Haha, your story is very similar to mine. But instead of getting
into a relationship, we became closer friends instead.
Anyway, you need to be aware about what she's going through. Moving
from a secondary school to a JC can mean a lot.
1) She has a new social life (spending time with her new
classmates),
2) A new learning environment to adapt to. Studying in JCs is a
totally different level compared to secondary schools
*can only think of these 2 points.
Perhaps paying more attention to things that are new to her is her
personality. If you feel uncomfortable about the things she do, let
her know.
If she change, good la. But if she remains unchanged, you can
consider letting her go because she's not changing herself for you.
You'll only live in hell if you refuse to let go.
From what i see, as a friend or boyfriend-to-be, you should respect
her decision. If her decision is to reply your messages, so be it.
For your question, "Did I do the right thing by saying I won't
bother her by messaging her first?". to me its "no". It's simply
threatening her and not giving her a freedom to make her own
decision. Or rather, if everyone send her that message, she'll
probably go crazy.
And the last thing. If you really like her so much, think about her
before think about yourself. It's a rather selfish thing to tell
people how you feel when you don't even think about how she
feels?
"I don't know how much its helping her cope with JC, but it sure
feels like its hurting whatever we have between us." It's always
YOU YOU and YOU!! You don't even know what's happening in her JC?
If she's facing a big problem like being outcasted in her JC that
is hurting her very badly while you only care about how you feel,
how horribly disgusted will she feel?
Even so, what makes you so special anyway? Such that she has to
reply you within 1 day? 1hr? 1min? Just because she said she liked
you?