How do I tell a friend I like him
I've been friends with this guy for roughly two years.
We are two peas in a pod, and thick as thieves. We go to the same uni but he recently left to continue the next phase of school elsewhere. It's been roughly two weeks. We text everyday all day. He sends me good morning texts. Whenever we call, it goes on till 3am easily (I've been on break the past two weeks). Anyway, all my friends keep saying we should date and whatnot.
Everyone who isn't close to us thinks we're a couple already. We've never kissed or done anything intimate.
He's returning for like a week in a few days. And I'm considering telling him I like him. Also, like a year ago or so, l'd asked him if he liked me. And he hesitated but said "No. We're just friends". I took it at face value and adjusted my expectations. But I feel like I'm starting to like him again. Since he left, it's been giving long distance relationship. I'm scared to be rejected tho l've shot my shot w guys before but the stakes were a lot lower. In the past, it always went in my favour. He said he didn't like me before (though hesitantly), but I feel like his actions say otherwise? fe Should I give it up? Is it worth risking the friendship over?