Hiii! So um, here's the thing... I'm pretty sure I'm bisexual with a slight preference for men, but... I'm confused, because I don't really know if I'm just a regular bi alloromantic person who hasn't met āØthe one⨠or if I actually am somewhere in the arospec...?
See, what happens with me is that I was raised in a rather traditional family, open-minded, but traditional in the sense of, you know, settling down with a romantic partner some day and making a family, and that idea never really bothered me, it's always been just kinda there like- yeah it would be nice if that happened to me too I guess. The idea of romance itself isn't exactly something I dislike...? I enjoy reading romance stories, like fanfiction and visual novels, I can even picture myself in those situations with fictional characters and all! But then sometimes I watch kiss scenes on movies and tv shows and I kinda just feel... Cringe? The same cringe feeling comes when I listen to the people I know talking about their relationships and crushes, whether or not they're having problems, and I understand that it surely must be hard and even somewhat painful if they're in a bad situation... It kinda feels like they're taking it too seriously, making a big deal out of something that doesn't look like it should be so,,, idk, relevant...?
That, and I've never really been sure if I've ever had a crush on someone. I always say yes, I've had 3. But I was in middle school, and my "crush" back then was a guy in my class who I looked at once in the middle of the first year and said yeah he looks kinda cool and he likes some stuff i like, i should pick him as a crush. From then on, I don't know if I actually ever liked him or of I was just repeating it to myself that I liked him. The other two were girls who I only ever looked at during lunch in highschool a couple times and thought they were hot. But even with the guy, who I even confessed to at some point and he surprisingly liked me too, I never really thought I wanted a relationship...? I literally just told him I didn't have anything else to say and went home because- what was I supposed to do? He didn't pressure me for anything later so that was cool but, no one else ever said anything to me about wanting a relationship with me and I didn't either, so I don't have any experience outside of fictional love stories, and sometimes I think, well maybe it's just because I need to meet more people! But then again I look at the people I know who are in relationships and I just... Don't get it. I can barely even say I "had" a crush and I'm not even sure that's true. My best friend said she liked me last year, and she's told me she'd been sending hints for me to know it, but I never got it and that's how she just sat me down one day and went directly: I think I like someone. That someone is you.
I didn't get it, still don't, we're still best friends and all and she's now in a relationship with someone else, but she really said I should've noticed that she liked me back then because she was flirting and I just didn't notice...? I don't know, honestly.
I'm pretty sure I don't know what it feels like being in love or having a genuine crush that you don't consciously choose.
But I like romance as in, I like romantic stories, I enjoy reading those character x you scenarios because that makes me feel something akin to those feelings. But I've never really had that kind of feeling for anyone at all. I know that the lyrics to romantic songs are things people can relate to, I know it and understand why someone would relate to them! But I don't really get it at the same time when I think of me, in real life with a real person or how would I get to that point with someone.
And still, I'm a writer. I write romances because it's fun, I guess. I've never been in love, but the people who have read what I wrote say they can't believe me, that I must have experience because I capture their emotions so well and express things they've been through perfectly.
Meanwhile I'm just sitting, wondering if that's truly how people who love romantically feel like or if it's just like how I write it, just something that sounds nice and would be nice if it happened, but it somehow feels like it can't.
But anyway, I'm still young. I guess I have a lot of time to explore more and figure out what's going on with me and my lack of romantic experiences that most people my age seem to already have like it's some sort of checklist lol
It makes me kinda sad not knowing, honestly :( I'm just very confused, ngl.
I can understand where you coming from quite a bit. There are lots of times when I know I like the idea of romance and having a partner, but there's never been anyone I felt strongly attracted to and even then I've only had one relationship that lasted 3 months and I'm 26.
It can be sad and confusing now knowing what's up with yourself. Especially when so many other people seem to have it figured out, but in reality that's a big ol' lie. Hardly anyone knows what they're doing and most people just have the illusion of having their shit together.
I've also learned that I don't really believe in the idea of finding "the one" because people have meaningful relationships and end those relationships and start new ones all the time. I think it's more finding people who are right for you in the moment and being able to adapt and change alongside them as you grow and experience more of life.
You're definitely not alone in your feelings or experiences. I know it's hard and scary, but if you can find some comfort in your uncertainty, it might make things feel less like a burden. But all in all, I think the most important thing is to do what makes you happy and if that's not a relationship, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It doesn't make your life any less fulfilling or meaningful. As long as you're happy, I think that's most important.