No, it’s just that he was shocked and thought she changed and had become a different person. He thought she was no longer the person he fell for. Plus the trauma from his childhood must’ve come back up because of this. It was just such a shock to him so he needed time and he didn’t want to face the truth that she might’ve changed. He became INTERESTED in her and found her as a place of solace when they were young but he eventually fell for her as he learned more about her. If he only liked her for her soul, then he would’ve liked her right off the bat and would’ve have needed to realize that he liked her over time.
*would’ve NOT have needed to realize that he liked her over time
I understand being shocked, but did he really only like her because he couldn’t see her soul? Why’d he freak out so much, poor girl