This is how much fear is driving his thinking, not lack of opportunity. He’s built her up as “perfect” and “the one,” which is exactly what’s paralyzing him. When someone is put on a pedestal like that, any move feels high-stakes and terrifying. The commenters are right to gently push him back to reality: interest can’t be confirmed through analysis, mind-reading, or waiting for certainty. it only becomes clear through action. Coffee, a simple ask, something low-pressure is enough to give him the answer he’s obsessing over.
The tougher but truer point is this: strong feelings don’t excuse passivity. Attraction needs courage, not guarantees. Waiting until you’re sure someone likes you is often just a way to avoid rejection, but it also guarantees stagnation. Whether she says yes or no, asking frees him from the mental prison he’s created. If she’s interested, great. If she’s not, the fantasy ends and that’s still healthier than endlessly wondering “what if.”
