<human>: Give me the gist of the text in a nutshell

So a little background. We're both in high school, and I started talking to him in hallways and eating lunch with his friends, with no relation before this. I'm someone who's naturally nice to everyone and when I started talking to him, never flirting unless you count being pleasant. I was just looking for another friend. (I'm happily in a relationship and have been for over a year) He asked me out and I politely declined, and tried to remain friends, but I can tell he's setting so that if (when?) my bf and I break up, he can step in to fill his place. He always tries to "flirt without flirting" (always sitting right next to me even if there's open seats, asking me to go on "platonic" dates and the like) and it makes me really uncomfortable. I don't want to reject him again without him actually asking again, but I also have no intention of ever dating and don't want him to have that hope. Is it okay for me to keep trying to be his friend even though I know he wants more?
<bot>: I friend zoned someone. Can I still be his friend even though he still has hope of a relationship? Can it still be a good friendship?