The smell of Silence

I was wondering the other day why awkward silences are so awkward. Are there types of silence? What's the best type of silence?
What makes silence awkward? My theory is, if silence was a person, he (because of course it's a he) would have a penchant for really bad timing. For when he'd appear or for the things he'd say or do. That's probably what gave him a reputation for being awkward. Then he had to have the adjective before his name, like Curious George.
 A really good friend of mine told me they loved me. As more than a friend (Whatever that means). Here is a guy who is quite shy, mostly quiet and hardly let's anyone see past the exterior. He's closed off to most people like a murder scene. And frankly, he's not someone I expected to ever tell a girl what he feels about her.
 He looks like a guy who will see a girl and after checking off that she can cook, hold an intelligent conversation and compliments his strengths and weaknesses, decides she's the one. Then one day after a really nice lunch somewhere outdoorsy, he would throw her a ring and ask her
"si we do this, ama?"
And she'll slip the ring on and say
"Sure, why not"
To which they shall move on to live a content life. Apparently I was wrong. Apparently I sorely misjudged the strong silent types.
I mean, he bore his heart to me with such, vulnerability, like for the first time in his buff life someone could break him with one word. And that's not even the worst part. He was sure we were meant to be. So sure, it was as if his heart has never lied to him before and wasn't doing so then.
So what did I do? I sat there in awkward silence (or with awkward silence) Probably with a stupid expression on my face. I could smell it(or him), the silence, like fruits. Okay,  maybe that was because I was drinking pineapple and mango flavored tea. I sat there, my eyes probably bugging out from their sockets, hands trembling and I got this sudden urge to pee.
 It was as if he told me I was actually part sponge part moron and I live in a pineapple under the sea instead of a declaration of love.
 At some point my brain tells me
"say something"
"like what"
Then I end up blurting (out loud)
"want some more tea? "
Which in my case is genius compared to the million other mortifying things I could have said. Although not by much. Because who offers tea to someone, when you really want to go, sit and digest the information you just received, alone. Preferably while showering  because let's face it, the best solutions and thoughts happen in the bathroom.
But hey, I'm not complaining. I could have responded by talking about the weather, or the soft carpet the Hilton has, or a bird I saw earlier. I could have thrown him with the one question people don't know how to answer,
 "Otherwise?"
 Stop cringing. We don't judge people here.
 Also, let me just clarify, I'm not mortified by this situation for any other reason other than that's the feeling I get every time situations like these present themselves. Most people are afraid of giving their hearts, I'm afraid of being handed one. I'm clumsy. Giving me something that delicate is like practically begging me to break it.
Meanwhile, tea is served and then the first couple of seconds pass as we sip the too hot tea. At this point silence smells like passion (we're drinking passion and lime tea now).
 He knows I don't like this topic, he knows. Yet he seems content to watch me squirm for a complete statement from my brain when all it can muster is
 "Wawawawawawa!! Say something!!"
Eventually, I tell him the hard thing,  because no matter how hard it is to hear, he should get the chance to hear it. I tell him the hard thing because I need to hear it out loud myself and last but not least, I tell him the hard thing because the only person I could think of calling and sharing this news with, was him.

But just so I know not to talk about ants and their purpose in the ecosystem next time, what would you guys have done?