I don’t understand this guy, help a girl out!

I (20F) am going to a small university where everyone knows everyone, atleast from sight and all students are in a big WhatsApp group with all our numbers public.

Last summer a guy slid into my dms. I had a bf at that time and rejected him politely. We never talked personally before btw, he is in another friend circle than me, but I know him. 3 weeks later he suddenly massages me on WhatsApp and writes me a longer text saying that he saw me and one girl hanging out together in uni often and he finds her cute and wants to invite her on a date, but doesn’t know how to contact her. And basically asked me if I could help him contacting her, like a wingman. I found that quite odd, because he knew her name and her number is public in the big uni WhatsApp group. There was no rational need to ask me specifically, just message her yourself. But I asked my friend and she wanted to get to know him so I played wingman. He thanked me and said that he would love to invite me to a cup of coffee as a thank you gesture. I declined, I still had a bf. After summer break I asked my friend how things went with him. She told me that he wasn’t really interested in getting to know her and although they were on a date where he was very polite and a gentleman, he eventually didn’t ask her out again despite her texting him multiple times inviting him on the second date herself.I felt sorry for her, she really liked this guy and told me that she never had a bf before and would want to have one, but rarely manages to get a date.

Fast forward this winter: My long term relationship ended and I was single again (happy single lol). In January this guy suddenly massages me again. He apologises for his odd behaviour in summer regarding the situation with my friend and I and invited me on a date again. I told him that I just got out of a relationship and want a bit time for myself. I didn’t close the door on him fully.

He is a handsome and polite guy, but for some reason I was never interested in him before. But suddenly since last week where we crossed paths in uni and I got a look at him I seemed to have caught feelings. Maybe it’s spring doing things to me, but want to get to know him. But I don’t want to hurt my friends feelings and I still find the situation from summer odd. I have the assumption that he wanted to make me jealous with that move since there was no real interest in getting to know her? I just don’t understand his psychology and I don’t want to get hurt by a silly boy again.

Help a girl out ❤️