What does he really think of me? (might be a little long but please help)?

i know a boy, i'll call him S. S and i met a few months ago, and he really seemed to like me, hugging me and sitting next to me and everything. we've kept in touch, and now he comes to see me once a week at a extra curricular thing i have. he's told me several times that he loved me, but when my friends ask him, he always says he just likes me as a friend. (i didn't get my friends to ask him, they're friends with him and they just asked him out of curiousity) is S being shy about liking me or does he only like me as a friend and says he loves me to make me feel good?