If your male friend has suddenly started to care too much or be overprotective of you, it can reflect signs that he is fighting his feelings for you. Things like bringing you flowers or surprising you with gifts for no reason may seem strange to you, but for him, it may be his feelings getting the best of him.
He'll flirt because that's a natural reaction to being around someone you like. It's one of the big signs he is fighting his feelings for you if you feel very strongly that he's flirting, but just not quite too. He might look at you and then look away like he's been burned.
Inconsistent behavior
Frustrating as it may be, inconsistent behavior is also among the telling signs he has strong feelings for you but is scared. If you sense he wants more and then he pulls back, it could be because the circumstances or past baggage is weighing on his mind.
But there are many studies and surveys that suggest guys can take up to 2-3 months to fully comprehend their emotions and let you know how they feel about you. So if you observe multiple signs he wants to confess his feelings, be patient.
Men may convert certain feelings into other emotions, shift their feelings into other arenas, or experience feelings through physical complaints. In some cases, men may lack the training or support to make sense of their feelings and instead may bury them deeper.
It takes men an average of 108 days (about 4 months) to confess love and women an average of around 123 days (about 4 months). Research further indicated that both men and women initially begin to think of confessing their love approximately 2 to 2.5 months before doing so. This may have been your experience… or not.
Conceal the extent of your feelings for him.
This may make him confess his feelings for you sooner. Give him a chance to miss you or wonder what you're doing. Allow him the opportunity to text or call you first. If he asks you what you're doing over the weekend, be honest, but make your plans sound exciting and rich.
The first reason is simple: Men often aren't encouraged to talk about their feelings. In fact, they're sometimes discouraged from doing so. Additionally, men often tend to shy away from vulnerable conversations. “It's a little social, but it's also a little biological,” Vossenkemper explains.
Men, in particular, can be guarded when they're hurt. Instead of telling you when they feel hurt, they may withdraw, lash out, or act in other strange ways. These reactions can be frustrating and confusing. But it's important to know both the subtle and clear signs that a man is hurt emotionally.
Spending time apart gives him a chance to miss you.
Stop calling and texting him for a few days, and don't hang out with him. While you're gone, he'll realize how much he wants you in his life. Space also gives you both time to calm down from the fight so you can have a healthy discussion when you talk again.
When a man is confused about his feelings for you, it could be due to fear of rejection. So instead of focusing on getting to know you and deciding on another date, he may spend all of his time worrying about whether you like him or not. He may even be afraid that you will reject him for a date, which could be hurtful.
Stage 2: Doubt and Denial
The second stage of a relationship is Doubt and Denial, in which we finally start to actually notice the differences between us and our partners. We wake up from the trance of infatuation with a thump, finding that the same qualities that once seemed so perfect have begun to annoy us.
Build a trusting relationship.
Do this by making plans and sticking to them, communicating well, and prioritizing him in your life. If you don't prioritize him or you constantly cancel plans, he'll be much less likely to admit that he likes you. Show him that you like him with your actions. Be a good listener, too.
Men looking for a fling will not invest their time in you. If a man wants a relationship, he will make plans to meet you and will not ghost you or leave you without any response. If he is interested, you will not have to seek his attention continuously. If you are doing so, it means he is not into you.
Guys flirt with girls they like. He might ask you for your number, then call you the next day. He may act playful, wink, and flash a smile at you. If most of your conversations feel flirty, then odds are that he likes you as more than just a friend.
Another clear sign he likes you is if he is actively trying to hang out with you, or help you, or find out more about you. There are also indicators like eye contact or compliments, and showing that he's interested in your physical appearance, or who you are as a person.
If you're wondering, “does he like me or not?” make sure to observe his actions. If he doesn't tell you he's attracted to you, you can tell by his body language and how his eyes move around. He might give you intense eye contact and look at your chest or check you out when you're across the room.
Men often express their feelings in a physical nature.
Men often express feelings outwardly through body language such as physical gestures, facial changes, muscle tensing and gritting teeth, instead of expressing those emotions with words.