beta
They have mutual feelings, but none of them actually officially declared their feelings, and their relationship isn't officially in the "a couple" stage yet.
So imagine you guys are about to do the deed, and then suddenly asked "what kind of relationship do we have?", how do you expect someone to answer instantly without hesitating? Friends? They're obviously beyond that. Couples? They haven't both decided that officially. Sex friends? Obviously would ruin the moods and they didn't exactly agreed on it.
So of course that question's gonna catch him off guard and make him hesitate. The fact that you take that hesitation as a rejection when you didn't even confess is one thing. But not only did he jumped to conclusion like a fucking Olympic gold medalist, he runs from him like he's some cancer growth on legs. I had to write this and rant cause istg nothing frustrates me more than pro-athletes of conclusion jumpings.