I actually have had a very similar experience, about two months ago, I had just found out I was on the aro-spec, (I was still figuring out where I fit on the aro-spec though) and a friend of mine asked me out. I explained to them that I'm aromantic, that I didn't want to be their partner romantically and that I was romance repulsed. They accepted that and then they just never spoke to me again (odd right-?)
Although I'm sorry I don't know how to deal with romance repulsion as I'm still relatively new to aromanticism. Sorry!