Search Results: keeping touch with an old friend

X and Y meet in university while on exchange. They like each other physically and shortly after they met they hook up after a party. The liking being mutual, they keep hooking up casually throughout the semester, without intention of something more as at the end of the semester both will go back to their home countries, at the opposite sides of the world.

X and Y however get to know each other more and more and like each other a lot. Sex is great and affection starts to grow, but the awareness that it can’t be something more due to imminent separation is there.

As they part, they tell each other it would have been great if things could have gone on, but they can’t. In spite of this, the two don’t cut communication: they start writing to each other regularly (weekly/daily), Skyping, sexting, and the terms are very affectionate. Both ask the other to visit them. In particular, Y insistently asks X to visit. After 1.5 years of keeping in touch regularly like this, with many declarations of affection and also attempts at ending things coming from X and not accepted by Y, X finally has the money to fly to the other side of the world and visits Y during 3 weeks.

Y treats X not like an old friend but like a SO, introduces X to friends and family, acts extremely sweetly and caringly. The two discuss about how they shall continue. Y stresses he/she wants their story to continue, X admits being deeply in love. They shall see each other again 6 months later.

A month later, Y stops answering X’s messages and calls. Finally, X says things Are over for him/her. Y answers he/she thought they never stood a chance and is now dating someone else.

Did X legitimately assume Y was serious about them, was he/she led on, or did he/she just imagine things?