Hi Priya,
Your coworker most likely doesn’t like you romantically, but more so as a friend.
He is a reserved, shy guy.
Given his nature, he would be more comfortable socializing with people in small groups or on a one on one basis.
That was why you were both capable of building an acquaintanceship or mild friendship in the kitchen during work-related moments or moments where you both caught each other while in the process of getting coffee.
Perhaps there was a chance that your acquaintanceship could have built up to something more romantic if you hadn’t started avoiding him.
Whatever rapport or momentum that you had built up with him up until that point may have been lost not long after you started avoiding him.
At this point in time, he may be becoming more receptive to you because you are becoming friendlier. Your friendly conversation in the kitchen would indicate that the tides may be turning.
However, try not to misinterpret his friendliness as an indication of romantic interest. Again, being a reserved and shy guy, he works better in small groups or talking to people one on one.
As of now, despite the moment where he gave you an intense stare for 2 seconds in the hallway as you were both headed towards each other, he hasn’t shown any consistent and definitive signs of romantic interest in you.
Thereby, any fondness he may have for you would be in the vain of friendship.