Hello everybody, for the past year I've struggled with my feelings for someone who now has become one of my closest friends. For context, we both attend the same university, are in the same major, and share an on-campus workplace (though this is no longer the case, as I'm in my final two semesters and most of this work takes place over the summers). Back in March, we had a brief "situationship" after matching on a dating app. By situationship I mean a couple dates and sleeping together. This came to an end when I asked him on an additional date and he told me that he realized he wasn't attracted to me romantically and although he had every intention of dating me, he now felt that he wasn't into it and that we should take distance from each other to let things cool down. Although I was hurt, I feel we had a mature conversation and I gave him the space he asked for.

Over the summer, we started getting closer again, especially as one of our mutual friends was going through a very difficult time so she sort of brought us together as we were trying to support her. At present, we are quite close, spending a good amount of time hanging out with just the two of us, and sending each other things on social media throughout the day. He has also offered me very valuable emotional support on several occasions (as have I -- he went through a particularly painful breakup-type situation over the summer, which I supported him through), being very reassuring and encouraging towards me.

Throughout all of this, I've done my best to keep my feelings for him in the back of my mind. But as I've gotten to know him better, I feel that I do love him. Even if it's not with me, I want the best for him and to see him thrive. And as happy as I am to be his friend, there is still that part of me that wants so badly to be with him romantically. I feel like I should have taken our falling-out in March as closure, but part of me clings to hope with how emotionally sensitive he is towards me (something he isn't to others) -- he reassures me when I'm afraid or insecure, has told me he's lucky to have me in his life, that I would be a blessing to anybody no matter my role in their life. As much as I appreciate these sentiments, they make it harder for me to feel as though the door is 100% closed to a relationship with him.

I'm not asking if anybody thinks he likes me -- I know none of us are mind-readers and this is something I'd have to ask him to know for sure. I could just use some advice on what I should do. Our mutual friend knows about my feelings for him and suggested just continuing to get closer with him, without any expectations, and see where things go and just enjoy the bond I have with him in the meantime. But lately it's gotten harder to ignore how I feel and not let these feelings impact how I engage with him. I want badly to talk to him about it, but I worry about making things awkward between us again and forcing us into limited contact and distance as we were back in March.