A boy that is really confusing me.

So this all happened a couple of months ago. This boy, which I liked, never admitted to liking me, but now I realize that he was really flirty and other things. One day, he came up to me and said other people told him I liked him, but never directly asked me if I liked him or not, but said he was wanting to know. I panicked, and said I didn’t like him. My friend said I embarrassed him and hurt his ego. I don’t understand why he would even come up to me and ask me. We haven’t really talked since, but can’t help but wonder, did he like me?

Hurt his ego? That sounds a bit like a red flag to me.