why can't this be love?

straight to the point. I once liked a guy. no I am not just 'like' him, I loved him with all of my heart, I am sooo into him but he left me with doubt. he seem like into me, but I can't tell more.  so for saving myself for the tears, I keep remind myself that he did not love me back
but as time goes by, we're getting closer than I ever tought I might, as we grew closer, I kept hoping that he would be the one. but in the end of the day, his heart was always for another.
it bruise me for a while, but I keep on moving. at one point, some ugly truth bring me back from the dark, I finally let him go.
until one day, a friend of his told me that he is actually into me, he did love me back, and for some reason he does not love me the way I love him but surely he does love me. it hit me then, if we were into each other at that time, why can't this be love?