’m sorry you learned the hard way and unexpectedly that your best friend was never a best friend to begin with from the sounds of it. Remember it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them and their warped views of what friendship is and how they feel about themselves. It sounds like they couldn’t handle the rejection and that you like someone else but reading what you wrote, it seemed like a surprise that they even considered “liking you” that way because you described them as your best friend. If they can’t keep it a friendship then that’s too bad your feelings are your feelings and if you don’t feel more than friends feelings then you were right to let them know you like someone else that is the proper thing to do not lead someone on. But seems like you also saved yourself some heartache out of this because you didn’t react how they wanted you to do imagine if there were something else that they didn’t like how you acted, what you said or that you didn’t do things how they think you should have etc., then this cycle of calling you names and trying to make you feel bad about yourself as if you’re the problem could have kept happening. Hugs and thoughts. It may be hard now but you’ll grow stronger from this experience and you’ll feel better for not keeping company with someone who would say that stuff to you. Hugs. not mine