Fine Line Between Like and Love

When do you know if you already love someone or you just really like him?

Is there a time frame? Could you have learned to love someone in just a few weeks’ time?

Is it bad to say “i love you” if you’re not so sure you really do?

These are only a few of the things bothering me about this topic …

Background … I was heavily involved with a guy for the past three years, which sadly had ended recently. I did not set out to find someone new. Too fresh. Too raw. However, three weeks ago, I met a friend’s friend. Cool guy. Musician. Sweet. Transient. Yup, he’s only here on vacation and will be going back abroad soon.

Needless to say we got very close. He made me feel loved – like I’m the only girl who exists. I warned him. I do not want a commitment, not ready for one. He said he understood and he felt the same way. But somewhere along the way, he shifted gears. He said he fell in love. He said he loves me. He wants me to commit. He wanted me to give him a reason to stay.

I couldn’t say “i love you” back. I couldn’t ask him to stay. I wasn’t even sure I wanted him to. I knew I liked him a lot though, I just didn’t know if it can also be called love. Instead of my ex-boyfriend, he started becoming my first thought when I wake up and the last last before I sleep. I relied heavily on him to make me happy. He seems to think it was fate that brought us together and that he was led to me for a reason.

You might be asking – who am i to complain? A guy professes love for me and asks me to stay in Thailand with him, all expense-paid. A guy who comes from a good family and earns big money in Bangkok who seems to think his mission in life is to save me from my sadness.

But my conscience is nagging at me … am I only using him to get over my ex? Could I really have learned to love someone so soon? Is it that easy?

I wanted to tell him I love him back. `Coz I know it’ll make him really happy. But should I, when I dunno if I really do? Is that fair?

When do you know if you just really like a guy for treating you like a princess? Or if you really have found someone new to love?