:root {
  --pageBlack: #262626;
  --pageYellow: #fadf72;
  --pagePurple: #552b55;
  --pageRed: #814995;
  --pageGreen: #2ce771;
  --grey: #879c9b;
  --lightGreen: #12ac86;
  --pageGrey: #212121;
  --lightBlue: #d7ecfa;
}
body {
  margin: 0;
  height: 100vh;
  display: flex;
  justify-content: center;
  align-items: center;
  font-family: sans-serif;
  /* overflow: hidden; */
  background-color: var(--lightBlue);
}
ul {
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  display: flex;
  flex-wrap: wrap;
  list-style-type: none;
  /* border: solid thin black; */
}
ul li a {
  text-decoration: none;
  color: var(--pageBlack);
  font-size: 22px;
  text-transform: uppercase;
  display: block;
  padding: 5px 10px;
  margin: 0px 10px;
  position: relative;
  transition: all .2s;
  /* border: solid thin grey; */
}
ul li a:hover {
  background-color: var(--pageRed);
  color: white;
}
ul li a:before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  bottom:12px;
  left:12px;
  width: 12px;
  height: 12px;
  /* background-color: var(--pageGrey); */
  border: 3px solid var(--pageRed);
  border-width: 0 0 3px 3px;
  opacity: 0;
  transition: all .3s;
  transform-origin: left;
}

ul li a:hover:before{  
  opacity: 1;
  bottom: -8px;
  left: -8px;
}
ul li a:hover:after {
  opacity: 1;
  top: -8px;
  right: -8px; 
}
ul li a:after {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  top:12px;
  right:12px;
  width: 12px;
  height: 12px;
  /* background-color: var(--pageGrey); */
  border: 3px solid var(--pageRed);
  border-width: 3px 3px 0 0;
  opacity: 0;
  transition: all .4s;
  transform-origin: left;
}