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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/ThrowRA_15698 on 2023-09-24 03:09:18.

I (25f) casually met again one of my highschool bullies (26m) on my way to my new workplace (He happens to work nearby). We hadn't seen each other since we were 17 y/o and the situation was pretty uncomfortable.

He bullied me back then. He wasn't the worst by far, but he laughed at what others said to me and teased me sometimes. On the other hand, he was very polite, even sweet with me when we were alone or his friends weren't nearby. I even recall him cupping my face in his hands. Obviously I didn't like him, but I did find him attractive and kinda enjoyed talking about soccer with him from time to time since we supported the same team.

Now that we have found each other again, after talking several times, he confessed that he really liked me back then. He said that I "was amazing and brilliant" and that he wasn't brave enough to act on his feelings because I feared people wouldn't understand him liking an "unconventional beauty". He states that he wanted to reach me after highschool but that he never dared because he felt guilty.

Then he apologized for laughing at me (Before letting me know that he "protected me" from his friends several times) and asked for my number. I refused to give it to him and told him I have a boyfriend now who has never feared what people think of him for being with me. Then I told him that if I see him on the street I will talk to him as my former classmate and that I forgive him, but nothing more. AITA?