BRIDGERTON S3 EP3 REACTION | FIRST TIME WATCHING 

I think he was going to ask her if they could be more than friends but he was afraid she doesnt feel the same because of what she said under the willow tree post kiss scene. He has been wrestling with these feelings a couple of weeks at this point, and he thinks pen isnt interested in more because she said "nothing like that would ever happen again between them". The irony is that she was trying to reassure him she wasnt expecting anything because she knows it could never be more, whereas he was hoping there could be but he thinks she just wanted a kiss and asked him as a friend. Not because she wanted him. The moment the kiss happened he realised he has always had feelings for her and she felt like she had to move on and let him go

The point I think to understand is that Colin was always unaware of Penelope’s feelings for him and in turn was also unaware of his own feelings for her. It is at this point in time when she then was so disillusioned by his statement last season and he feels he will loose the one friend he values above all others when he then tries to gain her favor by helping her find a husband he gets to see her as the woman she is and no longer the young girl he met so long ago. The first time she flirts with him at his request do to their lesson he is floored by the way she has with words something he can appreciate as he clearly enjoys writing. Clearly at that moment he felt some butterflies in his stomach as you can she his gaze falter and subsequently drown the full glass of lemonade. It’s not like he was out in the sun and got thirsty he must have felt a little hot and bother to do that. Then when she reads his journal even though he gets upset she sweetly tends to his injury. Notice she takes off her gloves this is a very intimate move on her part because it means she has to touch him bare hand which was a big no back then for an unmarried woman to touch a males hand with bare hands. He takes the opportunity here to close his hand around hers he was clearly feeling something in that moment. She then complements his writing and he instantly backs off because things got to real and intense and he is a bit scared but then makes sure to ask if he will see her tonight. His anger at her reading his writing clearly dissipated very quickly. This tells me his feelings for her are actually quite strong already when it’s more important for him to secure meeting her again right away rather than holding on to the anger of someone reading such an intimate journal entry. Let’s be honest Colin never stood a chance one he entered into the agreement of finding pen a husband. The speech he gave her to apologize was very telling and very much the words of someone who clearly had feelings just never actually sat back to think about what those feelings actually meant. Really “I look for you at every assembly you’re the one person who makes me feel appreciated. I know you will always lift my spirits.” Tell me you love me without telling me you love me. The fact is he is not just saying that he really does look for her at every assembly every season, you can see him always looking for her. The c in Colin’s name really stands for clueless lol😂. I think back to when he came back and his brothers asked him where he had been, because he had not sent them a single letter. Then he goes and asks Penelope why she didn’t write him back once then says that no one else wrote either, umm sir how would they write you back if you didn’t send them one letter? meaning he spent his time writing her letters and no one else. Zero awareness😂.

The yearning for Penelope is strong here!! Colin doesn't know what to do when he feels something more than friend to her. That's fun to watch. But, I don't think there is a competition here between Colin and Debling, not because we know they'll end up togerther. It's just you can tell idk.

Colin never really knew Pen loves him. He always thought she thought of him is a friendly way. I love Colin and Pen.

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