Howdy yall, preciate yall stopping in if you have some time and advice.

SImply put, I need some advice on a decision I'm trying to make. Long story short; There is this girl whom I was trying to get into a relationship towards, now unfortunately cause I'm just not good at this stuff I was mainly just flirting and hinting at wanting a relationship instead of just coming out and saying it, and she seemed to understand and was reciprocal at times. Unfortunately, didn't work out, and someone was more direct with her and she said yes. No hard feelings, that's on me. For context, we are still kinda talking but shes also kinda more interested than usual in her chats which is confusing, and frankly mixed messaging. We've been talking for a few months.

I bought her a Christmas present that I planned to give and confess with along with the holidays. Now, I just plan to give her the present. What matters is the Christmas Card which I'm gonna have to change cause it's no longer applicable. In lieu of that I'm gonna write an alternative.

Now here is where I need some advice. What do I do next?

I plan on explaining that I had feelings for her, no hard feelings that I got beat to the punch, and wish her all the best etc. BUT; The tricky part is do I cut ties with her? I have two drafts which I wrote out, one for just leaving the door open on the topic, one saying that we should part ways from here because I'll probably won't be able to keep it platonic because I still got feelings.

On one end, shes a great person and someone who I would genuinely enjoy hanging out with platonically. On the other, shes too great and I caught feelings for her which not only will take time but active effort to not act upon. I'm stuck in a rut right now trying to decide.

I wont lie that the thought of keeping the door open already has me concerned because of part false hope, and part dreading the emotional damage of talking to someone who you really liked. Just now she's still talking to me and it's somewhat brutal on the heart strings. I do think that it would be easier for me to get over it with me just parting ways, and right now cause of the mixed messaging I kinda feel a bit frustrated and angry, which probably is a sign for what would happen if I did leave the door open.

On the other end for cutting ties, for one she doesn't really deserve it because I fucked up and didn't confess in time, for all I know her "understanding and reciprocity" wasn't that, and I could be ghosting someone as a friend out of the blue from her perspective. (and something I detest from my own experience) Moreso, I would be burning bridges that didn't need to be burned and would lose out on a genuinely good person who I do just enjoy hanging out with. Also I'll be honest in that I don't want to leave the impression that I just was friendly cause I wanted a relationship, I waited long cause I wanted to get to know her better and just experience being good friends before making a move, which I guess bit me in the ass for that so i'll take that L, but I don't know how to communicate that.

Could use some thoughts or opinions.