Pouting...

So, there’s this guy that I’ve known since I was like 12 or 13 years old. We used to attend church together; we were baptized at the same time. He used to like me way back, but I wasn’t into him like that. Over the years we maintained casual contact. We knew each other’s families, but our lives went in very different directions. Although we both knew the Lord, he took the straight road and I took, well, let’s call it a detour. Anyway, he’s a decent guy, strong relationship with God, faithful in service. I can’t say I had a romantic interest in him, but I did like him. He’s good people.
We have hung out a few times, as friends. When I worked in King of Prussia near him we had lunch a couple times. Summer before last we drove down to Long Beach Island in New Jersey for the day. Attended Bible study together once or twice, played foosball. Nothing serious. Our personalities are very different, but there was still a mutual respect.
Mostly we traded e-mails, occasionally spoke on the phone. He moved back to the town I lived in about a year ago, so I saw him more often. We were friends, in the most platonic sense of the word.
About this time last year he told me he had a girlfriend. I was happy for him. Since I knew I had no romantic intentions toward him I continued as usual. Naturally, I heard from him less and less and that was fine. I had my own life and so far as I could tell he and I were on good terms. In February of this year he sent me an e-mail saying that he was engaged. Again, I was happy for him. As I got the end of the e-mail, however, I was surprised to read, “I am sure you will understand though that means that our email correspondence has come to an end.” I thought it was odd, but just responded by congratulating them.
He lives with relatives on the same street as my parents, 2 blocks down. One afternoon in April I saw an ambulance in front of their house. I wasn’t able to find out what happened, so the next day I sent him an e-mail. I made a point of saying that although he didn’t want to trade e-mails anymore, I was simply expressing concern. After all, I’ve known the man and his family 15 years. He explained what happened and that everything was okay. He ended his e-mail by saying, “I hope you are not offended that we don’t talk any more. It’s not personal. My fiancée and I agreed once we got engaged to discontinue communications with our friends of opposite gender for the benefit of our own relationship.”
At this point, I’ll admit, I should have dropped it, but I was hurt, but instead of acting like a grown up, my response was, “I'm glad everything is okay with your family. I am not offended that you can't talk to me anymore, though I must admit I don't understand it. You and I have known each other since we were kids and you are a friend of the family. Is this just while I happen to be single or forever? Do I still get a card at Christmas? Will I be invited to the wedding? And if so, can I talk to you then or should I sit on the other side of the room and avoid eye contact? I am being sarcastic -sort of. Seriously, it is not for me to understand or approve the decisions the two of you make for your relationship. That's your business. You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to. I'll get over it.” Immature? Yeah, I know, but I was upset.
Fast forward to this summer. I started playing basketball a little over a month ago and I have to walk past his house everyday because he lives right next to the park. So everyday I see his car, and I’m feeling kind bad about the way I acted. So I decided to stop by and talk to him, clear the air and wish him the best. The first time, he says he has a terrible migraine and can’t talk. No problem. I stopped by again a few days later and he makes a big deal about saying he’s on the phone with his fiancée and won’t be off for a long time. Fine again. The next day he sends me an e-mail saying, “I would appreciate it if you discontinued coming by my house to see me. I would also ask you to discontinue contact with me in general. I am engaged to be married. Please respect my wishes. Thank you.” That was rather harsh, don’t you think?
So, after writing several drafts of a response telling him exactly what I thought about him and his stupid fiancée, I realized I was wasting my time. He made his decision. My little hurt feelings are the least of his concerns. So I simply responded, “I will respect your wishes.”
And I will. But I still don't understand it. It seems wrong to cut off contact with a friend just because they happen to be the wrong gender. This is going to bug me for a while.

That is all.