I think I’m falling for an introverted girl… but I can’t tell if it’s just friendship or something more.

Hey everyone,
I’ve been carrying this around for a while, and I just need to get it off my chest.

Last year at university, I met this girl. She’s really introverted—not the kind of person who opens up easily. But with me, at first, she did. She’d say things like “I’ll go wherever you go,” and would randomly give me chocolates or offer me some of whatever she was eating. I didn’t expect that kind of attention from someone like her.

Little by little, I started to really like her. There was this moment I can’t forget—when we were saying goodbye at the bus stop, she grabbed my arm and laughed. It felt… intimate, even if it was small.

When her birthday came, I gave her a few of her favorite sweets and wrote her a letter telling her how much I appreciated her. I didn’t confess my feelings, but I tried to be honest and kind.

Then… she vanished. She stopped talking to me. No explanation, no message. It honestly hurt. The only time she reached out after that was during exams, just to ask if we could study together.

This year, we’re taking some classes together again. I even met her parents recently. Her dad told me she speaks really well of me. And during Easter, she surprised me with a small chocolate gift.

One day, when her parents were away and she was home alone, she messaged me. She told me she felt lonely… and that her family is basically her entire social circle. That stuck with me. She’s also let me know when she got a job, and sometimes she asks how my family is doing.

I don’t know. I’m just confused. I like her—a lot. I think she’s beautiful in a quiet way. Sweet, thoughtful, kind. But I honestly don’t know if I mean something more to her, or if I’m just the one person outside her family that she feels comfortable with.

Some days I feel like there’s a real connection. Other days, it feels like I’m holding onto something that only exists in my head.

Has anyone been in a situation like this? How do you know when someone really cares for you… or if you’re just reading too much into little moments?