My worst nightmare

“Irony…” her mother called, her voice edged with quiet displeasure.

Irony turned slowly, her gaze lifting to meet his.

For a moment, the world stilled.

His eyes confused, searching locked onto hers as if trying to pull a memory from her soul.

          There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her. Not just recognitions but something deeper. Something broken.

       “It’s okay… I’m sorry, Miss Irony, for my behavior,” he said, his voice low, controlled but strained beneath the surface.

              Irony said nothing.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

          Maybe… she wasn’t the person he thought she was.

Or maybe it was a double gangger

  Or 

              He was seeing a ghost.

Because whoever this “Irony” was to him… she clearly wasn’t someone who would slap him.

  The irony he knows would have hug him instead.

         Maybe… his Irony is dead.

             “I mistook you for someone else,” he added, clearing his throat as if trying to erase the tension between them.

    Irony only stared at him, her expression unreadable.

Before she could respond

            “Dinner is ready,” the chef announced, placing the final dish on the long, elegantly set table.

         “Yaaay! Food!” little Elona squealed, dashing toward the table before anyone could stop her.

         A faint smile tugged at Irony’s lips.

Everyone took their seats.

               Irony sat beside Elona, while Axel took the seat directly opposite her.

         She felt it instantly.

              His gaze

It was So Heavy and unrelenting.

Tracing her face, Her posture and Her every movement.

          Irony stiffened slightly, lowering her eyes to her plate.

She refused to look at him.

         Refused to acknowledge the dangerous pull in his presence.

  She didn't want to see his demonic handsome face..

       Her fingers tightened against the fabric of her dress.

          “Mom… I’ll be back,” she said suddenly, her voice softer than usual.

      Her mother nodded without suspicion.

         Irony rose quickly and walked away, 

her heels clicking softly against the floor as she headed upstairs.

     Once inside her room, she moved straight to the mirror.

           Her reflection stared back at her calm on the outside, chaos within.

She turned on the faucet, splashing cold water against her face.

Maybe if the water touch her face 

   This night mare would all be over 

       This night would end faster.

And Maybe he would disappear.

          Maybe

This was all just an imagination 

       She reached for a white towel, pressing it gently against her face.

    

              Then turned

And walked straight into someone.

Her breath caught.

“Sor..." she began, then froze.

She didn’t need to see his face to knows who is that .

              She already knew that presence, that energy.

                     It was him.

Slowly, she lowered the towel.

And there he was.

                     Axel Riggs.

Her nightmare… standing right in front of her.

         Her heart slammed violently against her chest.

            “What the hell are you doing here? Stalking me?” she wanted to say.

        But the words refused to come out.

Instead, she just stared..

           “I missed my way… I’m looking for the bathroom,” Axel said calmly, his deep voice filling the silence.

Irony inhaled slowly, forcing herself to breathe.

              “This way,” she replied, her tone controlled.

She led him down the hallway, her steps steady despite the storm inside her.

      After showing him the bathroom, they both returned downstairs.

Dinner resumed as if nothing had happened.

      Her mother and Gabriel were laughing, reminiscing about old memories.

               “So, Grandma… is he going to be Mom’s brother?” Elona asked innocently, pointing at Axel as he descended the stairs.

             “Yes,” her mother replied with 

     a warm smile.

“He’s so handsome…” Elona whispered.

Irony shot her a look.

           “What are you talking about?” she asked.

Elona shook her head quickly, hiding her smile.

But her eyes remained glued to Axel.

             “I’m really happy that our families are finally coming together,” Gabriel said, raising his glass.

He took mother’s hand gently.

       “A toast… to our reunion.”

“Cheers,” everyone echoed.

     

          Irony forced a small smile.

She let out a quiet laugh under her breath.

              Across the table

Axel was still staring at her.

Watching her.

       As if trying to solve a puzzle.

He was bout to sip the wine from the glass

    When the drink suddenly spilled across his shirt.

She froze.

    “Are you..." she started, then stopped herself.

                  No!!!!!

She didn’t want to show concern.

Didn’t want him to see anything.

Her mother quickly intervened, asking Irony to take him upstairs and get him a change of clothes.

Irony hesitated.

           She didn’t want to But she couldn’t refuse.

      Silently, she led him to one of the guest rooms.

              The moment the door closed behind them

The air changed.

             It became… suffocating.

She moved toward the wardrobe, pulling out a fresh shirt for him.

But her breathing grew uneven.

His scent the room.

          Familiar.

And suddenly

          Memories she didn’t understand began flooding her mind.

The way he smiled, the way he looked at her.

               The way he made her feel…

Her grip tightened around the fabric.

           Why??!!!

Why did this nightmare feel like something sweet?

         Why did it feel like

Something she once and always wanted?

              She turned and froze.

             His chest brushed against her.

His breath warm against her skin.

   She hadn’t even realized how close he had gotten.

          Her heart pounded violently.

Part of her wanted to step away.

                The other part

Didn’t want to 

                   “You sure you aren’t the Irony I know?” he murmured, though it sounded more like a thought he hadn’t meant to say aloud.

        Their eyes locked.

.

Then suddenly

       He cough and stepped back breaking this forever moment.

       He began unbuttoning his shirt casually.

           Irony swallowed hard.

Her eyes betrayed her.

          They drifted

Across his chest,

                       Broad shoulders,

Defined lines.

          Strength carved into every inch of him.

Her breath hitched...

She hated herself for noticing For wanting to keep looking

        There was no love in her heart for him.

     Only anger.

Only resistance.

                 And yet!!!!

Her body didn’t listen.

“Why are you staring at my chest?” he asked suddenly, his voice low… almost teasing.

      Irony snapped out of it instantly.

Her eyes shot up to his.

      "Uhm.... I...."