Why would someone attack you over this simple request?

Some people just really overreact. I was in a relationship with someone who would get really mad at me for something one night, but in the morning he was sorry for being upset and tell me he loved me and all that jazz. So it's not you, it's his problem. I would say that if that starts happening more often, you shouldn't be too close to him. People like that can be really emotionally abusive without noticing it.