Ex reaching out after seeing my online dating profile. Unsure how to handle it.

We’ve broken up on a nice, emotional tone, agreeing not to disappear forever. They mentioned i’m welcome to reach out if work is stressful or about my pet adoption process that was ongoing. I reached out a month after for a brief wellbeing checkin which got me a lukewarm response. I took my hat and left it at that - healing can be up and down for anyone, wasn’t hung up on it.

It all came crashing down when i found out about their dating app profile using content from our previous life and looking for a LTR already. I felt like I’ve been shot at. Unfortunately i couldn’t contain myself and lashed out, mentioning how it seems all what was discussed is all up in the air now and that they should not contact me ever again. This message of mine was seen within minutes and got a like emoji.

After a while they came around with a more composed reply saying they see how seeing that could be hurtful and they could take them off if it bothers me. But they didn’t understand why I act like they are “busted” since we haven’t talked for a month. I just replied that those content were very personal to me and that they are free to do whatever they want, but seeing this helps me put things in order in my mind after all.

They responded with another long message talking about communication issues and that they relationship is not working especially not after such a short time. The best we can do is to learn from it and move forward.

I didn’t want to elaborate on how I wasn’t looking for reconciliation and that my lash out is just a product of the depth of my feelings. So i just said Okay with an emoji to make it land warmer.

They also reached out to say happy birthday on my bday, which i also just quickreacted a heart emoji to and said Thanks.

This past week i decided to start dating casually and carefully, and by that I mean carefully towards potential dates, since emotionally i’m still not available for others.

They texted me today after seeing my profile. They mentioned that they are glad to see i like XY ( a hobby we started doing together and i put it on my profile) and that they are curious what happened with the pet adoption (ive also included a photo of my now pet on the profile too).

They are not a bad person, just have loads of issues. That still means they messed me up real bad due to their weird self preservation tactics. Not sure how to respond to this after accepting their words previously like a bitter pill.

Leaving on seen would make me feel false to me and would regret it a bit. Light confrontation is too heavy (a.k.a what do you want?). And going along and play nice feels demeaning.

I would love to be transparent and open with them since they still mean a lot to me, but only if they are genuine. I do not want to validate their feelings if they are just fishing for it to feel better about themselves and go on with their life.

Any advice? Thanks!