It is indeed interesting to see why the FL became the way that she is. I can actually relate to her being used to do everything on her own and refusing getting help for anything. It is a hard place to get out of, which is also why I like the fact things are changing slowly. ML is still as precious as ever... Poor boy has it so bad xD
Chapter "Come on in" - what is this fluff?! @.@
I'm going back and fort between "awwww so cute" and laughing xD She thought he was being serious for a second... Girl, you have NO idea... How serious he is xD
Chapter "Smooch" - I...
Chapter "So, how far?" - haha people been impatient and hating on ML for not confessing. I don't think his only reason is that he thinks she hasn't moved on. I also don't think this is simple and shallow. Maybe I'm overthinking, but honestly if he asked her to date while thinking she's still hung up on another guy + in his eyes she's not as happy being with him, as when he saw her smiling to herself dazed and delusional, while having a one-sided crush on another guy. He's giving her time to heal and helping her fix her low self-esteem through actions, and even though he sees that honestly telling her what he thinks and feels she just brushes it off, he keeps carefully putting those things in words as well. At this rate, she still considers him "out of her league" and him asking her out for real will be stressful for her in so many ways. Like, her thinking that she's not good enough for him, her hearing even more from unrelated people how "they don't fit" and the type of girl that suits him, which she is not (she already has issues with those things and having more of it solves nothing). You can say "she should not care about that and just be happy that he loves her and is with her" and that's all well and good, but it doesn't work like that. Also, he is helping her learn to lean on someone else and depend on them, instead struggle to always do everything on her own. This ain't easy to do or fix, so patience is important and he has it for her, but I also love the fact he's the right amount of pushy and greedy in some situations. He gives her the push she needs to move forward, but doesn't overstep her boundaries and tries to communicate with her about it. Like in this chapter "How far is he allowed to go, within the bounds of common sense?".
All in all, no matter how much you may think "ugh get together for real already!" , it is best they do when she's in the right mental state. Healing from some things and previous heartbreak/relationship is not really a good idea to do while in the middle of a new relationship. This can mess up so many things (been there, done that).
Ah, and if you wonder why he suggested this silly pretend game at all... It is most likely to both make her conscious of him, make her consider him as an option, help both of them see what a relationship feels like (we all know how much he wants it at this point) and so that she won't go off falling for another guy as soon as she gets over that douche. It's kinda speaking in and of itself how desperate he was to resort to this option xD also how uncertain and afraid he is, that she might fall for someone else. He is a sweet and humble cinnamon roll ❤️ I can't with his eagerness to have a deeper relationship with her and the temporary upgrade of the pretend game at his place shows what he dreams of and how far... Absolutely adorable.
Sorry for the longish read 😅