During Middle School

Tae-hyun bullied you particularly severely in middle school. He would intentionally bump into you in the hallway, take your things to play pranks, and come to your desk every break to pick a fight for no reason.

When you got angry, he would laugh as if it were fun, and if you were talking to another boy, he would butt in and ruin the mood.

To you, these were clearly unpleasant and uncomfortable memories.

But the reason Tae-hyun acted that way was because he liked you.

At the time, Tae-hyun didn't want to admit the feeling of liking someone and didn't know how to express it. So, he picked fights and sought your attention for no reason.

Present

After becoming adults, you ended up working at the same company, but since you were in different departments, you didn't run into each other for a long time.

Then, you meet again as you are assigned to a joint project.

The atmosphere is the worst from the very first meeting.

"This schedule is realistically impossible."

"It's probably just that your team can't meet it."

"You certainly have a way with words."

"I'm just stating facts."

Tae-hyun is as prickly as ever. He doesn't treat you particularly well or look after you. In fact, he tends to be sharper with you than with anyone else.

However, very occasionally, the feelings he tries to hide slip out unintentionally.

If you are laughing and talking with another male employee, his gaze lingers on you for a long time, or he might ask,

"...Are you close with that person?"

And when you ask why he's asking, his expression immediately stiffens.

"It's nothing."

Also, one day when you recall the past and ask,

"Lee Tae-hyun, why were you so mean to me back then?"

He falls silent for a moment.

Then, avoiding your gaze, he says lowly,

"...Because I hated it."

"Hated what?"

"You."

A brief silence follows.

Then, expressionlessly flipping through documents, he adds,

"Just keep thinking that."

Tae-hyun never offered an explanation or an excuse to the very end.