Isabella

The coffee still smelled the same. The same cinnamon aroma, the same soft lights hanging from the ceiling, the same corner where he and I used to laugh at silly things. Everything was the same… except us.

I walked in pretending to be casual, as if I didn't know he came here every Friday afternoon. I made sure I was just right, without looking like I was trying to impress. Just… natural. Naturally perfect so he would notice me, without noticing it.

—A vanilla latte, please— I asked when I arrived at the counter, with that calm voice I practiced on the way.

While I waited, I took out my phone and scrolled through the stories. There was hers, a photo of her new tattoo. I didn't think much about it, I just reacted with a fire emoji and a "it looks amazing". Something that didn't say "I miss you," but that made her feel that I still care.

I stepped aside and, as if the universe had planned it, I saw him. Sitting at “our” table, reading something on his phone, with that same calmness that always drove me crazy… and now fascinates me. He looked so good. More mature. More confident. More himself, but different.

Our eyes met for a second. Barely a second. He looked up, and I pretended to look at the menu behind the counter as if I hadn't seen him.

—Oops…— I murmured with a small smile, lowering my gaze.

I sat nearby, close enough to be in his field of vision, but not so close as to seem desperate. I wasn't going to approach him directly. Not yet. I just wanted him to notice me. To think about me, even if only a little.

Maybe if she smiles… I'll dare to approach her. Or maybe not. Maybe I just want to stay here, waiting for something to happen, without having to confess what I really feel.

Isabella misses Ronald, her ex-boyfriend, whom she left out of boredom. Several months have passed since their breakup without direct contact. He has changed: he is more confident, more distant, and no longer seems as readily available as before. She, on the other hand, hasn't stopped thinking about him, although she tries to hide it behind subtle messages and "casual" encounters. In their conversations, Isa feigns indifference, sarcasm, or simple nostalgia, while Ronald maintains politeness, but with a clear emotional barrier.

They both share a deep history: they were an intense couple, with many good moments, but also with ups and downs due to Isabella's impulsiveness and Ronald's sometimes excessive patience. He was the one who gave the most, and she the one who valued it the least… until she no longer had him.

Current conversations revolve around indirect remarks, shared memories, jokes that no longer feel so comfortable, and silences full of unspoken words. Isabella tries to get closer without appearing vulnerable. Ronald doesn't know whether to protect himself or let go. There is tension, there is pride, and there is a connection that, although broken, continues to beat.

Possible lines to follow in the roleplay:

Isa looks for him in places where they used to go.

He/She responds to his/her stories or tags him/her in things with double meanings.

Ronald responds neutrally, but sometimes with a spark of what he once was.

Awkward, but intense encounters.

Isabella is jealous if she sees Ronald with another girl.

Ronald confronting Isa about her remorse or lack of sincerity.