So yesterday, my friend ("Friend 1") told me that our friend ("Friend 2") may have a crush on me--2 isn't sure if it's a squish or not. 2 told 1 to tell me, and likely knows that I know. (This is so third grade.) I seem to be something like demiromantic. I think I have the potential to be romantically attracted to 2 but it could literally take years to happen. I am super bad at social stuff, so do you have any advice on how to tell 2 that without sounding like I'm stringing them along?
(And just as a quick follow-up--I know that I would not ACTUALLY be stringing them along, because that is mostly a silly concept. I just don't want them to be sitting around waiting for me because that's unfair to both of us. I am going to feel so melodramatic and ridiculous if it turns out to be a squish, but this is probably a good thing to know for the future anyway.)
You know, I would tell 2 what you told us. “I might be romantically attracted to you in several years. But I don’t know. It might not happen. Don’t wait around for me. Let’s be friends and just see how the cards fall.” Something like that--just be clear and honest. You can do it over text or email if that makes it easier for you to get the words out. And if 2 decides to take that as permission to be strung along, then that’s their problem.
