Why not go back to the original plan and ask a mate to tell him? It may seem a bit playground, but all my friends and I seem to have got together that way! And it worked for Ross and Rachel! He may like you too, but until someone plants the idea in his head of liking you LIKE THAT, he may not flatter himself.Get a mate to tell him you like him as more than friends, and see how he reacts. If he is not interested, at least you will know, and move on. And because you technically don't know that your mate had told him, you can continue being friends.