He says we're just friends, but he gets jealous whenever I date someone else.

We met three years ago through mutual friends and clicked immediately — the kind of friendship where you text good morning without thinking about it. Early on, there was a moment where it could have become something more. We talked about it once, honestly, and agreed we were better as friends. I believed him. I still do, mostly.

But here's the thing that doesn't add up. Whenever I mention someone I'm seeing, he goes quiet. Not dramatic, not accusing — just quiet, in a way that's louder than words. He'll suddenly be "busy" for a few days. He'll make an offhand comment about the guy I'm dating that isn't quite a joke.

I asked him about it directly, once. He said he just wants to make sure I'm being treated well. Maybe that's true. Maybe it's also true that some part of him hasn't fully let go of what we agreed we'd never be.

I don't think he's lying about not wanting to date me. I think two things can be true: he doesn't want a relationship with me, and some part of him still doesn't want anyone else to have all of my attention either. It's not fair to either of us, and I don't know how to bring that up without sounding like I'm imagining things.

For now, I keep dating. I keep being his friend. And I keep noticing the silence every time I mention a name that isn't his.