Dude spends weeks liking photos, but quiet/slow to respond beyond that

A dude in my sports group and I got chatting more frequently on our clubs group chat, but have never moved it into a private chat between the two of us. We spoke in passing before, but this was the first time we really spoke properly and joked with each other etc.

Then he started liking every photo or post I put up, stories on social media. I had some foxes (UK based) essentially start a brothel/orgy in the back of my garden and it's been a running theme on my social media a few weeks, the noises they make are pretty hilarious. In this time, he also has now adopted a fox, and started posting about it pretty frequently. If I respond to his post, the conversation is barely more than a message or two. now adopted the fox as a pet, so maybe it was coincidence. But still this is how long the liking posts have been going on for. It's 1/2 months of this, and id like a mans perspective if possible please.

I'm 33, so this school kid orbiting stuff went from flirty and fun to blue balls pretty quick for me (despite not having balls I know), so I made an effort to go to the next social he went too as the club is based out of town for me so I can't go as often. We hugged for the first time (I sound about 12 I'm aware), and he hung out with me in the group, and chatted for a bit together. Then his friend introduced himself and got caught up chatting over a similar injury we had, so he goes off to do something else. I managed to catch him again before the end of the activity, but as he's a coach, I didn't want to distract him either from his job once the activity had started as he was technically working. He started something personal/sensitive about himself with me during the activity, and we spoke about it. I thought finally we were getting somewhere and the blue balls of likes would end.

No. He makes an effort to find me when he's leaving to say goodbye. Within 30 minutes of him leaving - back to liking photos. I've tried messaging him directly, but he doesn't reply. I'm going to see him again at some point, as his mate has basically adopted me now as his injury buddy (purely platonic, we've discussed that element already as I didn't want to give the wrong impression to him when I'm interested in someone else).

But honestly, I've been asked out on a date on Friday by somebody who lives locally to me, and I'm getting close to writing off whatever this orbiting stuff is. Why do it? Can a man give perspective of why their is so much dedication to social media engagement with me, but texting me on a one-one chat is not possible!?!? 🤣😂