I Hate That I Love You

I Hate That I Love You

Chapter 1: Love and Rivalry

A university was more than just a place where students came to earn degrees. It was a place where dreams were born, friendships were formed, rivalries began, and sometimes, hearts found themselves tangled in stories they had never intended to be part of.

Every student arrived with a different wish. Some wanted to make their families proud, some dreamed of becoming successful, and others simply wanted to enjoy their youth before the responsibilities of adulthood caught up with them.

And then there were those who came looking for love.

This particular university had plenty of interesting characters, each with a story of their own. But among the countless students walking through its spacious corridors, two names were almost impossible to miss.

Alex and Josh.

Two popular boys. Two stubborn personalities. And two people who could barely stand the sight of each other.

Unfortunately for everyone around them, their rivalry had a lot to do with one particular girl.

"Lily!"

A young man's voice rang through the busy university courtyard, drawing the attention of several students.

A girl with beautiful features and a gentle appearance turned at the sound of her name. Her long hair fell neatly around her shoulders as she looked toward the boy approaching her with a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hands.

Lily was one of the university's most popular girls. She was cute, beautiful, and kind, with a calm personality that made her even more attractive to the people around her. Wherever she went, she seemed to draw attention without even trying.

Yet, despite the countless confessions she received, Lily remained uninterested in romance.

Her priorities were simple. She wanted to study hard, achieve her dreams, and build a future she could be proud of.

Love could wait.

At least, that was what she always told herself.

The boy stopped in front of her, holding out the flowers with an expectant smile.

"Lily, I really like you. I've wanted to tell you this for a long time. Please, give me a chance."

A few students nearby slowed their steps, already curious to see how the confession would end.

Lily offered him a polite smile.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in any kind of romantic relationship right now."

Her answer was gentle, as it always was. She didn't laugh at him or embarrass him in front of the crowd. She simply declined and turned to leave, hoping that would be the end of it.

But the boy wasn't ready to accept her answer.

His smile disappeared, replaced by an ugly expression of wounded pride. Before Lily could take another step, he reached out and grabbed her wrist roughly.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Lily stopped.

The sudden grip made her brows draw together, but she didn't panic. Instead, she looked down at his hand wrapped around her wrist before slowly raising her gaze to his face.

The boy tightened his grip.

"What do you think you are? Just because you're beautiful, you can ignore people and humiliate them like this?"

Several students turned toward them. Whispers began spreading through the courtyard, but nobody had stepped forward yet.

Lily's expression remained surprisingly calm.

"I didn't humiliate you. I simply told you that I'm not interested. Please let go of my wrist."

"Don't act so innocent!"

He pulled her closer, refusing to release her.

For a moment, Lily's eyes hardened.

She knew that being kind didn't mean allowing people to walk all over her. She had turned him down politely, and she had every right to expect him to respect her decision.

But before she could say another word, a strong hand suddenly closed around the boy's wrist.

The grip was firm.

Dangerously firm.

"Ahhh!"

The boy cried out as his arm was twisted away from Lily. His fingers immediately loosened, and Lily pulled her wrist free.

The sudden interruption made several students gasp.

The boy turned toward the person holding him, his face twisting with pain.

And then he saw who it was.

Josh.

Lily's older brother stood beside him, his expression dark enough to make the boy's confidence crumble almost instantly.

Josh was one of the university's most popular guys. Tall, muscular, handsome, and intelligent, he attracted attention wherever he went. His confident presence alone was enough to make people notice him, but nobody who knew him would dare mistake his calm moments for a lack of temper.

Especially when it came to his younger sister.

"Brother!"

Lily's face brightened the moment she saw him. She smiled at him, relieved that he had arrived before the situation became worse.

Josh, however, wasn't smiling.

His eyes remained fixed on the boy whose wrist he was still holding.

"How dare you touch my sister?"

His voice was low, but there was enough anger in it to make the surrounding students fall silent.

"Let go of me!" the boy demanded, trying to pull his arm away.

Josh didn't immediately release him. Instead, he drew him a little closer, forcing him to meet his gaze.

"If you can't take rejection, then why the hell did you bring your ass in front of my sister and confess to her in the first place?" Josh snapped. "She said no. That's the end of it."

The boy swallowed nervously.

Josh's grip tightened just enough to make his warning clear.

"Don't come near her again. If you ever touch her like that one more time, I'll make sure you regret it. You won't be able to use that arm without remembering what you did."

The threat left little room for argument.

The boy yanked his arm free as soon as Josh loosened his hold, then hurried away without another word.

The surrounding students immediately began whispering again, some exchanging knowing looks.

Another day. Another person who had learned the hard way not to mess with Josh's sister.

Josh watched the boy disappear into the crowd before finally turning toward Lily.

His expression softened almost immediately.

He reached out and gently patted her head.

"You should be more careful, little mouse. Those losers are always after you."

Lily puffed out her cheeks.

"I know, but what am I supposed to do? I don't have any romantic feelings for anyone right now. You know I have dreams I want to achieve."

