Boys and girls please help me out with this boy what is wrong with him

I have a friend I met in sixth form. I’m a girl and he’s a boy. We started talking on the first day and quickly became friends, exchanging social media. A few days later, he asked to hang out during my free periods, and we ended up walking around the school together. He always smiles when he sees me. Once, when I mentioned I was tired, he left class to buy me tea because he felt bad. Whenever I help him, he thanks me with a colored heart or a red heart emoji.

He keeps inviting me to hang out with him and his friends, but I keep saying no. If he does like me, that’s exciting because I think I like him too. I shared a story about a guy who tried to pursue me in high school, and he asked if I found anyone attractive in college or had any crushes.

He does sweet things, like giving me his stationery in class without me asking, which makes me think he might like me. One day, I told him about a guy who moved to my area, and he asked if I had any crushes or found anyone attractive at sixth form. I jokingly mentioned him in a text, and he just responded with laughing emojis, thanking me for the compliment. I clarified that I didn’t want him to take it the wrong way, especially since he didn’t say anything back, and he replied that he liked someone else.

Despite that, he still texts me after his lessons asking where I am. Once, when I mentioned I needed to talk to someone and would be late, he insisted he would wait. I tried to avoid him, but he quickly found me and said hello. Today, he texted again asking where I was and said he searched the entire school for me.

I’m confused by his behavior. If he likes me, he should just say so, and if not, he should act like he doesn’t!