Conflict
The struggle between opposing forces that drives a story’s plot.
Conflict is the engine of narrative, pitting a character against another person, society, nature, fate, or an inner divide. Writers use it to create tension, reveal character, and propel events toward a climax. Conflicts are often grouped as external or internal.
Example
The unspoken conflict between the couple plays out in tense, evasive dialogue, with the real disagreement hovering just beneath their small talk.
Hills Like White Elephants · Ernest Hemingway