Scene 1 – "The Safe Space" (Nina & Leo)
Setting: Nina's apartment, Saturday morning
Tone: Intimate, sweet, slightly distant
The kettle whistled. Nina poured the tea, the smell of cinnamon and orange peel filling the apartment. Leo stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
LEO
Smells like you baked the weather into the tea.
NINA
I did. You're drinking autumn. Appreciate it.
They shared a soft laugh. This is what they'd built: peace. Comfort. A space where time slowed.
But Nina noticed the little things. His hugs didn't linger like they used to. His phone buzzed more now — face-down, always. And he always had an excuse.
NINA
Leo, is everything okay with work?
LEO (quickly)
Yeah. Just… multiple projects. You know how it gets.
She didn't press. She wasn't the "clingy" type. But in the pit of her stomach, something whispered.
Scene 2 – "Out of the Blue" (Amara & Eli)
Setting: An art museum, same day
Tone: Playful, passionate, hint of confusion
Amara twirled between sculptures, her laughter echoing through the marble corridors.
AMARA
Okay but — tell me that sculpture isn't clearly judging us.
ELI (LEO)
I think it's more confused than judgmental. Like me, honestly.
They stopped at a painting — two faces, one shadow. Amara tilted her head.
AMARA
What do you think it means?
ELI
That even love has blind spots.
He said it without thinking. Amara turned to him, eyes curious. But he kissed her before she could ask.
Later, while holding her hand, he called her "Nina" by mistake.
Just once. Barely audible. But she noticed.
AMARA (smirking)
Who's Nina?
Leo froze. Too long. He covered.
ELI
Old coworker. Stressful project flashback. Sorry.
She let it go. But she felt the shift. The first hairline crack.
Scene 3 – "Accidental Threads"
Setting: Nina's phone screen
Tone: Suspicious, subtle tension
Nina scrolled through Instagram, half-distracted. A photo on her explore feed caught her eye: a blurry shot at the museum from a friend-of-a-friend's story.
Two people holding hands. The guy's back was turned, but… the posture. The build. That shirt.
No. It couldn't be.
She blinked. Shook her head. She wouldn't spiral over nothing.
But something wouldn't let go.
She clicked the profile that posted it. A girl Nina didn't know — but she saw the tagged user: @amara_
Scene 4 – "Night Divide"
Setting: Leo's apartment
Tone: Guilt-ridden, duality
Leo stared at his two open chats.
• Nina:
"Hope you're home safe. Miss you already."
• Amara:
"Still thinking about that kiss under the marble goddess. Damn."
He typed, deleted. Typed again. His fingers hesitated.
What was he doing?
He didn't mean to fall for both. With Nina, it had been slow, healing. With Amara, wild and consuming.
He told himself it wasn't cheating. Not technically. He was honest — just… not at the same time.
Leo buried his face in his hands.
LEO (to himself)
I'm in love with two people.
And they're getting closer by the second.
Scene 5 – Cliffhanger: Names Collide
Setting: Nina's apartment, next evening
Tone: Suspenseful, unraveling
Nina and Amara sat together for wine and movie night — a Sunday ritual they'd kept for years.
AMARA
So this guy… "Eli." Might be a thing.
NINA (playing it cool)
Still the tech guy?
AMARA
Yep. Kinda artsy, too. Tall. Sharp jaw. Looks like he models but says "ew" when I say that.
Nina smiled. But her fingers clenched her wine glass.
NINA
What's his last name?
AMARA (shrugging)
Morgan. Elijah Morgan.
Nina froze.
Amara didn't notice — she was busy laughing at her own story.
But behind Nina's eyes, the entire world shifted.
Chapter 3 Ends With Nina quietly excusing herself to the bathroom. She opens her phone.
Goes to her own contact for Leo.
There it is: Leo Morgan.
The same last name.
Her hands begin to shake