Why is my crush not accepting my follow request?

[Princessofthefrogs]

I’m a university student and I’ve developed a crush on someone in one of my classes (I’ll call him “L”). We first met last semester in a brief but memorable way, we were in an elevator, I asked a question out loud (initially directed at my friend), and he answered me first. He kept his focus on me, we talked for a few minutes, laughed together, and then went our separate ways. We didn’t exchange names or contact info.

This semester, I realized L is actually in two of my classes. We usually sit on opposite sides of the lecture hall, but there’s been some mutual awareness; a few instances of eye contact, and once he sat directly in front of me and we briefly made eye contact again. Nothing obvious or prolonged, just subtle moments that made me feel like the recognition was mutual.

Recently, I found his Instagram through university connections and sent a follow request. His account is private, and he has a very small following (around 62 followers and he follows about 70 people), which makes me think he’s not very active or online much. It’s been over a day and he hasn’t accepted or declined the request. But I’m finding myself wondering why he hasn’t accepted yet, especially since we’ve interacted in real life before.

I’m mainly looking for outside perspective on:

Whether this sounds like normal uncertainty or something I’m overthinking
If the unanswered follow request actually means anything
Whether it makes sense to initiate a light, casual conversation in class (say "hey" or something), or if it’s better to wait and see

[spartan55]

Good lord woman, it's been ONE day. You say you've 'interacted', but a brief elevator chat hardly means anything. You are getting all twisted up over a stupid follow request. He may not even know who you are.
Try to see this with some perspective.

[Princessofthefrogs]

Thank you, I lowkey needed to hear that 😅.

[spartan55]

You are setting yourself for mental anguish by assigning too much importance to (checks notes):
-a very brief chat on the elevator (where introductions weren't even made)
-a social media follow request
-'some mutual awareness' (whatever th that means 😂)
-and some very normal eye contact?
Girl come on... if you really want to engage with him do it IN PERSON. You have two classes with him so you have no excuse. Why haven't you said hi and introduced yourself formally? I would completely ignore a follow/friend request from someone who I knew had the choice of talking to me face to face and didn't.

[spartan55]

"hey, we chatted about xyz in the elevator, I'm princessofthefrogs, nice to meet you"

[Princessofthefrogs]

im just so shy everytime i tell myself im going to speak to him I get so nervous and imagine the worst possible scenario 😭

[spartan55]

Don't take this the wrong way, but at a certain point in your life 'being shy' is one of those things people don't care about. If you can't even say hi you are not ready for a relationship. There are way more difficult conversations that relationships will have.

[Princessofthefrogs]

Hiii I took your advice and spoke to him! He was really sweet we had a pretty long convo and he kept engaging and prolonging the conversation! I’ll keep sitting next to him and making convo to keep familiarity and hopefully it evolves into something more!

[spartan55]

See that wasn't so bad, good to hear

[Princessofthefrogs]

it wasn't bad, but that night he followed one new person, but hasn't accepted my follow request, he left it as pending still 😭 I don't know what that means

[spartan55]

Jfc, it means NOTHING

[Princessofthefrogs]

LMAOOOO okok

[bowenw]

It is obvious from you profile that it is you? I have seen many profiles where the user name and profile picture don't make it obvious whose account it is.

[Princessofthefrogs]

Yeah! My profile picture fully shows my face, and my username is my name, but we haven't even exchanged names during our encounter.

[bowenw]

I suggest telling him in person that you sent him a follow request.

[bowenw]

Thank you for the MHO. 😊

[Bklynbadboy12]

Maybe he has something on his page he doesn't want you to see