put aside that male pride if you want to be friends. personal experience... i was a dick, didn't talk to this friend of mine for one and a half years after i was rejected. that was 5 years ago. before i met my ex, we were the best of friends, and i still loved her.
so.. seriously.. your pride is not worth losing the friend over. take it easy, relax and just be friends man. who knows if you can take it a step higher? i'd rather have a very close friend than a gf man.... and relationships start best from friendships. i think anyone here would tell you that.
