He sister-zoned me but still acts close—could bro code explain the mixed signals?

[Anonymous]

So basically, I met this guy, and within two weeks, I started liking him. We spent hours together, went out one-on-one, and genuinely had a great time. I thought he liked me too, so I decided to confess. But he told me he sees me like a sister. 💀 What's confusing is that he still acts the same way around me. He teases me, makes inside jokes with me, and is physically playful. For example, during a lab, he randomly picked me up to crack my back in front of my classmates without me asking him to. We hang out a alone at school together a lot still too. It's hard to move on when he still acts so comfortably around me, even though he knows how I feel. He also talks to me about other girls, including a girl he's interested in. One time, he randomly invited me to come see a girl when I'd already planned to do my own thing, and I didn't really understand why he wanted me there. Then there's his friend. After I confessed, he asked if I liked his friend and said he was “just curious” when I asked why. His friend has also been making an effort to interact with me, asking for my Instagram, starting conversations, and inviting me to hang out. One time, his friends were teasing him in Spanish, and after he turned to talk to me, they started singing Dying in Your Arms Tonight. He looked embarrassed, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. All of this has made me wonder whether his friend might like me and whether the guy I confessed to knows something about it. Could bro code have influenced his rejection? Part of me wonders if he had some interest in me but chose not to pursue it because of his friend. I'm not sure if I'm connecting unrelated things, but the fact that he asked about his friend right after my confession, combined with his behaviour and the way his friend interacts with me, has made me question whether there's more to the situation than I realize.

[Anonymous]

If it were bro code, I think he’d avoid you or be much more serious around you to avoid the friend thinking any of it is flirtatious. I think he just meant he sees you like a sister. If it’s because of anyone else, it sounds like the other girl he is into, not his friend.

[Asker]

I appreciate the response. He does those things when the friend is not around though.

[Nikki1989]

I have no idea what 'bro-code' is if it even exists, so I doubt it very much.

[MysticDevice]

I'd say he doesn't actually know if he likes you or not. Romantically speaking. The spinner is stuck on the peg between the two options.

[Alex-Snow]

It sounds like he just likes the friend zone. Were you sexually involved with him at all? Does he have another girlfriend?

[Asker]

We were not. He doesn't have girlfriend he talks about his x somtimes and how their relationship ended and he also told me he finds another girl in class attractive but he doesn't interact with her at all.

[Alex-Snow]

Ummm what are ur plans with him? How old is he? Message me if u want to chat about it at all. Hope u have a great day!!!

[Asker]

I want a long term relationship with him. I really like him. I have never felt this way about someone before. He is 18 and I am 19. I would like to chat but for some reason I can't message you directly.

[Alex-Snow]

Now you can message me