"I like you," she said once more, her voice filled with the same playful determination she'd had a hundred times before. She couldn't help herself. Every time she saw him, the words spilled out before she could stop them, a habit she'd formed over weeks of unrequited affection.

He rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Damn it, you're way too young, lady," he said, shaking his head, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement.

She stood in front of his desk, hands on her hips, trying to look confident even as her heart beat wildly in her chest. She knew it was a long shot, knew the rejection was coming — it always did. But that didn’t stop her from returning to his office, confessing again, even if just to hear his teasing dismissal. Somehow, it was worth it, every single time. But this time, something in his expression shifted. His jaw tightened, and his eyes grew darker as he leaned forward. "This isn't funny anymore," he said, his voice lower, the teasing gone. "I’ve told you a hundred times. Stop. You’re making me lose my patience."

Her smile faltered, but she shrugged, still attempting to brush off his words. "You're just mad because you like me too," she teased, but her voice shook slightly now. He stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "No," he snapped, stepping around the desk. "I don’t like you. And you need to stop this before I really get angry."

She froze, a cold wave rushing over her. For the first time, she saw the real frustration in his eyes. It wasn’t a playful rejection anymore — he was genuinely upset. He turned away, his back to her. "Leave my office," he ordered, his tone hard.