AIO: Ex is trying to reconnect with me

We dated in 2024 and it was rocky. We weren’t in a relationship. In a phase of seeing if it could blossom into one , but it felt like it was dragging too long. We weren’t friends for 3 months until we decided to date and For 4 months it felt like a relationship, without the title. we’d talk about it , he said he didn’t want to rush into anything too soon.

Felt like manipulation and also someone who lacked accountability. Once things ended, he’d still pop up checking on me and I didn’t understand what he wanted. It got really messy because sex was involved and I lashed out at him. He said he didn’t want me, called me crazy and told me to never speak to him again. He even said he had other people he was actively dating and I didn’t matter to him. I was heartbroken and felt
Like I was to blame for his behavior.

A few months pass and I reach out in a vulnerable moment to apologize and he apologized as well and said we still shouldn’t speak and need to move on. He blocked me for a full year and then suddenly started popping up in my Instagram views. He sent an invite to his birthday celebration. It was a weekend long itenary. It was just an invite and I asked what it was all about, especially after he said he didn’t want to speak again. He said that was “2025 energy” and he’s not bringing that into 2026.
I told him I wasn’t going and he asked what I had that was so important to miss his birthday.
I didn’t respond. I was curious on what he wanted. Then he sent me a message to talk about an interest of mine and we bonded on that. He said he remembered how I liked to go on long walks and he’d be open to doing that with me. He asked for my number saying he blocked it after I was “wildin” when didn’t talk for a year.

I gave him my number and we began to speak there but it’s very casual messages. Like memes here and there and short discussions on topics.
I once asked how was life since we last spoke. He said he was in Italy with his mother and couldn’t speak much. When he got back I asked how was the trip , he just said very vague things. He was with his mom because I saw the photos he posted. I sort of let it go and just got confused again on his intentions of reconnecting again. I also noticed he and his ex began to re follow each other on Instagram too.

Everytime I post something online he’ll be the first to view it. The last few weeks I posted a photo at a popular restaurant he did introduce me to and he commented “oh that’s a place I put you on.” I said it was and it’s my favorite place now. He made the comment again recently when he thought I was at another restaurant he introduced me too and said “I know that place when I see it.” And I didn’t respond.

He’s never followed up on meeting up anytime soon. He doesn’t want to address the situation we had in the past.
I just don’t understand what he wants. At this point it feels like I’m just a pen pal to him