My cousins mother has potentially ruined my relationship with my childhood friend.

I have a childhood friend who is also my cousin’s maternal uncle, meaning her mother’s younger brother. We have known each other for a long time and were already friends the year before last and last year, but this year we have clicked much better and had a really good relationship.

Last year, I sometimes felt that he acted strangely or was a bit rude toward me. My cousin asked me about it a lot, and because I trusted her, I told her that I was annoyed by the way he behaved. I only said that he had acted strangely toward me. I never said that I got angry every time he messaged me or that he was “chasing after me.”

This year, I once sent him a joke, but he left me on seen. I thought it was a little strange but didn’t really think about it a lot.

Later that same day, after I posted a story, he messaged me and asked if he could ask me something. I said yes, and then he asked me if I got annoyed when he messaged me. I was very confused and replied, “No, why would I?” He responded in a way that felt like he was questioning me.

Then he told me that my cousin had told his mother and sisters, meaning her grandmother and aunts, that I got extremely annoyed whenever he messaged me and that he was “chasing after me.” I was shocked because I had never said that. I explained exactly what I had actually told my cousin, and he seemed to believe me. After that, everything between him and me went back to normal.

However, according to him, his oldest sister, who is also my cousin’s mother, had told him not to talk to me anymore. He explained to me that she meant it for his own good because she believed that he was “chasing after me” and that I was getting annoyed. I accepted it because I still felt like she was trying to protect him.

His sister had told him that if I messaged him, it would mean that what my cousin had said about me was not true, and therefore he should show her that I had messaged him. She had then instructed him on what to reply, something along the lines of saying that he was working/busy.

After that, everything continued to be normal for a while.

Recently, I sent him something, but he left me on seen. I then asked him if something had happened. He replied, “Nothing’s wrong, I’m just a little busy.” I immediately recognized it as the same type of response that his sister had previously instructed him to give me. That made me very angry, and I felt that it was obvious that his sister was behind him keeping his distance from me.

Two days before this happened, I had been at their house. He was sitting there teasing my cousin and calling her a “snitch.” My cousin then started saying that she was going to find out what had happened and that she wasn’t going to stay quiet. After that, I felt that he became colder toward me.

I then started going through everything I had told my cousin and tried to remember whether I could have said something that might have been interpreted that way. But I am certain that I never said that I get angry or annoyed when he messages me, and I never said that he was chasing after me.

Because of this, I feel like my cousin must have told her mother something else, or exaggerated/distorted what I said. At the same time, I get guilty and start questioning myself even though I don’t believe I said anything like that.

What frustrates me even more is that it seems to be specifically my cousin’s mother, meaning his oldest sister, who has something against me. I don’t feel that the rest of his family treats me that way. I recently saw his mother, and she was completely normal toward me and said that she likes me. His other siblings are also nice to me. It is mainly the oldest sister who seems to have a negative attitude toward me.

I have also found out that she made her own son, meaning my cousin, block me because I had written “hell” in a message. To me, that feels extremely excessive and like another sign that she is trying to control or restrict who I am allowed to talk to.

What makes me the saddest is that this guy and I actually clicked really well. I thought our relationship was good, and now it feels like someone else has influenced the way he treats me. I really lowkey liked him aswell, and it feels so unfair that something that wasn't my or his fault could have ruined our relationship. I don't live in this country and i'm only visiting, and i'm going back to my country in 5 days and I don't wanna leave on bad terms.

I have 2 options, either text him today and text him "it's my turn now, can I ask you something?". Because he always says can I ask you something before a serious discussion. I thought of today because none would be home, maybe that would stop his older sister from getting between us. Or I could text him after friday because then his older sister and her family will leave. Eitherway today theres a special occasion thus me and my family will be out and his family will also be out but we will drop my brother off at his house. So they will be alone together, and I thought of having my brother mentioning me. Not in a really obvious way, but like telling some story of something I had done before, just to see his immediate reaction. What should I even do?