How do you know if a guy is holding back tears?

[Anonymous]

I won't give too much detail. But my boyfriend and I were on the verge of breaking up. We were having a very calm talk. However we couldn't see each other in real life, but we were on video call. He has only ever once cried with me, and hated every second of it. He's the type to "never cry", according to him. Anyhow, we were talking and discussing whether we would move forward. He obviously seemed hurt and defeated. He was telling me how he has strong feelings for me, and right before I thought he was going to cry, he stopped what he was saying and said, "If you do want to move on though, I understand." It is hard to explain, but he seemed as though he was holding himself back? Like physically. Does it sound like he was about to cry?

I don't want to make it into a big deal and make him feel uncomfortable by it, but I had strong doubts in how he viewed me. So if he was just about to cry over a breakup, then to me it seems like a big deal (because again, he hates crying more than anything).

[spartan55]

I think you are grasping for anything to save your relationship.

[Asker]

For me, this isn't about saving this relationship. He was the one that saved it. I was ready to walk away. I am asking this because I want to understand him better. I have had a lot of doubt about his feelings for me (I had the right to question this). So to see or at least know that he was really hurting by it makes me understand better. To me, it looked like he was about to. He always fights back his tears or doesn't show a lot of emotion, even if it is something that extremely hurts him.

[spartan55]

You should probably deal with what you do know, not what you might know.

[Anonymous]

You're wrong...
May be his tears come from laughing out loud 🤣🤣🤣

[Juan4574]

bright red eyes.

[Asker]

Really? Mine only go like that when I have been bawling my eyes out. But either way, I hope he understands that I love him

[Danny_dan92]

Breakups aren’t easy.

[Asker]

True, I was holding back tears. We pulled through it. But he was giving me indications that he wanted someone different. I guess it wasn't his intention at all. But if he was holding back tears, then it is definitely a big deal. The only time he cried to me was about something really really serious.