You’re confused, and that’s okay. What you’re feeling is exactly the kind of thing people get tangled in when friendship turns intimate: craving, comfort, genuine chemistry, and the safety of someone who already knows you. None of that automatically labels it “true love” or “rebound.” It’s a mix, and the job is to sort the parts.
Five months of closeness is long enough for real feelings to form, and short enough that they can still be largely situational. A few clear ways to tell the difference: notice how you feel when you’re not together, do you miss him as a romantic partner (butterflies, imagining dates, wanting exclusivity), or do you mainly miss the comfort and easy conversation? Test your reactions when you can’t rely on proximity: do your feelings persist on a week apart, a busy period, or if he’s dating someone else? Genuine romantic interest tends to survive those interruptions; rebound/comfort attachments often fade once the shared vulnerability or proximity ends.
Also watch what you imagine about the future. Do you picture him in life-steps that matter to you (moving, kids, long-term plans) or mainly scenarios that keep things cozy (movie nights, leaning on each other during hard weeks)? The first points toward real potential; the second suggests emotional convenience.
Practical next steps that don’t wreck the friendship:
• Create a little space. Not forever, think a few weeks of slightly less availability, and see whether your longing stays romantic or softens into friendly fondness.
• Observe outside-the-room feelings. Journal how you feel on days you don’t see him: romantic longing vs. loneliness relief.
• Try a “slow experiment.” Don’t confess immediately. If you want to explore romance, move one step at a time: suggest one low-pressure one-on-one that’s visibly romantic (dinner, not a group hang), and watch how both of you respond.
• Be honest with yourself about timing. Both of you were healing from previous relationships when this began that makes rebound more likely. Give the vulnerability a little time to settle before you escalate.
• Consider dating others lightly. Not to punish him, but to see how your heart reacts. If you’re still thinking of him differently after meeting other people, that’s data.
If you decide to talk to him, keep it small and non-demanding. Try: “I care about you a lot and I’ve realized my feelings are more complicated than I expected. I don’t want to rush us or ruin what we have, but I also don’t want to keep wondering. Can we talk about where we both are, gently, and see if there’s mutual interest?” That invites honesty without cornering him.
Bottom line: five months gives you a strong signal, not a verdict. Give yourself a short, intentional test a little space, one romantic step or two, and attention to how you feel off-script. If the feeling deepens in quiet, practical ways, it’s likely real. If it eases when the proximity fades, it was probably comfort + timing. Either result is useful not a failure because it spares you a bigger heartbreak later.
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