An acquaintance of yours asks why you act so strangely around her. She seems a little hurt, and is worried you hate her or something. And the truth of the matter is that you have… well it wouldn’t be right to call it a crush, but you find her very beautiful and have been worried about making a fool of yourself. And it isn’t your intention to harass her or pursue her in any way, you’re not even looking for a relationship or anything right now, you’re just nervous around her for basically no reason, and she’s noticed and she wants to know if she’s done something to offend you.
What on earth is the correct thing to say?
Well if you have romantic inclinations and no reason not to pursue (one or both of you is in a relationship or youve been told no before)- you ask them out.
Otherwise you say nothing. If there’s no path romantically forward, what benefit would it serve?
Do you care that I saw someone attractive the other day? If so, why didn’t you ask me yet? Well, i’l wager you don’t really care, and if there’s no path forward for either of you here, this person cares as much about whether you like them as you care how much I like someone - which is not at all.