Kinda sad how a childs thoughtless teasing affected her so much that she took it to heart all these years, even though he doesnt mean them shes still haunted by it and I bet he probably still is as well, normally these things are forgotten but they both held onto the memory and he feels pretty guilty, dont mind him as a rival he may not even like her and just wants to apologise, he deserves the opportunity
On another note glad that she is enoying herself and she didnt write something cringey to do with him on the thing