episode 1 Project: Love-Hate

Project: Love-Hate — Part 1: The Morning Battle

"I like you!"

The morning sunlight streaming through the classroom window hadn't yet reached the desk when Rin heard this strange voice. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and closed her notebook, staring at the boy standing in front of her.

Len stood in front of her. His hair was disheveled as usual, the top button of his shirt was open, and he had the kind of smile that annoyed Rin the most.

"Len, it's exactly 8:00 in the morning. Have you lost your mind?" Rin asked, her voice as firm as possible.

"I'm absolutely serious, Rin! Today's horoscope said I should confess my feelings," Len said, taking a step forward, holding a small packet of strawberry milk that he left on Rin's desk every day.

"I hate your strawberry milk. I hate your weird smile. And most of all... I hate you!" Rin practically shouted, standing up from his bench.

The rest of the class, who had been silently watching the drama, began whispering. This was nothing new to them. This love-hate game between Len and Rin had been going on for the entire semester. Len pursued Rin at every opportunity, and Rin rejected him with equal intensity every time.

"Hey, man, why are you acting so cold?" Len asked, scratching his head, but there was a twinkle in his eye. "You looked so peaceful and sweet when you were sleeping in the library yesterday."

Rin's face flushed with anger (or maybe a little embarrassment). "You... you were watching me sleep?! You really are a weirdo!"

Just then, the class teacher entered and signaled everyone to their seats. Len glanced at Rin as he left, made a small heart with his fingers, and headed for his own seat.

Rin sat back in her chair. Her heart was still pounding—whether from anger or something else, she didn't know. She opened her notebook, but her attention wasn't focused on the blackboard. She looked at the strawberry milk on her desk.

"I hate this," she thought to herself. But still, she quietly dipped a straw into the strawberry milk and took a sip. It was sweet. Just like Len's strange smile.

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