Text Editing (JTextComponent, etc.)

I am working to write an editor similar to a mathematical formula
editor. The user uses buttons to add the components/logic to the
formula. That is easy enough to do and I have already started working
on that portion of the code.

The issue I am having (and I'm not even sure where to begin) is that I
want the user to be able to select a token (AKA, part of the formula)
by clicking the text so they can delete it in case they make a
mistake. The text should change color if highlighted, but I don't
want "highlighting" around the text (AKA, the box will not be
editable, AKA the person cannot type directly into the box). Is this
possible by extending JTextComponent or JTextArea (which extends
JTextComponent, I know) and use their current functionality and add on
the functionality I'm looking for? Any suggestions on how to go about
doing this?

And, if that question makes absolutely no sense, please let me know so
I can rephrase it.

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