<human>: Give me the gist of the text in a nutshell

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?
<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?