"I've always liked you as a person" meaning?

My friends with benefits and I had a falling out, basically i told him he treated me like shit and i only felt like just a fuck to him and not a friend... he was afraid to talk to me because he thought i hated him but after 2 months he apologized saying he was honestly so sorry for everything and making me feel like he didn't care.

He said he's so happy we can be friends again because he's always liked me as a person and he missed talking to me. And then he said he just wanted to let me know he still thinks about the sex all the time and that it was so amazing. And he's like I don't want you to think I don't like you, of course I like you you're awesome.

Just wanted an outside opinion. He's just trying to be a friend, right? Or does it sound like there could be feelings? And when he said I've always liked you as a person... did he just want to let me know he does see me as more than a fuck or that he's saying i only like you as a friend?
"I've always liked you as a person" meaning?
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