Josh let out a short laugh, the last of the anger slowly leaving his face.

"I know, I know. You don't have to explain yourself to me." He gave her another affectionate pat on the head. "I'll always support my little mouse."

"I'm not a little mouse!"

Lily pouted and swatted his hand away.

Josh laughed harder.

"Sure, sure. Whatever you say, little mouse."

"Brother!"

Her indignant expression only made him laugh more.

Despite his intimidating reputation, Josh had always been gentle with Lily. She was the one person who could bring out the softer side of him, the person he would protect without hesitation.

They had only each other to call family, and that bond meant more to him than anything else.

Lily knew it, too.

Even when she complained about his overprotectiveness, she couldn't deny how safe she felt with him around.

After their little exchange, the siblings continued toward the lockers.

The corridor was busy with students moving between classes. Conversations echoed against the walls, lockers slammed shut, and the distant sound of a basketball bouncing somewhere outside drifted through the open windows.

Lily stopped in front of her locker and entered the combination.

"I need to get my books before the next class," she said.

"Take your time," Josh replied, leaning casually against the locker beside hers.

Lily opened the door.

Several books were neatly arranged on the shelves, along with a few notebooks and other belongings. But the moment she reached for her textbook, a folded envelope slipped from between the books and fluttered to the floor.

Josh glanced down.

A love letter.

His expression changed.

Slowly, he bent down and picked it up.

Lily noticed the sudden shift in his mood and immediately looked at the envelope in his hand.

"Brother..."

Josh turned the envelope over, his jaw tightening as he recognized the familiar handwriting.

He didn't even need to open it.

He already knew who had sent it.

Alex.

Of course it was Alex.

For a moment, Josh simply stared at the letter, as if the sight of it alone were enough to ruin his entire day.

Lily's smile faded.

She knew exactly what was going through her brother's mind, and she could already imagine what would happen next.

"Brother, don't—"

But Josh had already started walking.

His footsteps were heavy, his shoulders tense, and the letter crumpled slightly in his fist.

"Brother! Where are you going?"

"To have a little conversation."

The coldness in his voice told Lily that this was going to be anything but a conversation.

She hurried after him.

Please don't let them start fighting again.

It was a familiar prayer, one she had whispered to herself far too many times.

Unfortunately, the two boys she was about to face were not exactly known for their ability to behave like reasonable adults.

And Alex, in particular, had a terrible habit of pushing Josh's buttons.

---

The university basketball court was alive with activity.

The rhythmic thud of basketballs echoed across the polished floor, mixing with the squeak of sneakers and the shouts of players calling for passes. Students gathered along the sidelines, watching the team practice while others sat nearby, chatting and enjoying the afternoon.

At the center of the court stood Alex.

He held a basketball loosely in one hand, listening to one of his teammates before turning toward the basket.

Alex was another one of the university's most popular guys. Tall, muscular, handsome, and undeniably attractive, he possessed the kind of confidence that made people notice him without him having to do much at all.

His strong build and striking features earned him plenty of admirers, and being the captain of the university basketball team only added to his popularity.

Girls confessed to him regularly.

Some brought him gifts, others waited for him after practice, and a few were bold enough to ask him out in front of everyone.

Alex turned them all down.

Because his attention belonged to only one girl.

Lily.

For an entire year, he had been trying to win her over. He had sent her letters, attempted to start conversations, and looked for opportunities to spend time with her.

Yet every time he thought he was getting somewhere, Josh appeared like an unwanted obstacle.

And Alex absolutely hated it.

He was stubborn by nature. When he wanted something, he didn't give up easily, especially when he believed he had a genuine chance of getting it.

But Lily's older brother seemed determined to keep him at a distance.

Just thinking about Josh was enough to sour his mood.

Alex was about to take another shot when he felt a hand land heavily on his shoulder.

Before he could react, the person grabbed him and turned him around.

Alex's brows immediately furrowed.

Then he saw Josh standing in front of him.

Ah.

There went his peaceful afternoon.

Josh's expression was cold, his eyes burning with unmistakable anger. In one hand, he held a folded envelope.

Alex glanced at it.

Then he rolled his eyes.

Seriously?

"Why the hell did you put another letter in her locker?" Josh demanded.

Alex looked at him as though the question were the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.

"Seriously? The whole university knows why. Because I like Lily."

"SHUT UP!" Josh barked, drawing the attention of the players nearby. "She's not interested in you!"

Alex's jaw tightened.

"And how the hell would you know what could happen between us when you never let us spend any time together?" he shot back. "You don't even give us a chance to get to know each other!"

"Because she already told you she's not interested!"

"Then let her tell me herself!" Alex snapped. "Why do you always have to interfere? You're always standing between us like some unwanted middleman!"

The tension between them grew heavier with every passing second.

A few players exchanged uneasy glances. They had seen Josh and Alex argue before, but the expression on Josh's face suggested that this particular confrontation wasn't going to end with a few sharp words.

