“So im a female and I have this guy cousin who's like favorite for almost everyone in the family(40 people). I had a crush on him since I was a teen. All of our cousins used to have night outs a lot, sometimes he used to touch me when we're all asleep. Since I had crush on him I kept quiet thinking maybe he liked me too. When we're like 18 nd covid happened nd stayed together in the same house for about a month and we both got very close. One day he kissed me when we're asleep and I didnt know how to react and he did it again and started touching me. I know it in me that I wasn't comfortable but again I was naive and thought thats love, since he cared for me also, but never said anything like that. This happened for a few days and one day I told him I think I love him. He started to pushing me away. I was so hurt that he only wanted to be physical with me and nothing else. Mostly because he's my cousin whom I've to keep seeing for the rest of my life. Now he has a girlfriend and I'm the only person in our family he told to. We are still close, I try to push him away cause I couldn't forget it and sometimes he's way too touchy than I like. I don't know how to deal with him cause he thinks of me as his best friend and confides in me. And we're grown up now. He still does the touchy thing but I also feel pity for him for what he's going through now. I just don't know how to handle this.”
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Someone answered with kindness...
Boundaries. You need to have boundaries. The fact that he's touchy says a lot about him. Just because he is your cousin doesn't mean he HAS to be your best friend and you HAVE to be his best friend. Accept who he is and if possible just stay away from people like that in your life.