Honestly, u were too idealistic. U failed to respect the ladder
theory. Go find out about it.
If you are still new to r/s, start learning. It's ok to fail, i
made the same mistakes before.. we all did. But it's very simple..
when u first meet a new girl, quickly think how u gonna treat this
girl.. whether u like her only as frens, or something more.. Coz
once u go down 1 path, it's hard to swtich to another down the
road.
Ur problem is u've been to friendly with her for too long. Too
buddy. 1 yr man. Her view of u is already cast in stone. Telling
her u like actually disrupts the social interaction betw u 2,
that's why u 2 are awkward now. It's normal. Be prepared that u
might even lose her as a buddy already. But it's ok, just learn
from ur mistake.
If u are in a situation where u meet a girl n u are not too sure
how u want to treat her.. then distance urself for time being.. be
cordial but not too friendly n buddy with her. Very
important.
But at the end of the day, if u feel u must tell her.. then tell
her. For regret is an even more painful feeling.
So take heart.. no prob. Give her some time n space.. then come
back as frens n see how.. in mean time.. there's the entire
freaking forest outside for u to start again 
