He was my friend/coworker's brother and after we knew each other for over a year he came to work at the organization in the US for a few months. Because he was my friend's brother and he seemed like a nice guy I was by default inclusive and a little preferential toward him - and on top of that he was cute! But that was all, I would have happily just been buddies with him.

A few months into his time at the organization he started to show signs of being attracted to me and I was okay with it. We just flirted casually for a while and it didn't seem like a big deal since we were on different work teams and would go weeks without seeing each other. But as the season changed we saw each other more and it became obvious that he really liked me - he always made an effort to sit with me on the way home and during classes, he would go out of his way to be helpful to me, and was always just there - the way you do when you like someone.

I tried to deny what was going on for a long time, because I'm awkward and uncomfortable with these things (and I'd never been kissed at that point). But we had such good chemistry and I enjoyed being around him even though we weren't terribly chatty together. Mostly we just liked walking around town or cooking and enjoying each others companionship. It felt easy and comfortable as well as exhilarating and dizzying spending time with him.

The day I realized I reeeeally liked him we were working together and I had just got done explaining what my organization was doing in a neighborhood to an community member passing by. When I was through I looked up and saw him watching me, having paused in his work. I said, "How's it going, guy?" And he had this silly grin and just shook his head slowly and said, "You're so amazing and beautiful." He said it with such sincerity I was kind of unsure of what to say but that was it - I knew I was hooked.

We went out for a month or so until he went back home but we're still in touch. He was a real sweetheart and I miss him.