How can you tell if a guy is romantically interested or just wants to be friends?

[Anonymous]

- We met in school group project and he helped me with a task and we joked around
- I messaged him to thank him for the help
- He continued the convo on by asking questions and the convo kept going and it is now 3 weeks of us texting everyday
- Sometimes we reply at same times, sometimes it takes longer like 4+ hours (once it was like over 12+ hours) but just match each others energy
- He teases me a lot about my unique taste in things and we banter and joke around
- We talk a lot about our interest and life a bit
- The convo hasn’t steered towards flirting or anything (I’m too shy to direct it that way as I don’t want to come off as desperate)
- Both of us haven’t initiated meeting up or calling so it has been purely just texting so far
- He’s like supeeeer chill so I don’t think he’s a shy guy or anything

So yeah that’s the summary of my current situation. I’m not sure if I should initiate anything etc (as usually I wait for the guy). How does the situation sound? Are there already clear hints that he is not romantically interested in me and there is no point in me initiating anything as it’s inevitable that he doesn’t see me in that way… Do you guys have any suggestions on what I could do? Thanks so much 😊

[Anonymous]

Please don’t staple it into your mind that asking a man what his intentions are for talking to you is embarrassing and desperate. It’s not asking his hand in marriage for goodness sake lol it’s very casual. I say this because being direct is the only way to get 100% clarity. We can’t really provide that since we aren’t in his mind. It seems like at the very least he enjoys talking to you, so ask him where his head is at.

[Stickykuza]

He likes you, if a guy has invested so much time in talking to you, came up with topics to chat with you, teases you and remembers your taste, tries to remember your birthdays... etc.

He freakin likes you and yup he's the shy type hiding behind his facade, don't be direct he'll take time but will surely make a move or at least try to make a move, as long as you don't go to other guy's company , if you'll go to the other guy I'm pretty sure he'll go for other girls.

[_Just_A_girl_]

Never do they want to be friends remember that