Although I do like both athy and jennette here I do like that he was honest with her cause like no one in the whole series even told her any whole truth. But of course, the dislike came from the fact that jennette didn't asked for it and it was too sudden. I mean I'm not sure how jennette view Ezekiel as but it will hurt especially when your told that you will be second to someone even when you also love that someone. The thing is he could perhaps phase the words more gently instead of bluntly stating that 'oh I love athy and she is my first sorry but your no longer my first anymore'. Be it she sees him in a romantic way or family member it still hurts. You know what I mean?
ijekiel's statement about athy wasnt out of the blue. jennette said kiel and her feel the same way about athy (maybe a platonic feeling of admiration) but ijekiel made it clear to her that his love/feelings for athy are different from jennette's (bc jennette's love for athy is probably friendly or sisterly love)
Yes not out of the blue for you but out of the blue for jennette when he said that he is romantically interested and she was no longer his first priority. I mean we do have the relevant context to come to a conclusion that ijekiel likes athy as it was hinted many times but not for jennette who was not there most of the times. Which I mean I feel that anyone in her position would be heartbroken then again I'm not saying that ijekiel doesn't have to say that but more of perhaps putting it out more softly. I hope u get what I mean. ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭
i will beat up whoever dares to badmouth ijekiel here