He said " I wouldn't mind a friend or 2 " ( he's looking for more than a friend. i'm not ) , what does it mean

Question

He said " so you're just looking for a friend i guess " & i said yes .
i told him that before . & when i asked him what about you , he said " i'm hoping to possibly find something more out there i guess you could say " . I said " okay . & " , he said " a friend or two wouldn't hurt " .
what does that suppose to mean ?
well , i like this guy , but i don't want to go out with anyone at this time , at least .
how to show him that i like him ? . i don't want to tell him exactly that i like him .
please answer my question .

Answer 1

you didn't include much of your history together. (you said, "i told him that before.") what was the nature of that conversation? has this guy been after you to be more than a friend & you have pulled back? why are you pulling back at this time of your life that you don't want to go out with anyone? i do think if you even possibly are attracted to him for future dating you need to be honest w/ him. tell him that you are not at a point of your life that you would like a serious relationship just yet. that you will in the near future but not just now. let him know you would like to be his friend. it sounds like he is open to that by his response ("a friend or two wouldn't hurt") which is good. i think the baisis of all good long term relationships is caring/knowing the other as a friend. hopefully when he gets this message he will realize you value him as a person, a friend & you both can spend time together getting to know each other w/o the pressure of a relationship. if it develops into something more in the future it will have a good base & be a stronger relationship. i think you are both open to something in the future but it is scary & neither of you want it to not go well. if things turn "beyond friendship" too soon, remind him kindly that you are wanting to have a friendship relationship with him. you can do it. you'll figure it out.
good luck!

Answer 2

Well, he asked if you were just looking for a friend, and you said yes. By that last remark about him saying that a friend or two wouldn't hurt, he could have meant that just because he is
looking for something more that he is also willing to take new friends. Thus meaning that he would be friends with you without trying to get something more.

I would say just be friendly. No need to make anything awkward.