do I keep trying or give up?

I started hanging out with this guy and we both confessed that we liked each other. Hes such a sweet guy and everyone, including his exes agree. He told me he didn’t want anything serious because he just got out of a bad relationship and he wanted to talk to other people, which is completely fine.

Then a week or so later he started “dating” someone else (they might not be dating, but they show PDA at school and everyone thinks they are.) so I backed off and stopped talking to him. He got upset and thought I was mad at him, and we hung out all night and he was flirting with me and giving me compliments and telling me how much he liked me and about how we would be good together.(Nothing happened other than that) then the girl he’s “dating” showed up and he left with her. He also never said anything about her even though he knows I know they’re together.

Im so lost and have no clue what to do. I really like him, but dealing with all of this is really gonna affect me. I can’t be mad because we aren’t serious and I know he wants to explore and meet new people, but it also feels like he’s just playing with my feelings.

Ive never felt the way I feel around him, even with any of my exes. He makes me so comfortable and I feel so cared for. I want him so badly, but I’m not gonna settle for being a side chick.