I'm a 21-year-old woman and I've developed feelings for my brother's friend, who is 25. I'm not sure if he's being polite or if he sees me as a good friend.

I've known my brother's friend for quite some time now. Instead of considering us friends, I would say I'm simply aware of his existence, and he feels the same way. However, recently, my brother has been inviting my sister and me to join him when he hangs out with his friends. I must admit, it's intriguing to meet someone whose tastes align so closely with mine that we even have matching items. To keep it brief, during these hangouts, I started noticing him more, and before I realized it, I found myself developing feelings for him. He is incredibly thoughtful and attentive—he remembers the little things I mention, listens to me, offers genuine advice based on his own experiences, and spends time with me when my brother is busy with the others. Even as someone who has never really fallen for anyone before, I could tell I was falling hard for him because of his sincere personality. I've been trying hard to engage with him by sliding into his DMs and initiating small conversations every chance I get. I believe we're making progress; we talk occasionally, and sometimes he even sends me pictures of what he's up to. Naturally, as someone who's smitten, I can't help but feel a glimmer of hope from his kind and considerate behavior, especially since I think I've made it clear I pay special attention to him. So, Reddit, I could really use your advice. Is it foolish of me to hope for a relationship with him?