In a bustling cafe in Nairobi City, a young woman named Nia found herself stealing glances at a charming stranger seated across the room.
He seemed engrossed in his book, yet every so often, his eyes flicked towards her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Little did Nia know, he was trying to play it cool, masking his attraction behind a veil of nonchalance.
This scenario is all too familiar for many; those moments when someone is interested but is attempting to keep their feelings under warp.
One of the first signs of this hidden attraction is body language; a person may lean in closer during conversations or find subtle ways to mirror your movements.
This mirroring can indicate a desire to connect more deeply, even if they are trying to maintain a laid-back demeanour.
Another sign is prolonged eye contact, while they might occasionally look away to appear disinterested, those fleeting moments of connection can reveal their true feelings, as their eyes linger just a moment longer than necessary.
Additionally, you might notice them engaging in playful teasing or light-hearted banter; this is often a way to build rapport while keeping things light, showing they enjoy your company without overly expressing their feelings.
These subtle signs can reveal a world of attraction hiding beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
PSYCHOLOGISTS: SIGNS THEY ARE INTERESTED
Carol Joy, a psychologist, says when faced with emotions people react differently moreover, when feelings of attraction come into play, It is easy to recognise if a person likes you given human behaviour tends to have similarities.
“On the easy signs; a person who is attracted to another may tease them, as teasing allows for engagement without being too direct,” she says.
“They may be overly happy, energetic around the person they are attracted to, even when they try to play it cool.”
Carol says those people may try to be near you without making it obvious, making it seem coincidental while it's intentional.
“A person who is attracted to someone is often inconsistent in their communication, this could pivot from being very engaged to very distant,” she says.
The psychologist says this is an indicator they are interested but hesitant to be too forward.
She said the mentioned signs may be challenging for the person on the receiving side of the interest to note and a friend may find it so easy to notice the unspoken attraction.
“It's advisable to have friends around when you find yourself in such a situation,” the expert says.
This attraction can be expressed in the most outward ways, but to the receiver seen as ‘blind’, they are inexistent or unnoticeable.
“A person who is attracted to someone may make efforts to look good around you even though they don't make it obvious,” Carol says
“Their bodies may give them away as they may be more nervous around you than they are around other people.”
The expert says if they bring back things you said in detail, it may be an indicator they are interested in you.
“Body language can often give away what words can't hide, watch for prolonged eye contact, small touches, and mirrored movements that seem accidental but reveal attraction,” she says.
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERT
Carol says the person on the receiving end of the attraction, can give the other person time to find clarity and define what they want.
“Give grace and be open to them and their experience because it'll make it easier for them to figure out what relation they'd want to build,” she says.
“If it is a mutual feeling you can take the lead or have ice-breaker conversations that make it a smooth sail. Be ready to handle how things flow whether both of you decide to pursue the attraction or not."
