Male friends as a girl.

I'm 19F. I've had 2 male friends, and now I'm realizing that both of them have had crushes on me. Last night, my guy friend "T" texted me asking if we could meet up in a few days because he wants to talk about something. I immediately just knew he's going to tell me he likes me. I had the most awful gut reaction, it felt like someone punched me in the stomach. I've been extremely anxious and shaky for like 12 hours.

My last friendship with a guy ended because he asked me out when I was 17 and didn't know what I wanted, and I ended up changing my mind about him and then everything got super awkward. We don't talk anymore.

I don't want to lose my friendship with T. I'm good friends with both him and his sister and I feel comfortable and happy around them. I asked my mom for advice and she said to think carefully about it for the next few days and then hear him out, which seems like good advice to me. She also said that he's liked me "forever." I don't know what to think about that. He's so sweet so I don't *think* he'll drop me if/when I reject him, but I don't know. I really just want a friendship with him. I thought other women were exaggerating about male friends always having other motives but now I think I get it.