Engagement Ring?!

So, im having a lovely convo with my boyfriend whom I’ve been dating for a year now, about when we should exchange valentines day presents considering him and I are both in school and busy on actual valentines day. So i said i have part of his gift but the other hasnt gotten here yet so we can do it tomorrow because he said my gift came in the mail today! He gave me hints about what it was and i deduced that it was an irish claddagh ring! My family’s irish and he wanted to buy me one himself because ive lost my other ones due to bad luck.

ANYWAY, im excited obviously, and he responds with “This is the real thing now babe” which is the phrase he used when he would talk about engagement rings. He’s gotten be rings before but he’s always said “this isnt the real one tho.”

YA’LL. IM ONLY 20. TURNING 21 IN JULY. IM NOT READY TO GET MARRIED OR ENGAGED OR ANYTHING. AND IVE TOLD HIM THAT IF HIM AND I WERE EVER TO GET MARRIED I WANNA WAIT TILL WE’RE READY.

So clearly, im freaking out a bit here and I dont know what to do so help a girl out🙃

I know that if he does ask me I’ll tell him no, i just need to do it in a way that makes him not want to leave me