Not every love story is a two-way street. How should you respond when someone proposes to you but you don’t feel the same way? A netizen asked, “What’s the best response to ‘I love you’ when you’re not ready to say it back?”. Let’s have a look at other users’ responses.
Giving A Huge, Unforced Smile
“Doing a huge unforced smile/reacting like it means a lot to you (assuming it does) and then explaining that in so many words.
I *never* understood why people feel upset not to hear the same thing right away. People’s other behaviors and words mean more to me in terms of whether I can judge their attraction and people have all kinds of weird life experiences that make them develop different meanings and thresholds for using that word.
Them not saying doesn’t actually mean they aren’t physiologically feeling the same or stronger than you.”
You Don’t Know How Much That Means To Me
“You don’t know how much that means to me… Slowly getting there (if you care about them), I’m just not at that place yet. Nothing to do with you. Hope you can understand.”
‘Let’s Pretend You Didn’t Say That’, Followed By A Kiss
“I said I love you to my GF way too soon and she responded ‘Let’s pretend you didn’t say that’, winked, and then kissed me.”
The ‘Book’ Reference
“We’re reading the same book, you’re just a few chapters ahead of me.”
The Emphasis On ‘Love’
“I’m not yet able to use the word ‘love’, yet. I do care about you & look forward to spending more time with you. I hope you can understand.”
Let’s Know Each Other Better
“I really treasure the time we spend together, and you mean a lot to me. I hope we can continue to get to know each other better and move towards a deeper level of relationship.”
Hugs & Cuddles
“Real answer, the first time I said this to my now-husband, he hugged me and we cuddled for a while. I wasn’t really expecting an immediate response, and he said it back a month later. No need to make it weird, just do what feels right.”
The Game Language
“You could say, cutely, ‘Are you trying to win my heart? The game is on’.”
Silence
“Silence. It ironically speaks volumes. Also try not to be pressured to say things you don’t mean, or say things you will regret later.”
The Preemptive ‘I Love You’ Talk
“I do a preemptive ‘I love you’ talk where I tell them I say I love you to friends and family and if I say it that doesn’t mean I’m in love with you yet, necessarily. So in this case I’d just say, ‘love you’ back and deal with the fallout later.”
Wow, I Wasn’t Expecting That
“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. I like you a lot. You’re wonderful and I look forward to getting to know you more. Love is a strong word, and I don’t use it lightly. Trust me, I like you an awful lot. I hope you understand where I’m coming from.”
I’m Flattered But Not On The Same Page
“Something about how I’m very flattered but just not on the same page as them. I appreciate their company, but I need to keep business and relationships separate (I strip part-time and many a man has professed his love), or that I love them too but not in a romantic way. Or that I’m not ready to say it back yet but I’m on my way there.”
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This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.