How can i try to stay friends and make him feel better?

Question

Five days ago,a guy in my class offered me to become his girlfriend.At the beginning I decided to say yes to his proposal. But the last day I changed my mine and I told him that I like him, but like a friend.It would've been easier saying yes,but i thought that it was better for him to know the truth.Now he is really hurt. I wanna call him up and talk to him, but i am at a loss for words, i just don't know what to say.I really want to stay friends, but...
Another problem is that lots of girls like him, and some guys are crushing on me. Him "proposing" is the major news of the class and they are watching us as if we are Romeo and Julliet. They follow us around and ask us what is going on all the time. Lots of people will be happy that we aren't together but...On the phone i told him that this girl likes him and he said "and jessica, hilary, tatiana,e.t.c." So i joked and said you're a girl magnet. he said:not for the girls i like (a.k.a. for me).How can i make him feel better?

I didn't say yes in the beginning, i was thinking of saying it, but then i changed my mind.

Answer 1

just give him some time to move on. I think he's not ready to be friends with you after what happened between the two of you. He might just fall for you more if yo are around him. After some time, he'll voluntarily be friends with you if he had already moved on or you just be friends with him when that time comes. time heals. if you don't want to wait. then just be friends with him if it is OK with him. If not, don't force him to do so.By the way, don't think about the people who will be happy that the two of you aren't together. good luck.

Answer 2

How is it that girls like to rip our hearts out kick it like a soccer ball and land it in the trash can and then say: can we be friends? Listen up the most cruel you can tell a man that is after you is the "I only want to be friends line". Best thing you can do right now is let him breathe a bit about the situation and if he ask why not, just answer truthfully. We seriusly prefer to hear " I don't like your wuss attitude" to the canned response of I just want to be friends.
As for your friendship with him, things may go back to normal but you gotta wait a bit until he is over you, However let me tell you this, most guys makle friends with girls they like, when he gets over you he may not want to be friends any more.
Ironic isn't it, guys want to be friend of the girl they like, girls don't like the guys hat are their friends...