<human>: (Background) My girlfriend and I have known each other for about eight months. We both belong to the same clique of friends. About 1 month ago, she confessed to me and I reciprocated the feelings.

When I am with her, I feel awkward, not knowing what to say to her or how to make physical contact (e.g. Holding hands, hand around shoulder etc.). There were awkward silences from time to time. 

Recently, her workload increased dramatically, and she was often tired. Even chatting with her seemed difficult, and my attempts to have a date with her were turned down due to her heavy workload.

At first, I gave her space to deal with her workload, as I knew that she has dealt with such stresses before. Only recently did I try offering more help, in an effort to help her with her problems.

(Issue) Today, after I told her that she can always rant to me, she asked me 'Do you think that it is better that we remained friends?' My instinctive reply was to agree to our breaking up, responding with a 'Haha sure:)' 

She instantly asked Why I didn't ask why she would make such a decision. With me responding that as long as her decision makes her happy, I would go along with it. 

Her response to that was to explain that her workload was behind this decision, and the conversation ended there. I thought about a possible reply to her, but to no avail.

I fear that my response to her question may have made me seem like I did not care much about the relationship, and that my awkwardness May have reinforced this image of an asshole. 

What worries me as well is that this response may affect the relationships between me and my clique of friends. We all are very close, and that this apparent display of douchebaggery on my part may cause them to expel me from this social circle. I really don't want to lose any of these friends, as well as my (now) ex-girlfriend.

What can I do?  I really treasure this group of people. I don't want to lose any of them.

Can you summarize the given text in a few sentences?
<bot>: Recently broke up with girlfriend, fear that what I said may ruin future relations between us, as well as that between me and our shared group of friends.