yes and no sjhdbs that outcome is inevitable and the intention is very much there on both sides, but we are long distance and i wouldn't want to put the burden of a long distance relationship on them bcs the yearning becomes so much heavier, and i also would rather do a slow burn bcs i think it's important!! for building a strong foundation, and it's also better for them, bcs it's not a lot of sudden change overnight. so it will not be truly official until we've been slow burning for a while and i'm in a position where i can be like hey i just moved into your neighborhood for a job, i'm taking you out to dinner tonight~

one of the many ways in which we're compatible is that we both really enjoy the friends to lovers arc hehe it's key for us, so while i'm running around calling them my boyfriend and treating them how i will continue to treat them etc, it's all part of the slow burn romance, it's important that intentions and feelings are made very clear but also that we aren't rushing to the "next step" before we've had time to really bask in the place we're at currently :3

as far as emotions are concerned though, yes they are mine, and yes they would agree with me on this (and i'm theirs too, goes without saying)

you can think of this as like a big cat hunting its prey! the chase is ongoing but as far as the cat is concerned, that is his dinner, and the prey feels the inevitability of that too