Why is he now acting so awkward and shy around me?

[Anonymous]

A male Co worker of mine, we were getting along really well and he seemed to be flirting with me and wanted to be around me a bit more but now he is acting awkward. Ever since a work do he has been awkward when around me face to face though nothing happened on the night except we seemed to be teasing each other and he stands pretty close to me especially on that night and did fist bump me and pat my head when he seen me singing.

Why has he became distant now?

[Unknown_Swan_]

Sounds to me like this guy has a massive crush on you to be honest.

Work romances can become extremely awkward and uncomfortable if they go wrong, especially if rejection is involved.
He may like you that much that he just doesn't want to say something stupid that might ruin his chances with you, or he thinks you are automatically going to reject him and is now trying to be more neutral around you.

Guy's minds can be weird. If we have experienced a lot of heartbreak, hurt and rejection after giving our all to a girl by girls, we tend to often put our guard up after time has passed and if we sense we may be hurt again.
He may also have slight anxiety, or may just feel nervous around you because he likes you a lot and finds you intimidating (in a good way, that he doesn't want to ruin your opinion of him).
You're asking a question about this, so it may be possible that you like this guy the same way? If you do reciprocate with him, or just drop the bomb on him and flat out and ask him, "do you like me or something?" in a flirty, way. Or tell him you like him in that way, and see where it goes from there.

This is the best advice I can offer, as well as my opinion of his recent behavior.
Please take my advice, otherwise if this keeps carrying on things may get extremely awkward and start to go stale. It'll then become bad for a good working environment with him.

I wish you all the best!

[Asker]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate this!

This week he was pretty awkward and distant with me when face to face as if I tried to talk to him he sounded more cold towards me but last time I seen him he stood close to me when we were leaving for the day and walked with me before we parted to head home

[Unknown_Swan_]

Yeah. He likes you big time.

I was like this when I was a teenager and had quite bad anxiety due to bullying etc.
He may be starting to think he's made a fool of himself and that you don't like him.
I think it's time you start reciprocating if you feel the same way! :)

[Asker]

Aww thank you! 😊 I have been trying to be nice even when he has been acting cold but I felt like I was annoying him or I did something wrong.

See he’s close to my age so I wouldn’t have thought he would have still been anxious but maybe it effects people of all ages. I’m in my late 20’s.

[Unknown_Swan_]

It can affect people of all ages I suppose.
It depends on what his family life etc. has been like too.
I'm sure it's nothing you've done, he just has a hard time expressing emotion fully by the sounds of it.
Good luck and keep us updated :)

[Asker]

Thank you so much for All of your advice I really appreciate it!! Also thank you for being so lovely! 😊

[Unknown_Swan_]

No problem.
This is a place for honest advice and to show some sort of compassion to other people's problems/questions.
Thank you yourself for being respectful and polite! :)

[Asker]

It’s no worries at all! Thank you again as I notice some people can give really sarcastic answers so I definitely agree it’s for helping people honestly and with empathy so I really appreciate it 😊 do you think the head pat and fist bump means he likes me?

[Unknown_Swan_]

It's no problem, and yes some people can be quite sarcastic and unhelpful on here. I just ignore it.
Yes, it could be a very awkward way of trying to physically touch you in a flirty way without wanting to seem creepy. :)

[Asker]

Ah ok that makes sense, thank you! 😊 see it’s been since he did that on the work do that he’s been awkward around me face to face. Also yes I’m the same I ignore them too

[Unknown_Swan_]

Yeah, he's just embarrassed about it and maybe thinks you don't like him after that

[Asker]

Ah ok I see, I certainly don’t though as it wasn’t a bad thing he did but I appreciate you answering me on it 😊 I felt like maybe he didn’t like me after how distant and cold he appeared with me haha but that’s irony I guess lol

[Unknown_Swan_]

Thank you for MHO!
That is the irony in it ha, communicate with him. Otherwise lack of communication can breed discontent. :)

[randomcuriousdude]

He has a crush on you, and someone could’ve told him you don’t like him. Rumors still exist!

[Asker]

Thank you! What gives it away that he has a crush if you don’t mind me asking?

[randomcuriousdude]

If he gets flustered around you or is shy usually means he likes you

[Asker]

Ah ok thank you, sorry just the way he’s been acting around me lately I thought maybe he didn’t like me?

[GingerGuy]

Just confront him directly on it. Say something like "hey. I notice you seem a little different lately, I don't mean to pry, but is everything ok?" (like you'd ask a friend). Maybe something else is going on in his life that has him distracted? It may have nothing to do with you even?

[spartan55]

He fist bumped you and patted your head... hmmmm... sounds like you are really missing out there. Who tf pats someone's head?

[daster4442]

naybe he has anxiety

[Waldoe]

mmm ask him?