Posted 19 January 2013 - 04:07 PM
Well, the real reason for our "fall-out" (for lack of a better term---there wasn't any yelling or anything), was not so much of me coming on to him but rather betraying his trust.
There are a lot of things he has confided in me, already being aware of my sexuality as well as my attraction to him---this is why I say he is the best of friends. He knew I was gay before we even became friends. I was actually very attracted to him long before I ever met him, but we became friends through mutual acquaintances. We really connected at this conference we went to, where on the last day he called me out of a crowd, gave me a strong hug and told me that he loved me a few times. Some things happened even after that to let me know he was sincere and genuine in his care and understanding of me. Because of this, I had so much respect for him that I would defend him at any cost and not let anyone talk about him around me.
Well, fast-forward to him getting in a relationship with this one girl who was trouble for him, disregarding any and all of my advice on the matter and withdrawing from me for a short time. In the midst of our separation I started hearing some things from other people about him that put doubt in me about the kind of person he was. I began to feel kind of betrayed and abandoned at the same time. So, in my anger, I started joining in on the gossip. Now, I never told anyone things that he told me in confidence because I knew better than that, but it was subjective things about his character/personality, that other people people noticed as well, that I talked about with them. There were a lot of things that a lot of people were saying about him that seemed out of his character, but because I already had something against him, my judgment was clouded and I took what they said to be the truth.
Well, a couple of nights ago, he had this friend girl of his in his room and the door was closed with them in there for a couple of hrs. This is a compromising position for him since he is a Christian and a leader. I knocked on the door at one point and it sounded like he said "there's a lady in here." Well, common sense would tell you what that means! So, I drew my own conclusions in my mind that what people had been saying was in fact true, coupled with my jealousy of their relationship. I was so angry and hurt that I left the house and didn't come back until 2 in the morning (knowing I had to be up for work in 3 hrs).
I had a private meeting with him a couple of days later and and laid everything out on the table. It turns out that my perception of him was off. first of all, the young lady was giving him a back massage the other night, and that he was also following the rules of the house (he wasn't in the house alone---his other friend---owner of the apartment---was there), but he admitted that it was a compromising position, as it can give others another impression. I told him what other people were saying about him, and he was actually sitting there with a note-pad writing down everything I was saying even before I said it, along with the names (which I didn't mention) of the people who said them. He let me talk for about 20 minutes, and when I was done, he explained everything to me, and I felt so dumb. My perception had been way off! And he was also upset that I believed so many lies after knowing him for so long, and that I chose to dwell on such negativity. But I explained to him also what it was rooted in and told him about how I felt when he was dealing with that girl some time ago. I had also sent an inappropriate/subtle sexual text (he sent a text to one of his male/straight friends that he wanted a big hug and a kiss, but mistakingly sent it to me, so I told him he could have a hug and kiss, but he knew that the way I meant it was different from the way his str8 friend would've meant it) to him, which he was kind of offended by but didn't say anything. He told me he also sees how I look at him but that bothers him but he doesn't say anything about it. But he was most bothered m=by the fact that after everything he confided in me that I didn't trust and believe the best of him---something he wouldn't do to me. So, he was basically being a better friend to me than I was being to him... when I thought it was the other way around.
He is talking to me again now (because he doesn't hold on to offenses), but only time will tell if it will be like it was. I was hoping that our friendship would get better since we laid everything out on the table and got things of of our chest, which was why I called to meet with him in the first place. But I know his standards of friendship and how he cuts of friends who betray his trust. I know also that he is more patient with me than anyone else. So I am hoping that things won't just be forgiven but reconciled (back to the way it was) between us and that we will be even closer since the baggage isn't wedged between us anymore.