the fake best friend.

Um, yess lol.

What kind of best friend is that. A true best friend doesn't give you that kind of ultimatum. He may not be happy for you if he truly loves and wants to be with you, but he'd deal with it if he were a good friend.

To be honest, maybe he never wanted to become your best friend in the first place and just got friend zoned by you. He probably put so much time and effort into the relationship in hopes that you'll eventually see him as more than a friend, which didn't happen so he just gave up.

Come to think of it, his ultimatum is starting to sound more like a way of finally getting out of the shadow of your friend-zone so he can move on with his life and pursue a girl that actually wants him.

Well you have understand where your guy friend was coming from, he prolly can't control his feelings, and spending time with you prolly drives him crazy. If he cares about you he will be back, and a true friend would never give you an ultimatum like that, they would prolly say they needed space. He may just need some time and space and may be back around before you know it. It wouldn't have been right for you to date him if you do not have feelings for him, it wouldn't be fair to you or him. He deserves someone who likes him back and so do you. You did the right thing, everything will work out, it may take some time, but it will be ok.

You did, but sadly he did not.

I think you both did the right thing, actually. If it had gotten to the point that he could no longer handle being just friends - that spending time with you without being able to date you was causing him problems - he needed to tell you. And if you don't return his feelings, then you needed to tell him. So it's sad that you lost a friend, but consider that he voluntarily set himself up to lose a friend for the sake of honesty.

It sucks, but you were both right.