I'm 39 married mum of 2 ( get told all the time I don't look it). I was leaving the gym and looking at my phone. 2 youngish guys were at the end of the walk to get to the stairs. Me and one guy looked up from our phones and locked eyes, he smiled very sweetly, as though he knew me, I got confused but realised he doesn't know me and is just smiling. So I reluctantly smiled back. As i approached the stairs they were also at the stairs, they were infront. He turned around looked over his shoulder and smiled again. To the extent that his friend also stopped talking to see what he was smiling at.
Now I don't know what to do in this situation, is he just being nice, I don't want to give him the wrong idea and smile back (but surely it's just a smile right) or am I meant to be a moody Gen Z and give him a dirty look.? Anyway I kinda smile again but look away. Guys do smile at me in general but I usually ignore it or I can walk away, I think this confused me as he was right there. Plus it didn't feel threatening.
I have AirPods in and he says something. I say sorry? And he says to his friend in front of me who's walking supppper slow , tells him to move out the way for me.
So my mind says be demure be girly be kind and say something like aww thank you
But no, I say - 'YER get out the way! Ha ha'
Wtf is wrong with me lolll, I sounded so butch and rude and his friend who moved out the way says aww that's rude. And I just kinda look back and smirk and run off. I did have to walk past them and he said to his friend I smelt nice haha. So maybe they didn't take offence. I actually felt bad for being rude but was trying to be funny.