[kelly_newinON]

I just moved to Ontario a few months ago and met a guy through friends. After about two months he awkwardly tried to ask me out in front of his cousins I didn’t answer but later one cousin jokingly called me his girlfriend, so now I’m totally confused.
A few times since then he’s done little things that feel…off. At a BBQ he was a few people ahead of me in line and handed me a plate with a bun; I smiled and thanked him and I swear he wanted to smile back but held it in. Then my friend teased him and he gave the plate away. At a group game he shouted, “Kelly! Kelly’s like a tank!” — I went out and won, and later he told me I should be the forward player, even saying it in Chinese (he doesn’t usually speak Chinese to me). He was smiling the whole time, which made it feel personal and sweet, but also weird because he rarely approaches me directly.
I organized an amusement-park outing for our friends. While I was collecting money he hovered nearby and joked about already paying, then later returned and pretended to ask me for his $25 back he laughed and called it a joke. He asked, “Are you going?” even though I was the one who set it up. He then quietly backed away and rejoined his friends. Another odd habit: when other girls ask him to get drinks he sometimes pretends to pour but doesn’t like he’s playing harmless pranks with them but is gentler with me.
All these little moments have me flipping between hopeful and embarrassed. Is he shy and afraid to be direct? Is he teasing me because he likes me, or is he just playful with everyone? Was “tank” a compliment (strong, dependable?) or just a silly shout-out? Why switch to Chinese with me? And should I say something directly — ask him out, or keep letting him reveal himself slowly?
I don’t want to make a scene or misread friendly behavior for something more. Has anyone read mixed signals like this shy smiles, small favors, then retreat? How would you test the waters without sounding needy or ruining the vib

[KeishaMartin]

Oh, sweetheart… I can feel how tangled your thoughts are over this, that mix of excitement and doubt that comes when someone almost shows their feelings but never quite says it out loud. It’s like standing in warm sunlight one moment and shadow the next.

From everything you’ve shared, he sounds like someone who does like you, but is fighting his own nerves. The shyness, the teasing, the quick retreats… those are classic signs of a person who feels something real but doesn’t know how to manage it. You see, people who are confident in most social settings can still turn bashful when they care deeply about how someone perceives them.

He tried to ask you out, that’s huge. That tells me the interest was real, even if the moment wasn’t ideal.
He plays around you differently than he does with other women; his teasing seems gentler, more hesitant, like he’s testing how far he can go.
The pattern I see? He wants to connect, but he gets self-conscious right after. He gives the plate, then takes it back; he jokes, then retreats. It’s that one step forward, half-step back rhythm of someone afraid of being rejected or laughed at.

You don’t need to confront or confess, you can invite comfort instead. Try creating smaller, one-on-one moments where the energy is easier for him to read. For instance:
Next time your group hangs out, ask him directly, “Hey, want to help me organize something for everyone?” or “Can you walk with me to grab a drink?”

If he seems nervous, smile and hold eye contact just a bit longer — gentle encouragement, not pressure.
That kind of gentle challenge might draw him out, or at least give you clarity.
But let me ask you, love, when he pulls back after those sweet moments, how do you feel in your body? Do you sense tension or warmth? Sometimes our intuition knows before our logic catches up.

[Love Archivist]

Honestly, it could go either way—but if he’s flirty and shy, there’s a good chance he likes you and just doesn’t know how to show it confidently. Shy people often test the waters with small things—eye contact, jokes, little compliments—and then pull back because they’re nervous.

Pay attention to how he acts around you versus everyone else. If he gets a little awkward, smiles more, or finds excuses to talk to you, that’s usually not your imagination.

You could try giving him a small green light—something like teasing him back or suggesting to hang out one-on-one. If he’s into you, that’ll probably give him the confidence to open up.

[Ethan Morales]

Nails the emotional truth this feels like a shy crush that keeps tripping over its own feet. His pattern of offering something (the plate, the joke, the moment of attention) and then quickly retreating isn’t random; it’s anxiety mixed with interest. People who don’t care don’t overthink their moves, but people who do they self-correct in real time because they’re terrified of looking foolish. The switch to Chinese, the gentle teasing, the moments where he looks like he wants to smile but restrains himself those are tells of someone trying to connect while staying safely within a playful mask.
Gets the practical angle right: it really could go either way if he’s naturally flirty or socially awkward, so you need data, not just signals. The best way to get that data is to give him small, clear opportunities little “green lights” that lower the risk for him to be direct. A teasing text, a light one-on-one invitation, or just consistent warmth when he’s brave enough to engage. If he likes you, those openings will feel like relief and he’ll start matching your energy. If he doesn’t, the interaction will flatten quickly.
You’re not imagining it. The signs lean toward genuine interest mixed with social hesitation. But don’t wait forever in decoding mode nudge the door open once, then see if he walks through. If he doesn’t, it’s not rejection, it’s just proof he’s not ready for the kind of emotional clarity you deserve. Either way, you’ll stop wondering and start knowing, which is always a better place to stand.

[PassionSeeker]

“I see a sweet, bashful kind of chemistry here two people circling around connection but afraid to name it. The way he called you a ‘tank’ sounds like a compliment: strong, impressive, unstoppable. Switching to Chinese might’ve been a subtle, endearing way to create a private connection amid the group.

Sometimes love starts in small, clumsy gestures like these. If it feels right, you could gently break the pattern next time he jokes, meet him halfway with something flirty like, ‘You’re full of surprises should I expect more pranks or maybe a real date?’ It’s playful, not heavy, but it opens a door.”

[Marcus king]

This sounds like a classic case of a shy guy who likes you but doesn’t quite know what to do with those feelings. The clues are all subtle but consistent he flirts in small, awkward ways, shows effort but then pulls back like he’s afraid to reveal too much. That mix of warmth and hesitation usually points to attraction tangled up with nerves.
When he held in his smile, joked about the money, or switched to Chinese those are tiny ways of trying to connect without being obvious. The “tank” thing? It actually sounds like a compliment. In his own goofy way, he’s saying you’re strong, impressive, maybe someone he admires..
Here’s the truth: if you sit around waiting for him to spell it out, you’ll stay stuck in this guessing game. You don’t have to corner him with a big “do you like me?” moment. Just test the water casually next time you’re in a group, make light conversation directly with him, not through others. If he leans in, keeps it going, or mirrors your energy, that’s your answer.

And if you’re feeling bold, say something playful like, “You know, you’re hard to read sometimes are you teasing me or being sweet?” That opens the door without making it heavy.
He likes you, but fear’s running the show. A little gentle confidence from you might be all it takes to bring him out of hiding.

[Ask April Masini]

I’m actually glad you mentioned both your ages, because without that, I would’ve assumed you were both about thirteen.

It’s obvious he likes you, and you like him too, otherwise, you wouldn’t be asking these questions.

But let’s unpack what you said, “Should I ask him out, or keep letting him reveal himself slowly?”

He already did reveal himself, you just didn’t respond because you were embarrassed. So, what exactly are you confused about now? Why are you suddenly worried about whether he likes you or not?

That said, his behavior sounds like more than simple shyness. He might actually be on the spectrum. If that’s the case, and you’re no longer embarrassed by how he acts, then be honest and tell him you’ve accepted his offer. Stop overthinking it.

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