I'm going to lead on my younger roommate
How will you lead them on?
I don't have the balls to let him down gently, so I'm just going to avoid him. I don't like him.
It's wrong to lead people on like that. You should be honest with your roommate and not hurt them.
You don't understand how human nature works.
That's okay, I am tell you now that this is not okay. You should talk to him and tell him how you feel.