Josh stepped closer.

"Watch your mouth."

"Or what?"

Alex tilted his chin defiantly.

Neither boy was willing to back down.

They had never needed much of a reason to get on each other's nerves, and today, with Josh already furious and Alex unwilling to surrender, the situation was a disaster waiting to happen.

Josh suddenly grabbed the front of Alex's basketball jersey.

Before anyone could intervene, he threw a punch.

The blow landed against Alex's face, making his head jerk to the side.

A collective gasp swept through the court.

"Josh!" Lily's voice rang out from the entrance, but her brother didn't seem to hear her.

Alex slowly turned his face back toward Josh.

For one brief moment, he touched his lip with his tongue, checking the damage.

Then his eyes narrowed.

"You bastard."

He swung his fist straight into Josh's face.

Josh staggered half a step before retaliating.

Within seconds, the two boys were trading punches, their anger finally spilling over into a full-blown fight.

"Hey! Stop them!"

"Captain!"

"Josh, what the hell are you doing?"

The players rushed forward, but neither boy seemed interested in listening.

Josh caught Alex across the cheek.

Alex answered with another punch, striking Josh near the mouth.

Their jerseys twisted beneath their clenched fists as they shoved each other across the court. Anger burned in their eyes, and every punch carried the weight of a rivalry that had been building for far too long.

Alex's lip split, leaving a thin trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

Josh's cheek was already beginning to redden.

Students crowded around the court, some shouting for them to stop, others watching in stunned silence.

Lily stood frozen for a heartbeat.

Then she rushed forward.

"STOP IT!"

Her voice cut through the commotion.

Neither boy listened.

"Josh! Alex! Stop fighting!"

She pushed her way between them just as Josh drew his arm back again.

"Enough!"

Lily grabbed Josh's arm with both hands and forced herself between the two boys.

That finally made them pause.

Her eyes moved from Josh's reddening face to Alex's bloodied lip, and frustration flooded her expression.

"Stop fighting! You're hurting each other!"

Josh's breathing was heavy. He kept his eyes fixed on Alex, as though he were still deciding whether the fight was truly over.

Alex, meanwhile, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

His gaze remained locked on Josh.

Neither of them looked particularly sorry.

Lily turned toward Alex.

"And you! Why do you always have to do this? Why do you keep provoking him?" she demanded, her voice trembling with frustration. "You know I'm focused on my studies right now. I've already told you I'm not interested in a relationship!"

Alex's expression changed slightly at her words.

For a moment, the anger in his eyes faltered.

He looked at Lily, wanting to explain himself, wanting to tell her that he wasn't trying to make things difficult for her.

But before he could speak, Josh moved.

"Come on, Lily."

He caught her hand and began leading her away from the court.

"Brother, wait—"

"Let's go."

His voice was firm, leaving little room for argument.

Lily glanced back at Alex as Josh pulled her toward the exit.

Alex stood in the middle of the court, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. His lip was bleeding, and his cheek throbbed from the punches he'd taken.

Yet he barely noticed the pain.

His eyes followed Lily until she disappeared through the doorway.

Then his gaze shifted to Josh.

Josh looked back over his shoulder.

The hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.

Alex met that look without flinching.

If anything, his own expression hardened.

He hated Josh just as much as Josh hated him.

Perhaps even more.

---

For the students of the university, this wasn't exactly an unexpected sight.

Josh and Alex hadn't always been enemies.

Before the previous year, they had simply been two popular students moving through their own circles, each busy with his own life. They had no particular reason to hate each other.

Then Alex noticed Lily.

It had happened almost a year ago, and from that moment onward, his attention had remained fixed on her.

He wanted to get to know her. He wanted to spend time with her, take her on a date, and perhaps, one day, earn a place beside her.

But there was one problem.

Josh.

Lily's brother had never trusted Alex's intentions, and every attempt Alex made to approach her seemed to end with Josh appearing between them.

To Josh, Alex was a persistent troublemaker who refused to respect his sister's boundaries.

To Alex, Josh was an overprotective nuisance who wouldn't give him a chance to prove himself.

Neither understood the other's perspective, and neither was willing to admit that he might be wrong.

Their arguments became more frequent. Their tempers grew shorter. And eventually, words gave way to fists.

Now, whenever the two crossed paths, the university seemed to hold its breath.

Everyone knew that Josh would do anything to protect Lily, even if it meant fighting the entire world for her.

And everyone knew that Alex wasn't the kind of person who would step back simply because someone ordered him to.

As for Lily, she wanted nothing more than to focus on her studies and achieve her dreams.

She had no idea how she was supposed to keep the two most stubborn boys in her life from tearing each other apart.

For now, one thing was certain.

Josh hated Alex.

Alex hated Josh.

And neither boy had any intention of surrendering.

But sometimes, the strongest hatred begins with a feeling neither person knows how to understand.

And sometimes, the heart has a cruel way of turning the very person you hate into the one you cannot live without.