I like my best friend in uni :(

Its fairly long. Sorry! So yeah the title says pretty much all. I have been with her for almost 4 years now. I never really had feelings for her when I became friends with her. She's really pretty/hot but I used to like this other girl (I had bit off a gut issue so I never really was able to hold much of a conversation with her). Anyway overtime I started developing feelings for her. I don't know how, maybe its because we used to spend considerably amount of time together, flirt with each other, talk on literally every topic in the world. The problem is she has a boyfriend outside uni. He treats her like crap. Every other day she's crying over it on how much he ignores yet she still is infatuated with him. Anyway I told her a month or two ago that I sadly have developed pretty strong feelings with her. She dint act surprised or alarmed, she just seemed okay with it. She told me she doesn't feel the same way at all and that I should not pursue this. I have tried for some time to get her out of my mind but if I do, it means losing my friendship too. I don't want that. I do have other friends too at uni but its not the same with them. I can spend the whole day with her and not get bored. I had a guy best friend in school and we used to get along like fire; having her in uni kind of reminded me of my old times. So yeah its pretty awesome to have a best friend. Anyway I told her today that I really can't be friends with her anymore. I love her a lot but the fact that each day I meet her, all I think about is maybe something can happen and I know it can't, is fairly sucky :( I just don't know what to do. It isn't easy not to talk to her, at the same time I think its the best thing to do. Does anyone have anything to offer on how I can go about it?

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