Why is he behaving like this if he tells me he cares about me?

I have an online friend and he is just really confusing.

He was the one that texted me first. After a while, he started texting me "good morning" and "good night" and I just followed through this.

Then, some months ago, he started replying later. Usually after a day or two and now it's been a whole week. When he ignores me for so long, he says he's sorry and he actually cares about me, but he wanted to spend more time with his family, and I understand. I don't blame him for anything, but it just hurts seeing him online but not even reading my texts.

I am not a clingy person so maybe he thought I wasn't interested in the conversations, but I am. I usually just respond when he texts and if he ignores me for days, I just leave it like that and don't bother him with other texts.

I like him as a friend, nothing more.
Why is he behaving like this if he tells me he cares about me?
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