any heart. Except Haley's. But that's a different kind of wall I'm still figuring out how to—"

[End of comment]

"That's a good option," Andrew nodded, noting down option four.

"The only downside is time, since I have to decide what the gesture will be," he murmured to himself.

He didn't have time to write a long, emotional letter, and he didn't want to do something overly exaggerated or embarrassing. It had to be simple, but effective.

"It's a great option, see Jay? Manny's sensitive, and he's wise about these things," Gloria said as she hugged Manny warmly and tightly.

"Whatever," Jay muttered, without actually denying what Gloria said. The gesture could be a solid strategy, even from Jay's chessboard point of view.

"Well then, what are you going to do?" asked Mitchell, wanting to hear Andrew's pick for option number two.

"You clearly have to go with Manny's option," said Gloria and Cameron at the same time, casting their vote for Manny's advice. After all, it was similar to theirs, just with an upgrade that lowered the chances of upsetting Pippa.

"My option is the most logical and least exhausting," Jay commented.

"We're still missing a few opinions..." Andrew replied.

A few minutes later, they were all at the Dunphys' house.

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