<human>: I am a 23 year old female with a crippling crush on a man a few years older than me. I have always been pretty shy, but I want to ask him out.

We don't know each other very well, but we've talked (on campus) every couple of days for the last few weeks. I am good looking, and pretty confident that he's single. I think he is interested. He is all smiles when he runs into me, and makes a point of being near me. However, I get the impression that he's a pretty reserved fellow.

I know what I want, I just don't know how to get it. How can I work up the nerve to let him know I'm interested? I'd like to make my interest known before I actually ask him on a "date", if that's possible.

I know the obvious answer is "just be direct!", but I'm scared. How does one go from being quiet and shy to being direct?

Could you distill the essence of the text into 1-3 sentences?
<bot>: I want to let this guy know that I'm into him, but I don't know how and I'm terrified. How can I get over myself and how can I tell him/ask him?