I [22M] have been exploring my feelings with my friend [21M], and I've come to understand that I’m romantically attracted to him, but not sexually.

I find myself in a challenging situation where I can only connect with men on a romantic level, yet I am exclusively physically attracted to women. My experiences with women have ranged from chaotic to disappointingly bland, as I often feel we’re not in sync, even when there is strong attraction. To delve into my feelings further, I started exploring a relationship with a male friend whom I’ve had significant romantic feelings for over a long period. He reciprocates these feelings, and while our romantic connection is deep and fulfilling, I don’t experience any sexual attraction towards him. He’s certainly attractive in a conventional sense—twinkish and sometimes appearing feminine in certain lighting—but I struggle to find him physically appealing unless I envision him as a woman. I don’t find pleasure in being intimate with him and feel I lack the skills for that aspect of our connection. The only way I can enjoy intimacy is if I’m able to view him through a lens that makes me perceive him as female. I care deeply for him, but I’m concerned that our sexual incompatibility may jeopardize any potential relationship we could have. I’ve always identified as straight and feel uneasy about labeling my connection with him as a relationship. Referring to him as my "boyfriend" feels off to me. I wish he were a woman so that we could enjoy a straightforward and fulfilling relationship, especially since I’ve never had such strong emotional feelings for any woman. However, that’s not the reality we’re living in. I’m hesitant to end things because our bond is incredibly meaningful to me, but I’m starting to think there may be no other option. How should I approach this situation?