My best friend (15M, me 16F) has always been explicitly romantic with me as a form of caring but know I feel like there's actual tension of interest, anyone has experienced this?

So I've been friends with this guy since 3rd semester of high school, more less when we was 14 y/o and I 15, we had a lot of things in common (specially bc we first met from an arts club) and he eventually began showing confidence I've had never experienced before. For example, he would commonly type me things like "I love you", "dear" or stickers that I personally felt like only a couple would send between each other.

Physically, he would always compliment my hugs or anything I made, like drawings or showing him music, he would also compliment my body to try and cheer me up whenever I had dysmorphia issues. He gifts me things I feel like I don't deserve like plushies, bracelets, stickers and perhaps things I find expensive for him to get, but he justifies it as he does it because I'm his best friend.

Now, you may believe these are already signs of strong interest, but he has tell me whenever he feels atrracted to other people. Something related to this has to do with the fact that I've began to see his current behavior, now as acts of interest.

See, he used to like a NB person of his age, but he felt down when he found out they were already dating, because they were close friends too. He told me and showed me pictures so I tried my best to confort him. He looks better now, but I feel like the previous acts of appreciation he used to show with me are now something that he carefully thinks before acting, like if he was now trying to not screw it with me, if yk.

For example, whenever we had to say goodbye we would tell me "I love you" by text, in spanish translates to "te amo", a strong expression that close and formal partner relationships normally use in my country, but know he tends to say "te quiero" instead, which is less intense than the first one.

I truky enjoy spending time with my friend, he is the nicest and most joyfuk person I've ever met and he has definitely proven it by many ways, but I'm very confused by the way he's been showing with me. I'm not sure if it may be that he's beginning to feel attracted to me and is trying to measure his words to avoid suspicions? This has never happened to me and I really need your help I'm confused asf 😔