Thank u for the perspective i think I might actually be straight up and make gestures like he did but I really don’t know what to do any suggestions???

Also the idea of asking him is TERRIFYING I know his friends and if they find out I like him and that he rejected me they won’t ever let me live it down and I couldn’t even be friends with him after that

I don’t want to lose him entirely but I can’t stand not having clarity is really stressing me out

so anyways I just want to ask if you have any suggestions on letting him know I like him without having to directly tell him???