5 rounds or viral

EXT. HOSPITAL – DAY

Anissa and Nelly step out of the maternity ward, both clutching the paper with the test results. Nelly looks at Anissa, nervous.

NELLY So… what are you thinking?

ANISSA I don't know… I need time to think, Nelly. I don't even know how to face him.

They find a bench outside the hospital. As they sit, RONNIE COLEMAN lurks nearby, pretending to be on the phone but eavesdropping.

NELLY Look, I won't tell you what to do. It's your body, your choice. But whatever you decide, I've got you.

ANISSA Thanks. I just… I never thought it'd be like this.

RONNIE smirks, overhearing everything.

INT. SCHOOL – LIBRARY – DAY

Anissa, Kendrick, and Henri sit around a table piled with notes.

KENDRICK Yo, Anissa. You're literally a genius. How do you make this accounting stuff look so easy?

ANISSA (smiling, but tired) It's all about patterns. You find them, you win. Here, look—

She points to Kendrick's messy calculations.

ANISSA (CONT'D) See that? You missed this zero. That's what's messing your balance.

HENRI Damn… can you be my personal tutor?

ANISSA (chuckles) I already am, dumbass.

They laugh. She spends a good hour explaining in detail, easing them through the concepts.

EXT. BASKETBALL COURT – LATE AFTERNOON

Anissa, sweating and out of breath, shoots hoops. The sound of the ball echoes through the quiet court. She moves slower than usual, fatigue setting in, but she pushes through.

NELLY (O.S.) You trying to kill yourself or what?

Anissa smiles weakly as Nelly joins her.

ANISSA Just needed to clear my head.

NELLY Talk to me.

They pass the ball between them as the sun begins to set.

INT. ANISSA'S DORM ROOM – NIGHT

Her phone buzzes. It's Terry.

TERRY (ON PHONE, CRYING) Anissa… Mom's gone.

Kavya wails in the background.

ANISSA (frozen, voice breaking) What…? No. No, Terry, no.

TERRY (sobbing) She's gone. She… she didn't make it.

Anissa hangs up, tears rolling down her cheeks. Nelly rushes over.

NELLY Anissa, what happened?

ANISSA She's… she's gone.

NELLY pulls her into a tight hug.

NELLY I'm so sorry. You're not alone, okay? You got me.

They sit in silence, holding each other.

INT. LECTURE HALL – NEXT DAY

The lecturer calls for those needing Anissa's help.

LECTURER Anyone needing assistance with anatomy, Anissa will be available after class.

Nelly raises her hand.

NELLY Sir, if I may… Anissa just lost her mother. She might need some time.

LECTURER (sympathetic) Understood.

EXT. HOTEL – AFTERNOON

Nelly waits outside, visibly anxious. Ronnie arrives, dressed sharply.

RONNIE Let's talk.

They head into a room.

INT. HOTEL ROOM – CONTINUOUS

RONNIE I overheard you two. The pregnancy.

NELLY What do you want, Ronnie?

RONNIE Not to get rid of it. To keep it. And keep quiet.

He places a wad of cash on the table.

RONNIE (CONT'D) Convince her. Make her see it's a blessing.

NELLY (stiff) I… I don't know if I can.

RONNIE You can. You will.

They stare each other down. Tension thick.

Without warning, Ronnie leans in, kissing her. Nelly responds. It escalates quickly, clothes discarded, their desperate sex fueled by tension and money.

EXT. ANISSA'S DORM – EVENING

Steven texts: "Come over."

ANISSA (texting back) Not now. I'm busy.

Steven stares at his phone, stunned.

STEVEN (to himself) What the hell…?

He punches the wall in frustration.

TO BE CONTINUED