uhmmm yikes i need your opinion

Just be honest with him

He's your friend so of course be nice about it, but don't let him being so sweet and romantic and stuff sway you. If you don't like him, then you don't need to be with him. You don't owe him a relationship you don't want. He sounds sweet so I'm sure he'll understand and eventually move on, but yeah just let him down gently. I've been kind of guilted into relationships with people I didn't like before and they always ended in more bad feelings and heartbreak than if I'd just said I didn't like them. Hope it works out and he reacts well <3

Be honest. But also in a nice way. Maybe tell him what you like about him, as a friend. And try to explain that you don't see him in that way.