8th grade. A girl tells me in the presence of classmates, “I love youuuu.” I just think it’s a joke/prank so I reply, “I’m too young!” Later she privately asks me if I meant that. It didn’t click for me until high school.

Fresh out of an all-boys high school, so no interaction with girls since 8th grade. Freshman year college, fall semester. Classmate says she’s cold and hooks her arm in mine on the walk to lecture. This happens every day. Another classmate asks if we’re dating, and I say no, she’s just cold.

Same semester, same class, in a lab section, it’s warm. I ask my lab partner (different from arm girl) doesn’t she feel hot, why not take off her sweater. She looks at my and says, “I’m not wearing anything underneath.” Next day in lecture she’s dresssd up really nice and sits next to me.

Every day in this lecture these 3 girls sit with me. My high school buddy who’s also in the class tells me, while we’re studying, he thinks it’s hilarious that I’m surrounded by girls. I shrug it off.