I don’t get this weird body language (mixed signals)

I have an older coworker, I’m crushing on him for a year now.

Now, we don’t talk for 2 months, basically ignored him cause was trying to get over him. Just some normal eye contacts.

Then one day he came to me outta nowhere and talked to me, i could see him walk awkwardly, pretending to check other teammates and suddenly i find him next to me. We had a normal talk, not entirely professional.

Then, we had an office dinner. So I thought, he coming to talk to me when its obv not needed, was good enough for me to work on. I found him standing alone, went to him, said hi, we talked a bit. And he wouldn’t even look at me. He was just staring ahead of us. Just looking at me for just a glance 2-3 times only.

I could see I’m running out of words but i tried my best. I realised i have so much anxiety, I picked a bottle and my hands were shaking visibly, hope he didnt notice that.

Now, I just casually slip, “You look so good!”

Idk if he heard that or not, but his facial expression felt like he didnt hear, so he leaned a bit down, so i said it close to his ear (like professionally close) again “You look so good.”

Still didnt look at me, smiled audibly, adorably and then, composed himself to say “Thank you”, still in the air not looking.

But, whatever glances we stole during the conversation, he had those soft eyes. Iykwim

Then, i pretty much ran out of conversation, i was very nervous. There was this awkward silence for like 2 seconds and i said okay and left.

Then he proceeds to smile every time our eyes met during the event.

See, I was onto him for like a year, very subtle flirting, but nothing happened. But now, when i started to distance, he suddenly comes to talk to me, so i reciprocated.

Whats happening here?