—JASMINE "Jasmine? Is everything okay?" Denzel asks, his voice laced with concern as I toss his hand away. His eyes widen in shock, and I can tell he's taken aback by my sudden reaction. Shit. I overreacted. I am overreacting. I can feel my heart racing, my breath coming in short gasps. I apologize immediately, trying to calm myself down. "I'm sorry, Denzel. I just...I had a nightmare, okay?" Denzel's expression changes from shock to understanding, and he takes a step closer to me, his hands spreading out in a protective way. But I don’t think he heard me. "What's wrong?" he asks, his voice soft and gentle. I shake my head, feeling a mix of emotions: fear, anxiety, and embarrassment. "Just had a nightmare," I repeat, trying to downplay it. Denzel pauses, clearly not expecting that to be the reason for my outburst. "Oh," he says, his voice filled with empathy. "I'm sorry," he adds, his eyes filled with concern. I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat
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