A guy sent me a GIF that said I Love You because he "thought I would like it"?

[Anonymous]

A guy from my fellowship program went back to his home country, but we've texted off and on since then. We became close as friends while he was here, mostly just sharing music, or talking about deep and dumb stuff, and we did the same over text. One day he sent me a GIF that said, "Happy Monday, I Love You" with a teddy bear on it, and then laughed it off, saying he "thought it was my taste" and that I would like it. He's said other flirty things, which I always assumed was just his personality, but the GIF felt a bit strange. Am I reading into it or am I just dumb?

Updates

+1 y

I'll clarify the other "flirty" things he said were more like compliments or him making obvious jokes- so the GIF stood out as a bit uncharacteristic.

[Nikki1989]

That is pretty meaningless coming from a man. I wouldn't read too much into it.

[Anonymous]

Does he actually love you?

[Asker]

I don't know, he's told me things before like he is glad to know me. He compliments me a lot on my personality, intellect, etc. so I assumed he just appreciated me as a friend.

[Opinion Owner]

Ask him what does that mean your I love you GIF

[Asker]

I did, he said he just thought I would like it XD

[Opinion Owner]

That doesn’t mean anything it’s not like giving you a present. You need prove does he actually love you or is he just being cute?

[Opinion Owner]

Just say, those words its very simple than
he should give you an answer

[BLP11520]

He wants something?

[Danny_dan92]

Oh wow